Nimby neighbours object to 86-house estate being built nearby

Neighbours at war over 86-house estate being built by up to the edge of their garden boundaries and ‘spoiling’ the countryside views from their £360,000 homes

• Local residents are outraged over the construction of a new housing estate
• Homeowners in Moulton Chapel, Lincolnshire fear for the value of their houses
• They also complain the new housing estate will destroy their scenic views 
• They claim the construction of the new estate is making their lives ‘hell’  

Villagers are fuming at a huge housing estate being erected up to the edge of their garden boundaries – replacing their countryside views with an ‘ugly’ building site.

Homeowners say their lives have been made hell for the past nine months by the 86 house development being constructed on their doorsteps in Moulton Chapel, Lincolnshire.

Residents are being ‘driven mad’ by the ear-splitting sound of machinery on a daily basis and can’t leave their windows open as their homes get covered in thick dust.

They say constant drilling, which begins each day at 7am on Roman Road, is causing their living rooms walls to vibrate and leaving their gardens covered in dirt.

Homeowners say their lives have been made hell for the past nine months by the 86 house development being constructed on their doorsteps in Moulton Chapel, Lincolnshire

Residents complain they are being ‘driven mad’ by the ear-splitting sound of construction equipment across from their homes

Locals also fear once newbuilds are completed they will lose their own privacy by the overlooking houses peering into their front rooms and bedrooms.

Some of the two, three, four and five-bedroom homes are being built just yards away from the borders of people’s gardens, ‘spoiling views’ of the surrounding fields.

Families living in the village say they may be forced to move from their £360,000 homes as a result of the estate, which will be a ‘stone’s throw’ from their front doors.

Willa Vickers, 71, has lived in her property for 15 years and says one of newbuild gardens will back directly onto hers.

She said: ‘I didn’t realise how close it would be to my home. When the work began, I was met with a dust storm which continued for many months.

‘I can’t believe that it was allowed to be built right up to our fences.

Some families claim they may be forced to leave the homes and sell up because of the disruption caused by construction

Others complain once the estate is completed they will lose privacy with incomers being able to peer in through their windows that used to look out over rolling countryside

‘The noise from the heavy machinery was awful. It used to send vibrations through my house – even the slots in my toaster began to rattle.

‘I now worry about the privacy of my home when the development is complete.

‘The newbuilds have been built much higher than my home and the other existing properties and they are very close to my back garden.

‘They have been built at least three or four foot higher than the original field that was behind my house so there are worries that I will be overlooked by neighbours.

‘I think they might also block light into my garden too.

Others said that roads in the area will be unable to cope with the additional traffic coming from more than 80 new homes 

Another resident, who does not wish to be named, said one of the new houses is being built metres from her front living room

‘There are 86 properties being built on the development near to me and the road used to next to these newbuilds and the existing properties on my street is Roman and not very wide.

‘I don’t think it is very suitable for the extra traffic that we will get. I don’t feel the developers care about the surrounding neighbours when all is said and done.

‘The developers have apologised for the disruption, but anyone can do that.’

Another resident, who does not wish to be named, said one of the new houses is being built metres from her front living room.

The 40-year-old foster carer, who lives with her 57-year-old partner, said: ‘The development is going up all around my house.

‘If I threw a stone out of my front window, I could hit one of the new houses to give some perspective as to how close it is to mine.

‘The first house on the new estate is a two-storey house and looks right into my house due to how high the developers have raised the ground.

‘We are and feel suddenly very overlooked and we care for vulnerable children in our home, so I worry about our privacy.

Some residents mourn the loss of countryside and the loss of privacy they will suffer once the new properties are completed and occupied

The plans show the extent of the development in Moulton Chapel which have angered existing residents

‘There are at least 20 more new houses being built near the back of our house and they run across our garden and fields and so we feel like we won’t have any privacy in our garden either.

‘From the start, the building of the new development has caused a lot of disruption. The noise and the dust were unbearable, especially in the summer months.

‘Dust was coming into my house constantly and I was having to clean it every day.

‘When the builders were drilling, my walls in the house would shake and vibrate. I did not expect it to be this disruptive.

‘Now, my main concern is that when the housing estate is finished, we will lose all our privacy as the house being built are raised and can see into our house.

‘I am also worried about flooding as the drainage from the new houses has to go somewhere and with it being built on a higher level, I’m scared it will cause floods.’

A third local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: ‘Before this we had lovely views of the countryside and fields and now its just a ugly building site.

‘Before too long, all the sunlight will be blocked out and hundreds of extra people will descend on the village, which will struggle to cope with all the extra traffic.

‘I think a lot of people will move house now because of this. It’s driving everyone mad and it’s spoiled a lovely area.’

The multi-million pound Chapel Gate development, led by Allison Homes, began on April 19, 2021 and is due to be completed some time this year.

An Allison Homes spokesman said: ‘Our Chapel Gate development in Moulton Chapel received full planning consent from South Holland District Council in 2021.

‘The levels on site have been formed to achieve the gradients that are required for a sustainable drainage system.

‘We understand there are local concerns and are speaking with the residents and the council to address these.

The developer said the site has been elevated to create a ‘sustainable drainage system’

The developer said they are going to provide ’86 high-quality new homes, including a number of bungalows and affordable properties, as well as public green open spaces’

‘We have also agreed to stop our work on site while these discussions take place.

‘The development will provide 86 high-quality new homes, including a number of bungalows and affordable properties, as well as public green open spaces.

‘As part of our legal obligation to the Local Authority, a total of £141,144 will be made in Section 106 payments towards the provision of services and infrastructure.

‘In this case this has been allocated to the local primary school and medical centre.

‘We believe that the finished development will deliver a successful outcome for the new and existing residents, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that this happens.’

The developer added: ‘As part of our legal obligation to the Local Authority, a total of £141,144 will be made in Section 106 payments towards the provision of services and infrastructure. In this case this has been allocated to the local primary school and medical centre’

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