Latest news with #housingDevelopment
The Sun
07-06-2025
- The Sun
We're furious after developers said they are going to reduce the height of our 6ft privacy fence – we're fighting back
RESIDENTS have been left fuming after a housing developer said it would trim down their 6ft-tall privacy fence. Bellway wants to reduce the height of the barrier surrounding part of the Ingleby Manor estate in Ingleby Barwick, North Yorkshire, which presently prevents entry to the land beyond it. The developers also say it was always in their plans to trim the fence height from 1.8m to just 0.45m, although residents claim this would expose them to anti-social behaviour. Other locals have also slammed the plans, saying they are worried about young children being able to access a pond - which is connected with the estate on the land. They argue that they haven't been properly consulted on the project, and some even say they may have not bought their homes in the first places if they knew what they did now. The boundary fence was constructed initially to keep the development secure during the building of a number of homes, which was completed in 2021. One resident living in on Breton Drive, which backs into the fence, said the new barrier would be "absolutely tiny" if trimmed. She claimed that there had been "loads of problems" in the woods behind the fence, saying that children were taking drugs and drinking alcohol in the covered area. The resident, who did not want to be named, even alleged that women had been attacked beyond the fencing, reports TeesideLive. She also explained that young children would no longer be protected from the pond, which fills up during the winter months. The local added: "It's really stressing people out, properties will be completely exposed, but Bellway won't move on it.' She also claimed that "none" of the residents would have bought their homes if they had known the fence would eventually be trimmed down. Your kids are breaking law if they kick their ball over neighbour's fence, High Court rules after couple sued next door The distressed local continued: "If the fence comes down we are not going to feel safe living here. We have tried to resolve this [with Bellway], but are just not getting anywhere." Another homeowner on the street claimed her family were not informed that the fence was going to be changed in any way when they purchased the property five years ago. On top of this, they said Bellway had not notified or consulted them about the cutting of the fence height - with them only finding out when two people from Bellway knocked on her family's door. Echoing other residents, she also claimed there had been "anti-social behaviour, burglaries, and fly-tipping" nearby, and she fears the fence's trimming would put their family's safety at risk. Bellway claimed in a statement that the original planning conditions meant the height of the fencing would have to be reduced - in order for public right of way access to be facilitated via footpaths from the estate. The company explained that the current fence had been installed in order to prevent "unauthorised access" during construction. However, while it understood the concerns of some residents, it said it has to adhere to the plans - otherwise it could risk enforcement action. Our picturesque countryside views are ruined by 6ft tall 'Great Wall of China' fence next door… so we got our revenge By Douglas Simpson FURIOUS villagers have succeeded in having a 6ft tall fence, that was blocking beauty spot views, torn down. Residents hit out at their local council for building the large "out of place" steel structure. The massive 200 meter long, 6ft tall, spiked steel fence was built by Monmouthshire County Council in Clydach, Wales. Residents were given no notice that the fence was to be erected at a cost of £40,000. Furious with the hideous construction locals campaigned to have the fence removed. It blocked beauty spot views of the Brecon Beacons National Park leaving local residents infuriated and demanding it be taken down. Furious locals could see the fence on the hillside from their back gardens and said it failed to blend in. A heated council meeting in April saw residents fume at the local council with one branding it "disgusting." County council officials have now agreed to take down the fence, forking out an additional £20,000 for its removal. Made of steel spikes, locals blasted the fence as "disgusting" and said it was "absolutely hideous." A spokesman said a landscape plan for the site, used on customer marketing materials and shared with house buyers, showed three footpath entrances from roads next to the boundary. However, residents have disputed this, claiming these designs were absent in other previously produced plans. At these given points, the height of the fence is set to be reduced from 1.8 metres to just 0.45 metres. Stockton West MP Matt Vickers has joined in the fight, calling on Bellway to retain the fence at its current height. His office said that a number of residents had reached out to him, asking for the fence to remain unchaged. While some homeowners who oppose the change have been in touch with Stockton Council, the authority said it was not in any discussions with Bellway - adding the fence was not subject to any planning conditions. Correspondence between residents and the local council seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the row was a 'civil matter' between homeowners and the developer, and it had no power to intervene. 1
