UK Residents Block Housing Development Access with Cars in Stand-Off
Villagers in Worcestershire are using their vehicles to obstruct access for a housing development, citing concerns over bullying and safety.
Residents of Pippin Walk in Drakes Broughton, Worcestershire, are engaged in a standoff with developer Owl Properties, using their cars to block access to land designated for a new 30-home housing estate. The villagers accuse the developer of intimidation and bullying tactics, while Owl Properties asserts a legal right of access through an easement agreement.
The dispute began after an independent landowner sold the field to Owl Properties. The sale reportedly included a pre-existing easement agreement, believed to date back to 2017 when housing provider Sanctuary purchased a separate development site that Pippin Walk is part of. Residents claim they were unaware of this easement when they moved into their homes, some of which are adjacent to the proposed development site.
Residents have expressed concerns about privacy, safety, and the loss of frontage space. Geraldine Price, a 70-year-old NHS administrator, stated that she and her husband face the prospect of losing the gravel and grass frontage of their bungalow and potentially being unable to open their front windows if the road is widened for construction traffic. She described the situation as a "nightmare" and expressed fears about health and safety with vehicles passing close to their home.
Martin Huxley, a builder who rents a home on Pippin Walk, is chairing a newly formed residents' association. He stated that residents and private owners should have been informed about the easement agreement upon moving in. Huxley noted that Owl Properties had a previous attempt to gain access from Stonebow Road rejected by the planning authority, leading them to pursue access via Pippin Walk. Residents have also been directed to park in areas marked with yellow paint at the end of the road, which some feel is inadequate, particularly for elderly and disabled individuals.
Tracy Price, a retired school worker and blue badge holder, felt betrayed by her housing association, Sanctuary. She chose to live on the cul-de-sac for its quiet nature and is concerned about increased congestion and traffic.
A spokesperson for Sanctuary confirmed that the development is not a Sanctuary site and that the Local Planning Authority approved the access route. Sanctuary has asked residents to keep the road clear for the developer's legal right of entry and for emergency vehicle access, but stated they are not currently proposing legal action.
Owl Properties declined to comment on the matter. A spokesman for Wychavon District Council, which granted the development plans, also declined to comment, characterizing the situation as a "land dispute and not a planning issue."