Fiona Bruce...

Diddums!
Presumably with the squillions her house is worth she could up sticks and find an even leafier suburb?
Can't say my heart is bleeding too much , as it's a far cry from GN members who are stuck with the neighbours from hell. AlieOxon * to name just one.
I imagine these will be ritzy flats, the owners will probably be away at the weekend at their cottage in the Cotswolds/ gite or manoir in France/villa in Tuscany/yacht (delete what does not apply). So sorry, Fiona you may have to live with it!!

From the plan, it doesn't look as though the flats will impinge much upon the end of her garden, although I agree that four storeys is a bit much and all the properties on her bit of road will be overlooked.

I feel for her too, and for the neighbourhood in general. We had something similar happen to us in Winchester - so sold up and moved here. As our buyers had been living with a development that was even taller and closer than the proposals they didn't mind too much, but I knew that I wouldn't cope with all that building going on at the bottom of my garden for two years.

The first thing the builders did was cut down all the big trees that could have given us privacy and noise protection.

I am sorry for her, but she can only hope that the worst features don't get past the planning stage, and I am sure she is not the only one pointing out unacceptable things about it.

There are planning restrictions on noise, height relative to nearby buildings, flood danger, and a lot of other things, so if she concentrates on those she will have more leverage on the planning department. Comments about her own enjoyment of the lovely place she is in now won't hold much weight with them - in fact they are likely to make them regard her as a "nimby objector".

Near me an applcation is in for a four-storey care home on a site in the middle of one and two-storey homes. The proposed edifice is far too big for the plot it would be on, not just in height but in its footprint on the site - no space left round it for the sensory garden, participatory garden etc etc that are described, or for the residents to sit out in the sun - there is not nearly enough parking provided for staff and visitors, and the sewage system is already almost at capacity, so where the effluent will go for another 50 loos and the washing of fifty sets of bedding a day heaven alone knows.

These are the things that the neighbours are mentioning in the objections, because these are the things that the planning committee wil judge it on. It will be re-submitted, of course, with bits altered here and there, until it gets past. The hope is that it will be trimmed down to a better size.

Incidentally, I am not sure how her letter reached the papers, because objections to planning consent here are not made public. She must have copied it to the press.

I have read letters of objection and support on the Dartmoor panning website, I'm sure they must be in the public domain in London.
I feel sorry for her,as I would for anyone in that situation irrespective of the monetary value of the home.

Most people would be unhappy about this. If they were affordable housing rather than luxury flats at least they would have moral credibility.

I would be sad if such a block were proposed right by my garden - I think that most of us would.

Incidentally it has been interesting to see her out in Lebanon reporting on the refugee situation when we have become more used to her on home soil in less serious roles.

Looking at the plan, it overlaps her garden by a relatively small bit, not exactly looking in her bedroom windows.
People need to realise that even when their property is worth millions they have only paid for their own land, not a buffer zone of miles in every direction.
It's not likely to be "affordable" housing, unfortunately, and I am afraid I don't think she really has a leg to stand on.

It sounds as though there is a 'large condenser plant' planned for the the bit near her - well away from the owners of the luxury flats. she might get somewhere objecting to noise from that.

Diddums ? is that a bit harsh?

Presumably the Planning Authority wrote to all those in the neighbourhood asking for their comments on the proposed development and any comments, letters of objection etc will be on the council's website for all to see.

It doesn't really matter what her house is worth or where it is - or indeed who she is; it is her home and she is as entitled as anyone to object to what would be a complete change of building on an adjacent plot.
The plans will probably be passed anyway, (lack of available building space?) but at least she has registered her objections, and I expect other neighbours who may be affected will do so too.

Anyone who buys a home that they like, in an area that they like, with views and privacy that they like, is going to be upset when planning that isn't sympathetic to the area goes ahead. The poor woman is going to feel unable to go out in her garden without being spied on.

Some of these developments do cause enormous noise and disruption. I'm not sure that it's fair to say your feelings don't matter if you're rich and famous.

I can't say I would be overjoyed at plans for a block of flats to be built at the bottom of, and overlooking, my back garden or the increasing likelihood of a permanently waterlogged lawn. I would oppose it.

That doesn't mean that I agree with the NIMBY attitude of people who object to houses/flats being built some distance from them but which they feel might spoil the rather exclusive nature of the area.

Having said that, I think that people living in much more modest homes should have as much right as those living in expensive homes to have their objections seriously considered when similarly obtrusive developments are being proposed.

I can't say I would be overjoyed at plans for a block of flats to be built at the bottom of, and overlooking, my back garden or the increasing likelihood of a permanently waterlogged lawn. I would oppose it.

That doesn't mean that I agree with the NIMBY attitude of people who object to houses/flats being built some distance from them but which they feel might spoil the rather exclusive nature of the area.

Having said that, I think that people living in much more modest homes should have as much right as those living in expensive homes to have their objections properly listened to when similarly obtrusive developments are being proposed.

Something similar happened along from us - county council planners and committe opposed two schemes, but they were passed on appeal by one man in each case. I don't think one person should have that much authority, to override the views of locals, planners, councillors, conservation experts etc. etc.
One apartment's windows are just a few feet away from a neighbour's windows.

We had planning permission turned down for an estate in a field on the edge of this village because of the flooding problem.
She will not be able to object because of the view, but increased flooding is a good reason.

When we lived in Hull, we lived in a house opposite a private school. I noticed in the local paper last week that the school has permission to build a two storey library overlooking the houses, with just the street in between.
There were objections because the pupils will be able to look into the rooms of the houses opposite. Planning permission was granted despite this.
One of the houses up for sale now belongs to a teacher at the school, who does not want pupils to be able to look into the bedroom and living room of his house.

And yet vast swathes of housing are still being passed by the planners/built on/ and bought on known flood plains

Where, Alea?
Lots of housing has been built on flood plains previously, but I do not know that they still are being given planning permission. Do you know of any in particular?

Winnersh floodplain housing development dubbed madness - BBC ...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-31147252
Winnersh floodplain housing development dubbed madness. 5 February 2015. From the section Berkshire. Hatch Farm Dairies, Wokingham Image copyright ...

Has this worked?

Granted this is dated 2014, but still after the disastrous floods of the winter of 2013/14
Flood debate: Should we build on floodplains? | News | Architects ...
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily...floodplains/8659040.article
17 Feb 2014 - Yet plans have emerged for hundreds of houses in flood-hit areas such ... or at the very least has not discouraged, development in flood plains.

There are tons of houses still being built on floodplains! the Thames Valley area is more or less one giant floodplain.

I know of one - near Nassington. Not permanentbrickbuilt housing, but nevertheless new buildings, caf?? etc and facilities and a large permanent site for static caravans. Those caravans will still be homes, so there has been a huge outcry amongst the villagers who see how often that area floods. My friend who lives there has often posted photos of the floods, so I think it's nothing short of criminal.

I read your BBC link, but it does not say it has been passed.
Bovis put in for planning permission. Has it been granted?
The architects journal link does not work.

The whole of Hull is completely below sea level. That's why they built the Humber Barrage, and why they have now built another one to stop Hull flooding. It does not mean that houses cannot be built there. There's still flooding, though, because there always has been.

Sorry about the Architects Journal link, maybe too old/expired, but I think my point is nevertheless a valid one.
To get back to Fiona Bruce, however, would the opposition to this development have made the national press if a "celebrity" had not been involved? I think not

No, probably not. My pet hate is people selling off their back gardens, selling their own house as well, and moving somewhere away from the havoc they have wrought. I know a few who have done that.