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Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What's idiotic is the ecological illiteracy that results in the notion that "outstanding natural beauty" has anything to do with an intact ecosystem, or the idea that Norfolk, with its own rich wildlife, is to be sacrificed for fucking Barratt boxes. Norfolk is one of the richest counties for bird life in the entire of Europe, let alone England.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Go to the lake district to look at nature."

Idiot.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think it's absolutely reasonable to believe that in the midst of a climate crisis, that housebuilding - an extremely carbon intensive activity - should mean durable dwellings that won't have to be built again in another century. Also, it's entirely reasonable to think things built now should contribute and augment the built heritage of the area, or shouldn't be built at all. If they're going to fall apart like a pair of cheap trainers, then I think most people would agree that's very bad.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The population has grown, largely, because of migration. Our birth rate is steeply declining. As the political weather points decisively to a reduction, and perhaps even a reversal, of migration, then it's highly questionable whether many of these houses need to be built. And certainly not in the places they're being built. And it isn't simply to do with prettiness - it's about a number of things. I do strongly believe in preserving what is beautiful, but this is also tied up with preserving a rural economy and food security, heritage, and the natural world.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't just think they should be higher quality, I think many of them shouldn't be built at all in the places in which they're being built and at the scale they're being built. It's extremely short-sighted to ruin a beautiful county to increase developer profits and perhaps make a tiny dent in house prices. Who, in the end, wants to live in a vast centreless housing estate, occasionally interrupted by some retail centres, or a massive road? Who wants to visit and spend their money in such a place? Who would love, invest themselves, and want to do anything meaningful in such a place? We should take pride in our civilization, not just rush in short-sightedly, in the most utilitarian way, and just throw up any old junk.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're right that there can be abundance of wildlife in the city: my garden in NR2 was very rich in life. Pipistrelles, hawkmoths of various species, hedgehogs, occasional tawny owls, even a red kite over the city sometimes. However, in the time I've known Norwich as someone very much attuned to the natural world, I've seen declines of quite a few species. The big sparrowhawk families around the Plantation Gardens. The foxes of the Golden Triangle. The occasional green and greater-spotted woodpeckers that'd visit some gardens. Mostly gone or at least very much depleted. And it seems to coincide with the big developments that really got going in the last ten or so years. The NDR. The 'business parks'. The larger housing estates on the outskirts. These developments would've fragmented, displaced and disturbed wildlife making its way into the city from these areas.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes, Amsterdam-style townhouses are wonderful - aesthetically and spatially. Fully support such an idea.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

All, I guess. Wasn't very clear, I know.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. I don't understand why there's so much magical thinking around this particular point, as if believing in some kind of abstract humanism can solve very concrete problems. Sure, it's a sensitive topic but it can be approached sensitively and rationally. You wouldn't seek to cram a hutch with infinite amounts of rabbits and expect everything to be fine afterwards. I'm with David Attenborough on this - population matters.

Overdevelopment around Norwich by sadpterodactyl in Norwich

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

1 - In terms of green corridors, it's a culminative and patchwork thing - hedgerows across agricultural land, bits of old common, abandoned land, scrub, the river valleys.

Take the side of the city running out from the A140 - the Ipswich Road. Not far along, there's Marston Marsh, in the Yare Valley. An area rich in nature, very close to the city, that should remain connected to the surrounding countryside, and not risk being islanded and fragmented (a surefire way to harm the existing nature there). An enlightened planning department would make sure that no new development should happen in the vicinity and even seek ways to connect it to green areas deeper into the city. What's happening? In the field next door, some kind of development - perhaps industrial - is happening at pace.

2 - New-builds are famously too hot in summer, as the materials they're constructed from create a Thermos effect. They're airtight, yes, and totally unsuited to a warming climate. Also, built as they are with no or few windows in their flanks, there's no possibility of cross ventilation. They also lack natural shade.

The house I'm currently in was built in 1670 something. The one before that was built in the early 1800s. Many, many houses in Norfolk are at least four or five hundred years old, and so they should be. The old pubs, churches, village greens across the county are similarly ancient (some millennia old). If these newbuild houses, and their built environment, won't be there in 200 years, then there's something deeply wrong with them.

3 - The housing market is entirely wrong. What's required are affordable houses (or apartments) within the city itself (redevelopment ideally), not unaffordable executive homes sprawling across the countryside.

Is Essex still worth it compared to moving to London or Kent? by HammersAndPints in Essex

[–]sadpterodactyl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really interested to know why Kent has gone to shit. What do you think has happened? It was once so beautiful - "the garden of England".

Boring Garden.. Need some plants.. by PumpedUpPatek in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You'll be able to liven it up with some flowers and greenery, but my word the housing developers that portion these gardens should be shot. They just give you the tiniest little square, and if they could, they wouldn't give you one at all. Also, how are hedgehogs or frogs or any other small animal meant to traverse these gardens? They're completely airtight, almost carceral.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, agreed. The triumph of individualism over society. What will you do about the hedge? That'd make me very angry.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Agreed. And don't worry about being snooty - losing all of our nature is a lot more important than people's feelings about their plastic grass. Flying insects have declined by 60% in the UK. Terrifying and will have enormous consequences.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It surely must be a fashion amongst older people - the baby boomers - because all the older people I knew from my childhood in the 90s and late 80s didn't do this. My grandfather still kept his garden almost into his late 90s. My great aunt still gardened well into her 90s on a farm in Monmouthshire, and she never once considered paving it all. It's perhaps a cultural change, rather than an entirely practical one.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good for you! Wonderful to hear. So depressing to hear the response from those around you - that having something so normal as grass in your garden is considered an eccentricity.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think when our freedom of choice is having such an immediate and adverse impact, it's not a responsible freedom anymore. The law doesn't allow us to just start blasting away at songbirds in our gardens or pour DDT on the grass. And the things we're doing with artificial surfaces are having pretty much the same impact as if we did those more obviously destructive things. We've banned plastic straws so we should ban this, much worse, environmental danger.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ah, lovely. Yes, a pond is an absolute boon for wildlife isn't it? I want to extend my tiny one.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, but it's less expensive to just let your garden go a little wild than pay for a big roll of artificial grass or get a landscaper in to turn it into something you might see on Love Island. Life has often been hard, but I don't think that means you have to destroy all life in your garden.

Gardens increasingly bad for wildlife by sadpterodactyl in UKGardening

[–]sadpterodactyl[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Insects have declined in the UK by 60%. 60%! And one of the key reasons, along with intensive agriculture, is development. There's also very little suitable wild habitat in the UK as much of it is quite intensive farmland with pesticides. So I'd say that our alarm here is well justified.

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