Buying house next to open green space

suebfg

We're buying a house at the end of a modern development (built about 12 years ago) with some green space adjacent to it. This green space has a path through the middle of it which is used to access other estates and there is some woodland on the edges of it too.

How do we assess the risk of this land being developed on at some point? As I say, it is between two existing developments and would be sufficient for 2 houses max but at present there is no road access. Part of me thinks the risk is low as I think it may have been purposefully left as green space as part of the requirements for the development - there is a similar space at the other end of the development and there is a small playground there.

What do others think?

PasturesNew

I'd never live next to green space..... it attracts the wrong sort of people, especially after dark.

suebfg

Have to clarify that this green space has no car access - just a small green parkland space

Brodiebobs

Depends who owns the land i'd think. Behind the houses across from us was some 'green space' with a small football pitch with posts. Attracted a few kids but never any trouble. The council owned it and we though due to the volum of houses in the area it would never change.
Until a year ago when we got a letter saying they were building social housing, they've managed to squeeze 8 houses in with only a single width access road, which they bought the land off a nearby house for. They are 3 storey so majorly overlook the gardens and as there's only room for one car at each house theres loads parked along our street.

suebfg

It's hard to describe this space but it looks sort of landscaped with a path through it - as if it's part of the development. I'd have thought that if it was going to be built on, it would have been by now as it is between two estates, both built more than 12 years ago. Or am I kidding myself?

Brodiebobs

Can you find out who owns it?

suebfg

Will ask our solicitor to try to confirm as part of house buying process

sarahg1969

We moved in to a house with a large area of greenbelt land around it, 12 years ago. Planning permission has recently been given to build 350 houses on a small part of it, and planning for a further 1,100 houses, along with warehousing, primary school, community centre, sports arena, etc, etc, etc, is currently being considered. As expected, the various species of endangered animals that used to live there have mysteriously moved on, and it's now appropriate to build a massive estate on there, including access roads through our estate, and several cul-de-sacs of 1930s bungalows.

So that's one potential problem.

If it's a small-ish area, then loitering teenagers could be a problem (although we don't have that issues on the green areas on our estate).

Davesnave

It's pretty difficult to assess, but it may well be that the developers of the estates had to leave a green corridor as part of the conditions for planning permission. This would give the area some protection, but nothing is absolute in this world.

Land next door to my parents' house was deemed unsuitable for housing and left for wildlife, due to the 'huge difficulties' in clearing contamination by MoD. However, when the demand for housing in the area built up, it was decided that the site could be cleared economically and used after all.;)

There are hundreds of houses there now, and the wildlife has mostly been 'relocated' to wet areas, but a few green corridors like this still exist.

The council will be able to advise about the current status of the land, and its likely future in the short to medium term.

Running_Horse

If you live in a recently developed house, objecting to someone else wanting to develop a house may smack of nimbyism. I would be more worried by bored teenagers congregating at night.

Davesnave

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd never live next to green space..... it attracts the wrong sort of people, especially after dark.

Yes, but remember, we were the people our parents warned us about too! :rotfl: