Three storey house blocks my view - what can I do?

nikkianddaniel

Hi
A large housing developer has moved into my lovely town and taken it over. By the time we bought our current house they had permission to build near the bottom of our garden - there was little that we could do. However, they claim to "fit in anywhere" and the suggestion is that they do not spoil the town etc.
They have started building and the site is not that bad until... they have built three storey town houses in an area of the town where there are none - three of these are at the bottom of our garden and they compltetely block our viewof the old town and the very imprressive Abbey. One of the reasons we bought this house was beacuse of the view and the value will now be significantly reduced as this is quite a selling point.
It was not possible to appreciate the fulll impact until they put the green felt on top of the wooden structure that they have built.
Does anyone think there is anything I can do?
Thanks for taking an interest
Nikki

keystone

nikkianddaniel wrote: »

Does anyone think there is anything I can do?

No - sorry. Move?

Cheers

MsAnderson

If they had planning permission, or at least had applied for permission, then your solicitor/lawyer should have found the planning details on the searches they perform on your behalf when you bought your house. They should have flagged up that building permission had been sought and at least had a look at the plans to see what impact it would have had on your house/view. Not much you can do about it now, however, speak with your solicitor and make sure they did perform a search. If they did not, or did not pass on the info, then you may be able to ask for a refund on fees. This is certainly the case in Scotland, perhaps some English law people can confirm.

ormus

when you buy a property you dont/cannot buy the "view"

(unless you buy a few hundred acres).
even then its not guaranteed. you can see still heysham power station, from a nice house high up on the lancashire moors.

27col

You took the words out of my mouth ormus. Sounds like a bit of nimbyism coming on. But too late I fear.

cajef

MsAnderson wrote: »

If they had planning permission, or at least had applied for permission, then your solicitor/lawyer should have found the planning details on the searches they perform on your behalf when you bought your house.

True, many years ago we were on the point of purchasing a property when our solicitor told us that the strip of land at the back had been allocated years ago for use as a bypass though it had never been built, we pulled out and three years later there were lorries and heavy traffic thundering up and down a newly built bypass 30 yards from the back door.

missile

nikkianddaniel wrote: »

By the time we bought our current house they had permission to build

Could that be the reason why the previous owners sold :rotfl:

keystone

The OP said:

nikkianddaniel wrote: »

A large housing developer has moved into my lovely town and taken it over. By the time we bought our current house they had permission to build near the bottom of our garden - there was little that we could do.

You said:

MsAnderson wrote: »

If they had planning permission, or at least had applied for permission, then your solicitor/lawyer should have found the planning details on the searches they perform on your behalf when you bought your house. ........................ If they did not, or did not pass on the info, then you may be able to ask for a refund on fees.

I am afraid I don't follow your thought process at all. Perhaps it's just me being thick?

Cheers

dmg24

keystone wrote: »

The OP said:



You said:



I am afraid I don't follow your thought process at all. Perhaps it's just me being thick?

Cheers

MsAnderson's comments make sense - can you clarify which part you are not sure of? The only thing I would point out is that, if the relevant checks were not done, the buyer would be looking for more than a reimbursement of fees.

keystone

dmg24 wrote: »

MsAnderson's comments make sense - can you clarify which part you are not sure of? The only thing I would point out is that, if the relevant checks were not done, the buyer would be looking for more than a reimbursement of fees.

Yes - total sense if the OP had not already written By the time we bought our current house they had permission to build near the bottom of our garden which sort of suggests that they knew before they purchased and how else would they normally have found out except by their solicitors searches?

Cheers

nikkianddaniel

To those of you who have provided supportive or constructive feedback - thank you. To those of you who cristicise - why bother responding at all? You suggest that I am a nimby - wait until it happens to you. I do not object to houses being built near me but why not two storey houses when that would fit in with the local area and not interfere with surrounding properties as much? Property developers come in to small towns, throw their money around , get what they want and then leave an irrecognisable town with a hefty profit - surely this is not right?