Building that will block my view help

lisapalowski

Hi,

We bought out first home and one of the main reasons we wanted it was that it backs onto a farm and has a beautiful unrestricted view. This week we have seen surveyors surveying the land and we are worrying that they might be looking to sell land for people to build on.

I've checked planning permission and nothing has been submitted yet, but I just want to get on the front foot and see if we have any rights at all. If the buildings are far enough away they probably wont block light, its just that we will be over looked and the view will be blocked, which after living in the city centre for 10 years, were the main two reasons that we bought this property.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Lisa

Tomg84

Unfortunately not much you can do currently. If they submit a planning application you can object. You may want to talk to neighbours to make them aware so you can object together.

p00hsticks

The only way you can really guarantee having a beautiful unrestricted view is by owning the land yourself.

Cheeky_Monkey

If the land is to be sold and a housing estate built on it for example, there won't be much, if anything, you can do to stop it as loss of view is not a valid objection.

It's unfortunate for you but, if PP is granted, you'll either have to live with it or move.

Davesnave

'Losing a view' isn't a valid ground for objection, so you'll have to do better than that if there's building afoot.

However, surveying doesn't necessarily mean housing.

Farms are one of the least regulated businesses when it comes to building. If a farm is over a certain size, the owner can simply give notice of building a barn or other structure without the need to apply for planning permission. In other words, inside a month, a building 100' long could be put up, if deemed necessary for the efficient running of the farm.

Not a lot of people know that.

EachPenny

lisapalowski wrote: »

We bought out first home and one of the main reasons we wanted it was that it backs onto a farm and has a beautiful unrestricted view. This week we have seen surveyors surveying the land and we are worrying that they might be looking to sell land for people to build on.

I've checked planning permission and nothing has been submitted yet, but I just want to get on the front foot and see if we have any rights at all. If the buildings are far enough away they probably wont block light, its just that we will be over looked and the view will be blocked, which after living in the city centre for 10 years, were the main two reasons that we bought this property.

Surveyors don't necessarily mean new houses, it could be for a new road, or for agricultural purposes such as a new barn, or a slurry/irrigation lagoon. Or it could be for a solar energy scheme, or a utility company planning a new water or gas pipeline.

The only way to be sure is to ask what they are doing (nicely), but don't expect to get a reply.

If you are concerned about housing development then get hold of a copy of your council's local plan - you can usually find them on the planning department website. Local plans usually have maps in them for each village in rural areas where significant housing development is planned. If this land is shown in the local plan as suitable for housing then you have an uphill battle on your hands.... if it is not shown then there is a possibility that a planning application is less likely to be approved because the development is not in accordance with the local plan.

Of all the options, the one you probably want least is the slurry lagoon.

stator

The only way to protect your view is to pay the owners of the land to place a covenant on the land to prevent development. But if the land is worth loads for devlopment, you'd have to offer them loads of money.

danlewi2

When they have built on the land - buy one of the houses with the countryside view problem solved.

lisyloo

p00hsticks wrote: »

The only way you can really guarantee having a beautiful unrestricted view is by owning the land yourself.

We have a nice view across a large school playing field and surrounded on 3 sides by houses and one side the school.


No guarantee but very unlikely they'd build on it, both because it's used by 2 schools plus there is no easy access as they'd have to knock down (currently used) buildings.


My point being that it's possible to get somewhere that's is unlikely to be build on although I've always understood there is no guarantee and no rights, but no harm in reducing the chances.

EachPenny

lisyloo wrote: »

We have a nice view across a large school playing field and surrounded on 3 sides by houses and one side the school.

No guarantee but very unlikely they'd build on it, both because it's used by 2 schools plus there is no easy access as they'd have to knock down (currently used) buildings.

My point being that it's possible to get somewhere that's is unlikely to be build on although I've always understood there is no guarantee and no rights, but no harm in reducing the chances.

I don't want to alarm you, but it is quite common for school playing fields to be built on - either for housing development or rebuilding/extending the school buildings.

Lots of people have found themselves watching a new school being built on land next to them because it means the school can continue to function in the existing buildings whislt the new one is built, and when ready the new building is occupied and the old ones demolished and turned into play areas and/or housing.

To be sure you won't have that problem you'd need to make sure the school only has the minimum reccomended outdoor area (which is not much) and the school buildings are not in need of replacement.

bouicca21

EachPenny wrote: »

Lots of people have found themselves watching a new school being built on land next to them because it means the school can continue to function in the existing buildings whislt the new one is built, and when ready the new building is occupied and the old ones demolished and turned into play areas and/or housing.

Yep, that happened to me. New school built on the playing fields. We were assured we would not be overlooked because there were no windows on that side. Sure enough there were no windows - just a wall of glass.