They may be objecting because new-build houses DO change the nature of the locality. Round here there is a planning habit of giving permission for a group of three new-build houses next to one or two existing dwellings. But the design of these houses is far more suitable for town houses, so we now have a whole host of mini blots on the landscape, town-type houses with townie-in-the-country big 4x4s parked in the driveways - at night of course because they've driven to work in the day, to overfill the car parks in town which are sized for town cars.
Our neighbours up the road wanted something more in the vernacular when they built their new house and they really had to fight hard to get it - the initial PP was for the usual 3 x town-houses whereas they wanted a family home which looked as if it had always been there. It's taking a while to blend in, but at least it looks the part. Down the road on the other hand we have a row of 60s bungalows, the fashion at the time - they will never blend in.
So objections to new-builds is not necessarily NIMBYism. And at what point [member=10673]SallyintNorth[/member] will you allow newcomers to be 'locals'? We have been here for 25 years, but we don't feel local (in spite of Mr F having been born and bred just 30 miles up the road); you have been there even less time, but you seem to see yourself as local. Round here you can be considered local if you or your children went to the local High School, or if you can cite other locals as your cousins/uncles/sisters/fathers. Perhaps there are subdivisions in localness within that definition but really the whole idea of being local is fairly farcical and medieval - we all live on earth, we're all Jock Tamson's bairns, isn't that enough?
I do understand the whole problem, but everyone wants to live somewhere, and is each person in the wrong for wanting to live somewhere beautiful? You should hear me, or perhaps not, when I get stuck in a standing queue heading up towards the Highlands, but why shouldn't everyone else be heading that way too? We have to learn to share, we have to build houses suitable for everyone, but it should be done with sensitivity to style and price. Second homes? I find that just greedy
They object for many reasons. As Sally said they think their property prices might be affected. They might lose their view or the place will be busier, noisier, different. The same worries affect residents too.
I don't have a problem with second home owners or holiday lets. If you have enough money to invest in a second home why shouldn't you? Holiday lets create a lot of employment. The key is balance and the right development in the right place on the right scale.