I watch Grand designs avidly, and often wonder how people are able to get planning permission for such inovative projects. I live in North Shropshire and want to build a tmber eco-friendly low running cost home in a country location for my retirement in the next couple of years. I'm faced with a catch 22 situation. Local planners say that they have no problem with timber houses, but all development must be in areas designated for house development. they also say that within those designated areas, new homes must blend with existing properties, which are in this case, old stone cottages, block and rendered or new bland brick houses. They also have a policy whereby each parish has a different policy as to what is specifically acceptable. I'm seeing local developers put up acres of bland brick homes everywhere. allof them could be anywhere from Milton Keynes to Preston with hardly an inch of space between them. The local representative of a timber home company is ballistic with frustration at the arrogance and obstrucion of local planning authorities. What can an individual do to develop an aesthetically pleasing low impact home in a reasonable environment?
I really love that reply, It has that Jo Brand touch of Irony and is so amusing.
Unlike the implications.
Is there really no hope in this country? Given that there is a desperate need for low cost housing and a growing need for greater fuel efficiency how are people going to live in the future? We have "Starter" homes at in excess of £150K We have a credit crunch that has caused mortgage applications to return to the old limit of three times salary. That means that a young person has to be on £50K annually, and have preferably saved their deposit of 25%.
In this area, Even many senior managers with years of experience are lucky to earn that. Young workers are probably only on £20K tops.
To my mind that is a recipe for despair and even social unrest looming on the horizon.
What has happened to the post war ethos that produced those tiny cheap little 'Prefab' bungalows that were only supposed to last about ten years and were still happily occupied in this area until I last noticed, about 2000 or so.
Surely, there must be a national campaign or pressure group working to remove this stranglehold over our society, or is the only option to follow 'Holy Cheeses' advice for us all to emigrate.
Originally posted by Macoz: Surely, there must be a national campaign or pressure group working to remove this stranglehold over our society, or is the only option to follow 'Holy Cheeses' advice for us all to emigrate.
Niet! Vot iz required iz comuniztic dictatorship zat vill nationalize all private property in ze name off ze people.
This makes me laugh. The planners tell us there is no land to build on, but someone who sees the country from the air on a regular basis, that is frankly, well, crap.
Lets face it, if individuals want to build their home in the countryside, not create a huge great monstrosity of a housing development (say 1 house max per 10 acres, whats the problem? Its only when thy try to squeeze ten to the acre it becomes an eyesore.
Another example of how this marxist government maintains high house prices to suit themselves. Have you tried bribing the planning office? Bet that would work! (joking)
This is my first experience of participation in a forum or chat room. I always believed that they represent a typical cross section of our society. In response to my original question, I seem to have 25% sensible contribution, the other 75%, a cynic, a Marxist and a bigot. Perhaps emigration is the answer!
thanks!
