I was reading about countryside getaways in the London commuter 'home county' of Hertfordshire, which started me on another path... with all the additional new housing estates spreading from villages that had charm and character, are these properties safe from development? The article includes Grade I and II listed buildings, which should have some degree of protection; one property is surrounded by 17 acres of landscaped garden and is adjacent to a small wood with public footpaths.
If you are lucky enough to have sufficient funds and the appropriate lifestyle, a private apartment in a beautiful setting could be the perfect solution.
However, people who chose a rural village life may not be so happy with changes that have been forced upon them. Here are few examples in North Herts:
- 900 new homes, separated from Graveley by one field
- proposal for 759 new homes, including 598 on three new large sites to the west and east of Knebworth village.
- 150 new homes proposed for this Woolmer Green site.
- proposal for Codicote developments (pdf) - two developments are under way and there is a third proposed housing site.
- Just 52 new homes proposed for St Ippolytes, although this may be increased to 84.
So is there still a 'green belt' around London and, if so, where is it? It's still where it always was but maybe not quite so green since governments have tweaked the rules to allow significantly more developments.
Apparently, the Mayor of London is keen to build around a million new homes, the majority of which need to be in London's green belt.
Onwards and upwards, as the saying goes!
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