Town and country Planning

[giveup]

Our house is a freehold property accessed by an entrance which is leasehold along with a neighbouring small estate of houses and flats, some owned, some rented, originally intended for over 55's. We have right of way to our house as do the other houses on our small estate(4 houses only. The neighbouring estate was purchased about 2 years ago by a developer, and it is now gradually falling into disrepair.We used to have a lovely border of shrubs on both sides of our entrance separating us from the adjoining estates car park, It was a pleasure to come home. Now its a nightmare. The developer removed everything and roughly tarmacced it over.Any attempts to get in touch with this developer
are completely ignored both letters and phone messages, and if he is approached personally is very unpleasant, almost menacing. I understand that the developer was served with an enforcement order by the local planning officer to put it back as it was but that was 6 months ago and still nothing has been done. The planning enforcement officer is not paticularly helpful, he doesnt ring back either. The walk up to our home now is an absolute disgrace and it must have devalued our property(not that we want to sell). Frankly I dont know what to do next, has anyone got any suggestions. Thank You

[themas]

If an enforcement order was issued the local authority should make sure the work is carried out. If you can't get a response from the planning officer go to your local Councillor & ask him/her to take it up.

Ultimately, you could make a formal complaint to the Council & - if they still don't do anything effective - see whether you have a case to go to the Local Government Ombudsman complaining of maladministration.

[buildersmate]

Good advice that I concur with.
In addition I suggest you think through what long-term aim this developer is trying to achieve. It may be that he is seeking to force down the leasehold value of each of the properties on the site so that he can buyout the whole site, then seek planning consent for something very different on the whole area - you need to consider the bigger picture and it might involve this.
The second possible scenario is that he discovered that site ownership obliges him to maintain the common parts but that he isn't obliged to do it to a std and he is just trying to milk as much as he can for it, from the lease and rent obligations without spending his part of the obligation. Have you spoken to anyone on the leasehold part of the site to see how their lease terms are worded regarding grounds maintenance.

A pressure strategy (which may help with pushing the Local Authority twerps along also) could involve mustering as many of the residents together as a collective pressure group (yes, work I know, but needs must) and seeking the involvement of the local press in your campaign of naming and shaming.

[buildersmate]

Once again one spend time trying to give good advice only to find not a jot of thanks for doing it. The quality of the punters on here is really going downhill these days.

[bednobs]

i thought you had decided to stop answering questions bm?