Compensation for Planning Blight

If you buy your home for a great view, a quite neighbourhood or for local services, nice neighbours or low taxes - guess what will happen next !

I read somewhere, “The only thing certain in life is change” (Google says it was Confucius, but he didn’t speak English - please mail me if you know who it was).

France is not a country with a “compensation culture” - the quote “All for one and one for all” comes from Dumas ( I am pretty sure about that) and the Rights Of Man are engraved in stone “literally” in many public places in France.

However, here is a mail exchange I had today ….

Dear Tony,

Just a shot in the dark;  short and to the point.

I have a house at La Napoule nr Mandelieu, a very small residence privee.
Last year a development started around our lovely little lake which has now
turned into a huge holiday home, hotel complex which has completely ruined
the location of our homes.

I am not permanently resident and could not prod my French neighbours into
action but do feel we should have some compensation from the development
company for loss of value of our properties.   The French don’t think we
will lose out BUT WE WILL.

Please do you know of any groups who have been successful in cases of this
type.  I am sure the developers are laughing as it is obvious that any one
in our situation should have made a stand and claimed.   We have a
management company, Foncia Azur.  They did send us a copy photo of the
mock-up which didn’t indicate the full horror of it at all.    Seems they
were warned of it in advance.  But, that was the end of their involvement.

Yours sincerely,

Jo

==

Dear Jo,

You have pinpointed a feature of life in France which clearly illustrates some basic cultural differences. I always tell people looking to buy a home in France, “There is only one thing you can do with a great view - and that is to lose it”.

Short and to the point answer - there is no compensation for the loss of a view or the blighting of a property. It is one of the reasons that motorways, railways, a by-pass, a nuclear reactor or a sewage farm can be built with simple planning permission. No committees or appeals - no compensation.

If a resource, building development or any construction is considered “in the public interest” (a cynic may suggest in the local landowners, mayors or investors “interests”) or for the National good - then anyone complaining would be considered as being unpatriotic and against the interests of the people of France.

In your area tourism is very much in the “interests of the people of France” so just about anything which increases tourist revenue is acceptable.

The developer, I assume, has full planning approval for the development and providing the regulations relating to noise are not broken, then I do not believe there is anything you can demand from them.

Your French neighbours may actually be surprised at your thinking that the value of your property will be affected. A home for a French person starts at the inside of their (usually high and impenetrable) front gate and their properties are usually surrounded by dense hedges plus secure wire fences. Being in sight of (and seen from) a motorway is actually considered a good feature by many people.

I do not know of anyone who has claimed for the loss of a resource you are describing. I doubt if the developers considered they were making any difference to the locality or your management company was concerned that owners would be affected or even interested.

However, I will publish this story and ask if any other readers have any experience, insight or success with this sort of planning problem.

Does the complex have a nice restaurant or club facilities you could use, gym, golf, tennis or something which is a positive aspect for this disruption?

Best wishes

Tony