UPDATE PG7 Moving house, planning approved for 200 houses what would you do?

[Excitedx4]

So we are in the process of buying a new house. We are in the fortunate position of not having to sell our current home and are still undecided as to whether we will be renting it out or selling it once we are moved and settled which makes us chain free.

We are buying a house built around 1990’s (I actually grew up on the estate and we moved in with my parents as a new build). It’s a 4 bed detached house and extended at the rear to provide a nice open kitchen dining living area and has a downstairs room for our disabled son. It pretty much ticked all our boxes. It needs updating, new windows, carpets and decorating but nothing major. The kitchen isn’t my taste but it’s fine for a few years.

We are on the “home straight” now as the solicitor says and waiting for a completion and exchange date. All searches and surveys completed. However it has just come up (in the local news) that there are to be 200 new houses built at the back of the house. It’s an old industrial site at the minute and houses would look nicer but now I’m thinking more I’m wondering what exactly “affordable housing” means. From research it looks like part ownership and government schemes. The new estate is accessed at a different road from where I am so no new traffic past the house, but a garden will back onto mine. I’ll add the pic and circle the house which I am buying.

I voiced my concerns and hubby said well now is the time to speak up because all we would lose is the survey and search fees so far. No other houses appeal on the market and we’ve been looking for a long time and like I said we don’t have to move at the minute as we are not selling our current home. I do like the house and have visioned us living there, out looking at furniture etc.

What would your opinion be on new affordable housing going up behind a house you were buying?

[Guest]

Personally, I don’t think I would too concerned if it was just a house development and as long as the traffic didn’t increase.

[Excitedx4]

Yep no extra traffic but what’s concerning me is what type of houses they are. They are being billed as “affordable housing” and I’m not entirely sure what this means whether they are in partnership with the council and get some unsavoury characters moving in at the back of me (sound awful to put it that way) and if it would devalue the house in the future. It would certainly look nicer that an old industrial area.

[marypoppins38]

I don't think it would bother me either. I think security wise it would be better than having empty industrial land at the back of you. From the pic, it only looks like it will lap over half your garden? Your new house sounds lovely!

[JoJim]

U get good and bad in all walks of life regardless of whether it be affordable housing or privately owned... you could have private neighbours who are awful to live next to!

[Excitedx4]

Yes it would be only over half the garden. I suppose it just makes you nervous going into the unknown as a house purchase is such a big thing, and well basically you’ve got to live there 🙈 you want it to be perfect, or as close as. 😁

[smithlane]

Are you sure they’ll all be affordable housing? We have been looking at quite a few new build estates recently and they all have a percentage that’s affordable housing, usually the 2 bed houses and flats but the majority are privately owned.
It sounds like the perfect house for you but I understand your hesitancy as it’s such a big and expensive purchase

[Excitedx4]

Yes according to the newspaper it’s all affordable housing, I know new estates have to provide a certain percentage now when they build for affordable housing, but I don’t think this is a commercial builder like Barretts or Taylor wimpy who construct around here.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Are we talking Housing Assoc type housing or just small, thus lower priced properties?

That is the key to me.

Sad to say I have experience when on the buildings of 'trashing' peoples view and encroachment!
One leaps to mind in the Countryside where we put up over 300 houses right behind a beautiful development that had been there for 20+ years. Ruined their outlook.

[Excitedx4]

This is the thing the only news I have of it is what I’ve read on the local online paper here is a link

winsfordguardian/n...gets-go-ahead/

The view isn’t spectacular as it the old fords of winsford site that moved years ago and then was used for car transplants site.