Searches did not show major development!!!

knightstyle

Completed mid Feb and just found out there is a major development which was granted planning three years ago at the end of our road, over 450 houses, community centre etc. Over half of the site is within the 500M circle on the searches and the searches state that no planning development applications within 500M of our property.
Our road will be hell for many years to come with builders lorries etc.
So should we have been told about this? perhaps by the sellers or our solicitor?  I have emailed the company who did the searches but not yet had an answer.
We would not have bought if we had known.

JJR45

Sellers solicitor is not responsible for your searches.
Your solicitor commissions your searches for you.

UnderOffer

Were the searches not listed in the documentation? Our solicitor didn’t point it out but the paperwork contained several pages of local planning applications dating back a few years, the reference numbers were included to enable you to search on the local council portal. 

knightstyle

The searches were done by a company called CLS from Kent and I have emailed them and our solicitor.

davidmcn

knightstyle said:

So should we have been told about this? perhaps by the sellers or our solicitor?

Sellers would only need to declare applications they had received neighbour notification about - which they may well not have unless they're directly adjoining the site (assuming they were even there whenever notifications were sent). Your solicitor would only know what they're told about by the vendor or the search (unless you're lucky enough to use somebody with local knowledge).

hippocrates1

Kind of on you to check 

knightstyle

We are not from the area so relied on the searches.  This is what they said...

But we now know planning was granted in 2018 for this major development.

getmore4less

Always check the planning portal for developments

Often obvious areas which could have developments.

Many big developments come up in Google searches as they get into the local papers.

pinkshoes

I would start by asking your neighbours if they were notified of any planning developments. 

On the SPIF form, I'm quite sure that there is a question that asks specifically about any developments that are going to affect the property.

When you say half of it is within 500m, how close is this to your house? In what way is it going to affect you?

justworriedabit

Dear OP

Some bad news, sorry about that.

Read points 2 & 4 in the link.

IE it is 250 meters and not 500mts and you will see what is 500 mts in point 4

2. Planning search: Planning searches look for details of any existing planning consents or planning applications within a 250-metre radius of a property.

4. Environmental search: These look at issues such as flood risk, subsidence risk, previous uses of land and cover you for environmental issues within 500 metres of the house.

https://www.coseyhomes.co.uk/news/searches-buying-house/


Sorry, but case closed and I hope I've saved you time and stress.

davidmcn

knightstyle said:

We are not from the area so relied on the searches.  This is what they said...

But we now know planning was granted in 2018 for this major development.

You don't need to be local to do some research:

http://larkfleetplanning.co.uk/grantham-north/

https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/manthorpe-homes-plan-could-be-debated-in-march-1-7781843/

https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/grantham-residents-vent-anger-after-480-homes-allowed-at-manthorpe-on-appeal-1-8350772/

https://www.richboroughestates.co.uk/appeal/north-of-longcliffe-road-grantham/