Just how much conflict and sense of social pressure with the neighbours in modern life is the legacy of over-developing urban spaces. This as a result of council planners approving proposals that leave legacy consequences for the surrounding areas?

Estates built with narrow roads for the modern multi-car family that result in cars half parked on pavements causing obstruction, once green verges now, houses cramped on to postage stamp plots so you can open the window and shake hands with the neighbours.

In the past developers were limited to five properties an acre, that has now stretched to 15, understandably the developers wanting to maximise returns have proposals approved that increases population density akin to Hong Kong.

Increased density of living puts pressure resulting in noise, access and privacy issues that people are left to manage as developers move on to fully exploit small urban spaces.

I read with interest the objections to build on derelict railway land off Salisbury Road to cram in yet more “affordable housing”.

Unbelievably, a service road between Clarence and Park Roads in Gorleston is the subject of a development approval currently occupied by lock-up garages for a dwelling not connected to the public highway that borders the conservation area. It will cause a myriad of access and privacy issues never considered by original planners.

Councils and communities were given immediate powers to prevent the destructive practice of ‘garden grabbing’ and to decide what types of homes are suitable for their area, decentralisation minister Greg Clark announced this year. Whilst these proposals (Salisbury Road and Clarence/Park Roads) are classed as brownfield development, the issues they leave with increased population density is the same.

Whilst not against “affordable housing”, and certainly not a nimby, I would welcome comments from those with the vision and strategy to explain to all, the benefits of living in your neighbours’ pockets.

STEVE TAYLOR

Clarence Road

Gorleston