We don’t want newbuild homes in our posh village – they’re bringing down our house prices and don’t fit in

LOCALS living in a posh village say newbuild homes are constantly popping up and they don't fit in with its landscape.

On the town's high street it's not unusual to spot Ferraris, Porsches and Mercedes parked against the kerb.

The fancy cars sit not far from Hagley's independent shops, cafes and delis.

But, residents say their posh village is becoming swamped - with newbuilds constantly springing up.

Keith, who runs the Hagley Cobbler, said it's starting to ruin their village.

The Birmingham man said: "Traffic problems are horrendous. Cars are always stuck in jams here, that's got to give off some carbon dioxide.

"Alongside traffic problems, they are building more houses. It is taking Hagley from what it used to be, a nice little village, to quite a big area."

But others say the influx of people is good for the area.

District councillor Steve Colella said it tended to be families who moved to town.

He said: "Hagley attracts home-buyers from new and far because of the features of attractions and open space.

"Alongside the connectivity and road networks, we also have the schools and a central shopping area that has quite a range of commercial and retail outlets.

"It has an attraction for people who are looking for somewhere to live and perhaps bring the family up, or come back and even retire.

"We do attract the upwardly mobile and the affluence comes with that as people move into areas where they want to stay and out their roots down."

It's not unusual for small-town locals to dislike newbuilds.

Residents in the Devon resort of Topsham are united in complaining about a lack of parking spaces as a result - and say their streets are being clogged.

They blame new-build developments taking over the 4,000-population resort on the Exe estuary five miles from Exeter.

Elsewhere, some 51 new properties have been earmarked for Wells-next-to-the-sea in North Norfolk, close to where neighbours have also condemned what was dubbed a new "Bond villain"-esque "monstrosity".

New homes already put up in Bollington in Cheshire have fuelled anger after apparently being left to rot - while residents moving into a new estate in New Waltham, Lincolnshire, found themselves unable to park on their own drives.