how to stop non-listed old cottage from being demolished?

[Wren]

Next door to us is a lovely old stone cottage. The new owners, who we have seen no sign of, have put in planning permission to demolish it and build a new house, tarmac the front garden even though this is a rural area etc.

I am upset about it, of course, but am also very cynical. Seen it all before several times, this will just go through on the nod. Developer has no intention of living here, just wants to make a fast buck and move on. (Not a labour of love. Don't even need to build it, just flog it at an inflated price to a builder who to make their profit has to use cheap materials which look awful.)

Are there any consultants, please, that can help advise on what is possible/realistic in terms of opposing planning permission?

 

[Maddie-Rose]

So sad and totally hear you, and where your coming from

I know of a couple who bought a lovely old rambling cottage in the South East at auction, their plans originally was to restore, until their builder suggested that it would cost them a lot less to demlish the original cottage and to rebuild something else.

I guess when money gets involved, love and sympathies for old buildings don't get a look in.

Could you contact your local council conservation department? MP or even local paper. It's difficult one, not sure if anyone here has any better advice. :?

 

[MatthewC]

How about finding some rare snail, frog or insect and encouraging them to breed there? Or bats? Are there any trees that could do with a TPO? Or even ask for it to be listed. At least make sure that conservation at the council know so that they can have their say if inclined.

Sadly, you're probably right and there's actually nothing effective that you can do. :x

 

[vicky whitworth]

Where are you Wren? I think there's loads you can do but you have to put in tones of effort. You need to rally others support, get a petition signed, make yourself known to your counsellors, make a big fuss, bang on about things like drainage issues, oppose every planning application to an inch of your breathe and generally be such a pain in the arse that it's easier for the council to appease you than them. Fight! Go the Press, take pictures before it's demolished, ask for tree preservation orders, insist on a dormouse survey, get the wildlife trust involved. Play up environmental impact. I'll join your cause. Vicky

 

[Penners]

Full marks to Vicky for determination and effort but in reality, if the building isn't listed, then I'm afraid your options are extremely limited. You could have a word with your local CO and see whether he/she is sufficiently interested in the building to have it urgently listed, but I'm afraid your chances of that are very remote.

By all means have a go at Vicky's recommendations, but if all else fails I think the best you can do is try to photograph the building as comprehensively as you can and give the images to the parish or county archive.

 

[Zebra]

Before I bought my place, it was under offer for a year or two, while the prospective buyers applied for planning permission to demolish it, which finally was refused so the buyers pulled out. (It came back on the market and I snapped it up, lucky me.) Mine isn't listed, and I don't know who round here opposed it, but it is possible that permission could be refused.
In my case however, the house is "locally listed" and in a conservation area, I'm not sure whether either of those apply to you.

 

[JoceAndChris]

It's so sad, but on the whole I agree with Mr P. Urgent listing? Are there any successful examples of that? Gareth and I sent off the stuff for mine to be listed in October 2010 - we're still awaiting the outcome. If there had been pressure to pull it down I don't see EH being remotely interested to be frank.

A lucky combination of events for you Zebra!

 

[Flyfisher]

Well, the VAT rules encourage new builds thus making it financially attractive to clear a site and start afresh.

Even if consent is not given to demolish, the developer could just leave the property empty for a few years, perhaps even 'encourage' dereliction, and then reapply when the house is unfit for habitation.

Listing may help but given Joce's experience with an eminently worthy building, it doesn't seem likely that anything will happen quickly. Sad indeed.

 

[Wren]

Thank you for all the replies. Listing unlikely given the modern alterations and condition I think.
But we have just seen a photograph from several decades ago when the attached cowshed/shippon was still standing - stunning!