Childrens Play Areas

I purchased my house from Bloor Homes 5 years ago. At the time of purchasing it I noted a space of land to the front. When I asked the sales lady what that bit would be she told me "Green Open Space", when I asked what that meant she physically took myself and my partner to a piece of garden typed area with a bench on it and told me exactly like that! As the site also had what was then Wilcon Developers (now Taylor Woodrow) on it also, the piece of land for the first two years remained their site office as they actually owned and had responsibility for making it into the green open space. For a further 12 - 18 months after Wilcon relocated themselves on the overall site it was left as baron undeveloped land. Pressure from residents to the local council for them to do something with it resulted in it being landscaped we then found it that there was also going to be a childrens play area put on it, which to add insult to injury was placed right next to mine and my neighbours boundary. I am attempting to tackle the developer because I was actively mislead when I purchased my home, coupled together with the fact that Wilcon's plans showed the area as what it was going to be a "Childrens Play Area". Bloor knowing the effect that this would have in my opinion chose to actively mislead by their plan showing "green open space" despite the fact that Wilcon sold the land to Bloor so from the outset with Planners this piece of land was going to be a childrens play area and Bloor knew it, just chose not to disclose it. I have looked into it with other neighbours on the development where I live as they found themselves mislead into purchasing other houses near other areas which have since been developed into children's play areas, again despite asking specifically for an explanation of what the land was going to be. You will appreciate that the noise that we as residents have to put up with from children on these areas is unbearable and it is made even worse in the summer when you would like to enjoy your garden or your home but with windows or doors open. Speaking to my local estate agent has confirmed that this has down valued my home and the fact that the original planning permission was that the houses should not be sold or occupied until after the play areas had been put in place was not overseen by my local council or enforced. So I am interested in anyone else who has found themselves in a similar position as myself contacting me with a view to highlighting this problem to stop anyone else ending up in a similar one and with the hope of getting some sort of compensation from my developer for the upset this causes and the down valueing of my property.

My e-mail address is: kblackburn@s-norfolk.gov.uk

Many thanks

Kathy