Farm land in the wrong hands

[green thing]

We've had some of the farms in the area change hands just recently
Its farms bordering on the edge of the greenbelt with access roads nearby.
The farmers offered way over the going rate
For a farm
Then the farm yards are tidied up old industrial
Buildings removed proper access roads put in

Then the farm building are renovated then sold without the land

Today we had the first pre application consultation pack
Through the door from a developer to put 200 houses on the site, green belt land

The pack look like it's from the council outlining
Government policy and the need to build more
Sustainable homes and provide council
much need boost in funding via the addition
Council tax the luxury development will produce.
This could contribute to social care (picture of little old lady being helped )

The packs are asking for view and objection
From local residence before the planning application are submitted
(freepost po box envelope supplied )

Access road already in. local
Gas main was renewed about 8 years ago
along the center of the main road
It's now its being renewed again
being made bigger from the main distribution point. ?
BT have just finished replacing cables.

[JanieB]

I suspect your area doesn't have a neighbourhood plan in place. The government producing the Localism Act followed rapidly by NPPF means that it is very difficult to stop opportunist developers.

[BertieFox]

What you are describing is backdoor planning, the attempt by developers to present the local council with a fait accompli. The type of scams we used to see was for the farm house to be sold off as a private dwelling (allowable) and then a new house built for the farmer (allowable where there is an agricultural 'need', and guess what, as the farmer sold the original house, he NOW has a new need!)

As the farms you describe are now no longer proper functioning businesses with the houses sold and the buildings demolished, the claim will be that the land is now perfect for development and nobody wants it for agriculture!

It does all stink and is all about making developers lots of money. Even Neighbourhood Plans cut little ice nowadays compared to national planning guidance. What is even more galling is that the majority of houses that get built will be expensive estate type houses with 3 and 4 bedrooms for the wealthy townies, and although the real need is for social housing and for affordable homes for local people, these are the last things which developers will build as there is not enough profit in it.

[JanieB]

As the farms you describe are now no longer proper functioning businesses with the houses sold and the buildings demolished, the claim will be that the land is now perfect for development and nobody wants it for agriculture!

We are fortunate that most of the land around us is owned by the National Trust and they are very wary about what happens to it.

It does all stink and is all about making developers lots of money. Even Neighbourhood Plans cut little ice nowadays compared to national planning guidance. What is even more galling is that the majority of houses that get built will be expensive estate type houses with 3 and 4 bedrooms for the wealthy townies, and although the real need is for social housing and for affordable homes for local people, these are the last things which developers will build as there is not enough profit in it.

Agreed re the developers, but in this area they make most money from selling to Housing Associations and the MOD. We are given a quota of 40% social housing per development by our District Council. MOD residents pay no council tax so there is little benefit to the town.