RESIDENTS in an idyllic hamlet are overcome with anger at builders who they claim have obliterated their view with a metal monster resembling a “rollercoaster”.
The red structure in Rezare, east Cornwall – thrown up last week – is in fact the steel core of what will become three detached houses.
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But the homes – valued at a whopping £875,000 each – are already trashing an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, locals say.
One villager, Ruth Herd, 69, told The Sun Online: “The structure looks like a rollercoaster and completely obliterates the view over the Tamar Valley.
“What has gone up is not what we believed was going to be built because all the original plans had the new houses at the same height as the existing house next door.”
The developer – Bluejay Developments – initially said the homes would be the same height as neighbouring properties.
But Ruth, a retired microbiologist, claims the company has used a planning amendment to add a whopping “two to three metres” to the original plans.
The sheer scale of the project – five miles south of Launceston – horrified other neighbours when it went up last week.
Translator Carole Porter, 73, and her HGV driver husband Tim, 62, are so appalled by the development opposite their cottage that they’re losing sleep.
“Devastated” Carole slammed: “What they are building is a calamity and has completely ruined our views across the valley.
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“I wake up at 4.30am every day with this anxiety and it’s all I can think about, I’m absolutely devastated.
“I know one has no right to a nice view, but this is amazing.
“Everyone can see these things mounting up, we’re all upset in the village.
“I can’t sleep, why should developers get away with it?”
Carole says residents are furious because they weren’t kept in the loop, claiming no-one had any idea about the planning amendment.
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A 2021 brochure on the Bluejay website shows the adjoining property being the same, if not more, in height.
But the change in height had been added in August 2022, with many of the residents opposed to it having not realised the application was already in.
New plans brought forward in May mean residents can now vote on the size and style of extensions, new homes and conversions happening in their area.
It means that your neighbours could have the power to give the go-ahead – or make you shelve – your plans.
A Bluejay spokesperson said: “Following the purchase, Bluejay Developments held a public consultation event to present the developing proposals.
“Our consultant team worked up the scheme from the initial concept into a full planning scheme. This application received planning consent in April 2022 after a statutory public and consultee process.
“A subsequent planning application was submitted and approved in August 2022 in consultation with the case officer.
“This consisted of minor adjustments to the finished floor levels of the properties to take account of the ground conditions, structural and drainage requirements in building out the development.”
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Planning permission changed in 2022
Residents now have “more involvement in local development” following new rules brought in back in May.
Neighbours are now allowed to vote on the size and style of extensions, new homes and conversions happening along their street, according to The Times.
Residents can also decide whether more loft conversions and conservatories can be built in their local area without full planning permission.
It means that your neighbours could have the power to give the go-ahead – or make you shelve – your plans.
While new developments need to be in keeping with the local area and cannot be built on greenfield sites.
Households will also be able to have “more of a say” over whether street names should be changed.
Check with your local authority to see where you stand.
