Interlude - first history lesson

Saturday 12th July

It's another un-summery week-end so not much is happening outside. I thought it might be a good opportunity to fill you in with life in Alice's bungalow. It will take time and I might have to stop if anything starts to happen. But for now the blog will be historical so you can skip it if that's not your thing.

The bungalow is in a truly beautiful spot - high up with views to die for (click here and you can see it in the photograph). One snag though - we have a busy road running through our village, which passes just below the bottom of Alice's garden. But what is a snag for us is a developer's dream - easy access from a pretty village to the main road networks for London and the South Coast (a little clue for you ...). There are three bungalows altogether, and ever since I have lived here (over twenty years), they have all had "unusual" occupants. The first planning application was to knock all three down and replace them with fifteen houses. Even the developers knew that this was ambitious, but aim high and then the compromise looks good. There is also the small matter of local policy that requires community housing as part of any development of over 14 homes. That application was duly kicked into touch, with more than a little help from the village and surprisingly little resistance from the developers.

A few negotiations later and we learn (unofficially) that they have struck a deal with bungalow three (the one to the left of the photograph of Alice's disorganised rubble) to suspend that application for now and go for the remaining two. The official line is that bungalow three have pulled out and wish to see out their retirement as a lonely reminder of what was, amongst a housing development where their neighbours used to be. The widely-held village interpretation is that they have got into bed even further with the developers and are:
a) holding out for more cash (no judgement - times are hard); and
b) involved in a conspiracy to secure the fifteen homes as two separate planning proposals.
Hence, the renewed application eventually appears for the demolition of two bungalows and proposed replacement with ten new homes. The maths isn't difficult (isn't the density the same?). What changes is the need for community housing and the impact of vehicles from the new homes on the surrounding area. Ten seems so much better than fifteen. Bungalow three aren't minded to object to this, even though the development really is in their front yard!
The village duly resists and the developers fight back this time. Lots to play for on both sides. Various appeals and one public inquiry later - a whole blog possibility here, and the approval is given. We have lost.

I have also lost my way with this post, so back to Alice, or rather Alice's bungalow - later!