Finally spoke to "done it twice neighbour" about the development, he hasn't sold his property...yet- the developer has purchased an option on it, meaning he gets £10k a year until he has to sell and move when they get planning permission. In return he has to sell and move on 28 days notice and not object to any plans put in by the developer, and he cannot sell to anyone else. So he was highly delighted with last years objections it earnt him an extra 10k, he was hoping it would go on a bit so his youngest could finish at school and not have to switch again. At his last place it went on for 10 years apparently, he doesn't think we put up much of a fight so he's not going to get next years £10 k, shame. The probate houses are now owned by the developer. Mr done it twice tells me he is now looking to move to the next likely spot and become done it thrice, he reckons developers have paid for his last 2 huge jumps in property and the money to live there, if he can make it a hat trick he intends to retire at 50! I just hope when he decides where to retire his developer mates don't follow him there and decide to cash in on his environment against his wishes.
I'm just dumb founded that the green belt has been redesignated seemingly without anyone's knowledge and the housing needs of neighbouring boroughs - albeit very real, take presidense over others lives - we too have "brown field" sites available and more suited to development locally, areas that desperately need regeneration and lovely homes and families, but the small developers want garden grabs - makes more money for them. Incidentally did you know that the Government count gardens as brown field sites. Hence as has been said the LA has little/no say in what actually happens.
Love the newt idea, they have a lovely pond that will be destroyed next door - if someone has some great crested newts, I could slip them in with the soon to be homeless frogs and toads. The local badgers aren't going to be too pleased with the houses built all over their ancient paths either. It seems from reading the replies this is happening all over and we are probably as was said all a bit NIMBY- so I'm not feeling It's a bad thing to be after all - it sounds as if it should become trendy, before we loose every village, field and garden - once they're gone they won't come back. Thank you ladies... Lots of good suggestions and encouraging outcomes - Being a pessimist though I suspect the horror stories of building upheaval, over development, local services burden etc. are more likely my future if I stay. Perhaps we need to find a nice little bungalow on the coast, the natural habitat of all us old NIMBY's, leave the towns and villages to the young and take MiL with us to await our eventual demise... Quietly. Hopefully that will come before we do anything daft and old like become a burden to the NHS, get our money back on the pension, vote away the next generations future etc. I'd hate not to leave the maximum in society for people to retire at 50 from get rich quick schemes.