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Get elderly housing right and Hong Kong's silver economy can take off
Hong Kong's Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing has announced dozens of measures to promote the 'silver economy' and address the needs of the city's ageing population. These cover five main areas : boosting consumption, developing tailor-made products, promoting quality assurance of 'silver' products, strengthening financial and insurance protection, and encouraging older residents to re-enter the job market. These are all good intentions, but it also begs the question: where is the infrastructure needed to support the measures? An important part of this is suitable housing and a community that encourages ageing Hongkongers to live well and be productive for as long as they would like to be. In 2015, the Housing Society built The Tanner Hill development for aged living, offering world-class facilities. The flats are well-designed, with clever use of compact space, and come with safety measures like grab bars and anti-slip bathroom mats, plus access to user-supported cooking facilities. The premises include clinics offering both Western and Chinese medicines, a library, restaurant, swimming pool, gym and access to services like banking, plus seats in the common lifts. It would be a no-brainer to house outlets there to offer 'silver products' to this exclusive community. But what about those of less modest means? Perhaps we can consider a hybrid living model. Hong Kong could design such a housing estate in three parts. One section of flats could be fitted out with facilities aimed at independent living for senior residents. This would cater to those who want their privacy while maintaining access to medical support, including silver products and services as needed. NGOs could help.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge turns back challenge to MBTA housing law
BOSTON (SHNS) – A Superior Court judge on Friday tossed a lawsuit brought by nine municipalities challenging the MBTA Communities Act, ruling that the controversial zoning-reform law is not an unfunded mandate. Plymouth Superior Court Justice Mark Gildea granted the Healey administration's motion to dismiss the latest challenges to the 2021 law, which supporters see as a key tool to spur development of much-needed housing in more than 170 eastern Massachusetts cities and towns. Marshfield, Middleton, Hanson, Holden, Hamilton, Duxbury, Wenham, Weston and Wrentham had each filed legal complaints against the law in recent months, contending that it should not be enforceable after the Division of Local Mandates in Auditor Diana DiZoglio's office deemed the measure an unfunded mandate. Plaintiffs said allowing multifamily housing by right in at least one reasonably sized zone as the law requires could force them to absorb significant new infrastructure costs with no state assistance. But Gildea concluded the possible costs are 'indirect,' which means the law is not an unfunded mandate, and that grant programs are available to help shoulder some of the burden. 'Even if [the law] was an unfunded mandate, the Municipalities have failed to allege sufficient facts concerning any anticipated amounts associated with future infrastructure costs beyond a speculative level,' Gildea wrote in a 40-page decision. Some of the plaintiffs laid out their own issues with the law as well, such as Middleton arguing that it should not be classified as an MBTA community and therefore should not be subject to the mandatory zoning reforms. Jason Talerman, an attorney for some of the towns, said in an email that plaintiffs are 'disappointed with the result and find the decision to be contrary to applicable law.' Most of the 177 communities subject to the law have approved new zoning reforms, putting them in compliance, according to the Healey administration. In January, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the MBTA Communities Act as a constitutional law the attorney general can enforce with legal action. The high court required the Healey administration to redo the regulation-setting process. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge turns back challenge to MBTA housing law; Holden among plaintiffs
Superior Court ruling dismissing MBTA Communities unfunded mandate challenge by Michael Elfland on Scribd A Superior Court judge on Friday tossed a lawsuit brought by nine municipalities challenging the MBTA Communities Act, ruling that the controversial zoning-reform law is not an unfunded mandate. Plymouth Superior Court Justice Mark Gildea granted the Healey administration's motion to dismiss the latest challenges to the 2021 law, which supporters see as a key tool to spur development of much-needed housing in more than 170 eastern Massachusetts cities and towns. Marshfield, Middleton, Hanson, Holden, Hamilton, Duxbury, Wenham, Weston and Wrentham had each filed legal complaints against the law in recent months, contending that it should not be enforceable after the Division of Local Mandates in Auditor Diana DiZoglio's office deemed the measure an unfunded mandate. More: Holden seeks short-term halt to MBTA housing law Plaintiffs said allowing multifamily housing by right in at least one reasonably sized zone as the law requires could force them to absorb significant new infrastructure costs with no state