"John Smith" wrote in message
...
Round my way, and I suppose this is increasingly common, I look at houses
and think "That has a nice bit of land but the house is crap - why can't I
knock it down and build a new one but a quality new one!" How difficult is
it to get permission to do this? Doesn't the new house have to reflect the
old house to such an extent that it defeats the purpose?

Our Stalinist planning system may stand in your way. The planners act as
the style police, insisting a house be mock something, when no such
regulation exists. In the vast majority of the UK a house can look like you
want it to be in theory. The style police stand in the way, you can appeal,
it takes time and money, and you will probably win, but most people cave in
and go with the style police. Hence you don't see advanced house designs in
the UK.

In many other countries it is common to see a superb looking modern house,
say on the side of a hill, which will grab your attention, with both
complimenting each other. In the UK you only see a hill which you ignore.






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