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Babergh District Council is writing to local parishes urging them to inform the council if they hear about companies or individuals dividing up and selling off land into a series of smaller plots.
"In recent years there has been a particular growth in companies buying up large tracts of land and then selling them on as a series of smaller units. Although, the purchasers are not allowed to build permanent dwellings on the plots, they are able to put up fences to mark out their property and frequently park caravans on the land. In a short time, a beautiful piece of countryside can be turned into a messy eyesore" explained Richard Watson Babergh’s Head of Planning Control.
Two years ago Babergh was successful in preventing such an outcome in an area of beautiful countryside in Dedham Vale. A field had been sold, and was in the process of being divided up into 19 plots, which were offered for sale on the internet. The Council successfully took action to prevent this.
However, Babergh is concerned that without the help of local parishes and other organisations, more of these sales will go ahead before the Council is able to act. In the letter to parish councils and amenity societies, Babergh calls on them to raise awareness of the problem and pass on any useful information so that it can react in good time.
"Babergh must be able to act before things start happening on the land and the key to this is being able to know that the land is being divided up; once there are fences and other things on site it's too late and the problems are much harder to sort out. We really do need local parishes and other groups to be our eyes and ears against such rural plot sell-offs" explained Mr Watson. ENDS
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