assistance. But Gildea concluded the possible costs are "indirect," which means the law is not an unfunded mandate, and that grant programs are available to help shoulder some of the burden. "Even if [the law] was an unfunded mandate, the Municipalities have failed to allege sufficient facts concerning any anticipated amounts associated with future infrastructure costs beyond a speculative level," Gildea wrote in a 40-page decision. Some of the plaintiffs laid out their own issues with the law as well, such as Middleton arguing that it should not be classified as an MBTA community and therefore should not be subject to the mandatory zoning reforms. Jason Talerman, an attorney for some of the towns, said in an email that plaintiffs are "disappointed with the result and find the decision to be contrary to applicable law." Most of the 177 communities subject to the law have approved new zoning reforms, putting them in compliance, according to the Healey administration. In January, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the MBTA Communities Act as a constitutional law the attorney general can enforce with legal action. The high court required the Healey administration to redo the regulation-setting process. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Judge turns back challenge to MBTA housing law
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Hobart's urban growth boundary extended to allow fast-growing areas to continue to expand
Some of the fastest-growing areas near Hobart could double in size after the region's urban growth boundary was extended, allowing for more suburban development. Housing Minister Felix Ellis approved the extension of the boundary by 615 hectares, including areas to the outer north, south and east of the city. The largest extension was 176 hectares to the immediate north of the Glebe Hill housing estate at Rokeby, on Hobart's eastern shore, potentially allowing for more than 3,100 dwellings to be added. The changes also include 166 hectares to the south-east of Sorell, south of the Arthur Highway bypass, for close to another 3,000 dwellings. The urban growth boundary extension allows for greater residential rezoning but is subject to all planning approvals. Mr Ellis said the changes could provide 10,000 additional homes. Other main changes include 73 hectares at Richardsons Road in Sandford, 36 hectares at Brighton Road in Brighton, and 33 hectares on the Channel Highway at Margate. In its submission as part of the process, Clarence City Council was broadly supportive — including of the Rokeby extensions — but had concerns with the Sandford urban growth extension. It was one of two land parcels in the government's list that were identified "through dialogue with a developer", the other being at Mannata Road in nearby Lauderdale, which was also approved. The council's submission, signed by chief executive officer Ian Nelson, described the inclusion of the Sandford land as "opportunistic and not strategically justified". "It does not promote the consolidation of development within a contained area, rather, it encourages unrestrained urban sprawl in a southerly direction on the South Arm Peninsula," the submission reads. The land is subject to overlays for coastal inundation, potential contaminated land, flood-prone hazard, waterway protection and landslip hazard. Nik Masters and Dean Richards also provided a submission "on behalf of the project team" for the potential Sandford development. They described the site as being "thoroughly assessed, with extensive independent reports and modelling already completed" as part of a master plan. "Including 52 Richardsons Road within the [urban growth boundary] would enable short-term housing development on serviced land free from flood or inundation overlays," the submission reads. Under the urban growth boundary changes, Sorell could expect significant additional residential development proposed in the coming decades. The land south of the Arthur Highway bypass is yet to be served by TasWater. Mayor Janet Gatehouse said development in the area was "not going to happen overnight", and she would like to see it progress in a "sustainable, holistic fashion". "Council is trying to manage it in the most holistic way — considering environmental and community interests, and what's best for new residents," she said. Sorell has been promised a Medicare urban care clinic, its public school has recently expanded with room for further expansion, and it has a park-and-ride service for public transport. Cr Gatehouse said these services would assist in the area's continued growth, and she wanted to ensure that Sorell's rural areas could also receive adequate services. Most of the changes to the urban growth boundary were identified as part of a review of the Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Strategy, which is ongoing. Clarence City Council described changing the urban growth boundary before this review is finished as "premature". The Greater Hobart Plan, released in 2022, stated that the previous boundary could provide for 34,000 dwellings through infill development to accommodate for the region's estimated population growth over the next 25 years. It did not recommend changes to the urban growth boundary. Other changes to the boundary, approved by Mr Ellis, include 13 hectares at Risdon Vale, 18 hectares at Gagebrook, 24 hectares at Old Beach and a further 31 hectares at Sorell.
