How do we stop the building of the current influx of !!!!!! new housing

A_Nice_Englishman

lynzpower wrote:

rick

You say plannig doesnt work- isnt it the builder who wants the profit?

or maybe the landowner?

ukbondraider

dougk wrote:

Firstly - whats wrong with terraced houses - they were and are practical.
Secondly go to most european cities and how many detatched house do you see - not that many
Thirdly - If there is only two people , why do you need more than a two bed house? If the average "family size" is 2.3 then twio beds in normally sufficient or three bed at the most.
Forthly detached houses are not so environmentally friendly in terms of heat loss,energy efficiency etc so in them terms they are bad.

The problem with Terrace houses is like public transport - you do not have true privacy or freedom. Its like when you get on a train and hope you dont end up sitting next to a drunk/thug or anyone who can make your journey unpleasant or dangerous. Living in a terrace or apartment means that you constantly hope you end up with nice neighbours. Additionally to ensure you are a good neighbour yourself, living in such homes means you cant be loud after 10pm. I for one would like to have the option of going home from a long days work or a night out and then to put on some loud music on in my cinema room to relax without worrying about upsetting the neighbours. I also do not want to have to hope my neighbours arent playing loud music when I have to go to bed early on a week day.

Regarding the average family being 2.3 children. Bedrooms are merely rooms and not everyone wants to use them as bedrooms. Some of us want the option to have a cinema room, a playstation/xbox room, a library, a gym, a snooker room etc etc. Therefore 2 or 3 beds would not be enough for alot of people.

Anyway, it appears that as brits we simply have to put up with the current situation as it will not change. I just find it disapointing that in countries like Australia and the USA, large detatched are the norm and not limited to superstars or celebrities. For people earning significantly more than the average wage only to be able to buy below average homes in most parts of the country is totally wrong. But what can you do.

As for 95% of land being unbuilt on, I find this number extremely surprising. I didnt realise there was so much land left especially considering people talking about land running out. Even at 50% I would have thought that this was alot but 95%:eek: (I'm definitely going to invest in some land now.) Sure, like everyone I am someone who appreciates hills, woods and parks in my daily life but to keep 95% of the country like this given alot of the population is struggling is very wrong.

seven-day-weekend

Isn't most of the 95% of land that is unbuilt on (other than farmland) in places like Scotland, Snowdonia, the Lake District and other National Parks?

I don't think there's plenty of available land in the Southeast or round any other major conurbation like the West Midlands or Liverpool/Manchester.

Alan_M_2

Just drive around the M25. All you see is fields for miles and miles. It's not exactly bursting at the seams.

scorpio_princess

ukbondraider wrote:

The problem with Terrace houses is like public transport - you do not have true privacy or freedom. Its like when you get on a train and hope you dont end up sitting next to a drunk/thug or anyone who can make your journey unpleasant or dangerous. Living in a terrace or apartment means that you constantly hope you end up with nice neighbours. Additionally to ensure you are a good neighbour yourself, living in such homes means you cant be loud after 10pm. I for one would like to have the option of going home from a long days work or a night out and then to put on some loud music on in my cinema room to relax without worrying about upsetting the neighbours. I also do not want to have to hope my neighbours arent playing loud music when I have to go to bed early on a week day.

Regarding the average family being 2.3 children. Bedrooms are merely rooms and not everyone wants to use them as bedrooms. Some of us want the option to have a cinema room, a playstation/xbox room, a library, a gym, a snooker room etc etc. Therefore 2 or 3 beds would not be enough for alot of people.

Don't mean to be rude, but are you a footballer by any chance? Each to their own I guess...

ukbondraider wrote:

Anyway, it appears that as brits we simply have to put up with the current situation as it will not change. I just find it disapointing that in countries like Australia and the USA, large detatched are the norm and not limited to superstars or celebrities. For people earning significantly more than the average wage only to be able to buy below average homes in most parts of the country is totally wrong. But what can you do.

Now, I know that the argument that we might run out of space one day is largely hypothetical, but you can hardly compare the mahoosive chunks of land that are USA and Australia to the pokey little island we call home - and with mass immigration to our sunny shores, it's getting smaller al the time...

I agree with you on the whole 'ugly townhouse' thing though - shame there's FA any of us can realistically do about it though! Saying that, unless I have a family one day, I don't want a 4 bed detached -i'm only little myself and would feel lost all alone in a big house. I live in a 1 bed flat and it is perfect for my needs - and very easy to clean!

Hope I don't offend anyone here, but bondraider, you do seem to like mentioning your 'higher than average' earnings - a lot. Completely up to you - it's a free country - but it does come accross as bragging sometimes, which can rub people up the wrong way. Just my t'ppence worth :cool:

Alan_M_2

seven-day-weekend

Alan_M wrote:

Just drive around the M25. All you see is fields for miles and miles. It's not exactly bursting at the seams.

I did say 'other than farmland.' Fields are farmland, aren't they?

Alan_M_2

seven-day-weekend wrote:

I did say 'other than farmland.' Fields are farmland, aren't they?

Eh? farms have fields therefore all fields are farms.....nice logic...:)

[Deleted User]

Don`t tar all townhouses with the same brush

I love living in my new townhouse. It is part of a development of 40 houses and apartments. All really luxurious spec, security guard at the gate and set in over 50 acres of beautiful parkland. I like going upstairs to my lounge which faces a stunning, southerly aspect and ancient trees.

ok I gave up a garden and a washing line and I have neighbours but some of us are building a good community and there is no external maintenance

Choose carefully and you can find your dream. Mine cost under 360k

ukbondraider

scorpio_princess wrote:

Don't mean to be rude, but are you a footballer by any chance? Each to their own I guess...



I agree with you on the whole 'ugly townhouse' thing though - shame there's FA any of us can realistically do about it though! Saying that, unless I have a family one day, I don't want a 4 bed detached -i'm only little myself and would feel lost all alone in a big house. I live in a 1 bed flat and it is perfect for my needs - and very easy to clean!

Hope I don't offend anyone here, but bondraider, you do seem to like mentioning your 'higher than average' earnings - a lot. Completely up to you - it's a free country - but it does come accross as bragging sometimes, which can rub people up the wrong way. Just my t'ppence worth :cool:

Let me get this clear. I am not bragging about how much I earn. My statement was based on everyone. i.e I know that alot of people who earn more than £27K. Therefore would it not be logical for average houses to cost somewhere in a range where people on £27K could buy them. Instead we have a situation where someone on £100K for example can struggle to buy an average house. Thus only football players on £5m per year can actually buy any of the decent properties because those that are semi decent are over £1m. Even then if I was a footballer or a moviestar I would be !!!!ed that my £20m estate would probably cost £1m in Europe.

Basically it is another case of Brits getting shafted. Most of us all live in grotty, small houses yet London and the UK is one of the more richer countries of the world. And then to hear 95% of the country still green and people wanting to keep it this way just makes me angry. Especially when such hypocritical folks blame building on such land being greed.

I know what I can or cant buy and coming from 25 yrs at the bottom end of the housing conditions I am appreciative of what I have. My comments here are my views based on the what the whole country and not myself have to face.