We sold our house to lovely family so they could raise kids in the country… but I feel betrayed by their shocking plan

The Sun

07-07-2025

A MAN is fuming after being told his home of more than 60-years would be sold to a young family - only for the new owner to submit demolish plans.
The historic cottage, called Hiawatha, was sold by Eric Abbott under the premise a young family would be moving in to raise their children in the countryside.
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But now a planning application has been submitted to see it torn down to make way for more houses in the town of Swanmore, Hampshire.
Mr Abbott, 94, has slammed the buyer after his own family cherished the property for more than 60 years.
And he's not alone, nearly 1,000 local residents have joined him and signed a petition is support of halting the proposed development.
They also submitted 200 objection letters during the consultation period expressing their frustrations.
Meanwhile, current owner Simon Smith, who snapped up the property for £585,000, is going ahead with his application.
He wishes to construct a two two-storey, four-bedroom houses.
There will also be enough space for three cars to park, as well as gardens on each property, if plans are approved.
In an objection, Mr Abbott, wrote a scathing letter which read: "As the previous owner of Hiawatha I was totally dismayed to see the change of heart of the new owners attempting to destroy Hiawatha and replace with totally unsuitable houses.
"I instructed the estate agent to ensure my wonderful house was only sold to a family who would love it like I did and not destroy it.
"The estate agent assured me that he had made this clear to the new owners and that they had agreed it to be their forever home which is all I ever wanted for another family to love it like I had for the last 64 years.
"It seems were buying Hiawatha for financial gain.
"I had been offered to sell to many builders and I declined as this house is party [sic] of history, it was there before chapel road was even made.
"I would never have sold it had I known this was their intention and they knew that.
"There is an ancient well that in the deeds demands that it should be operable for future water shortages in the village and this was a legal requirement.
"I believe Hiawatha was built in the 15th century it is a beautiful flint cottage which should not be replaced with two identical new builds.
"I feel it should remain standing and let the slow worms, birds, bats and many other species carry on living as they have been for many years.
"I strongly object and do hope that this does not go ahead it would be a great shame to the wonderful village of Swanmore."
David Hughes, 63, lives nearby and said: "I put in [an objection] saying I wasn't very keen on it, hopefully not from a nimby point of view.
"If we're not careful, we'll have a lot of new houses here.
"It's an unusual looking house, it breaks up some of the monotony of the architecture."
Fellow local John Allen, 79, said: "The council like it, wouldn't it, more council tax, more money, that sort of thing."
Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous said: "I don't think it's the prettiest building in the village, but my main concern for it is if they put two properties in it.
"The road is already abused enough with traffic, I know there's three bedrooms [in each house].
"As we all know, if you've got three teenagers moved in all of a sudden you haven't got enough parking."
An elderly female neighbour who also didn't want to be named added: "That's pretty poor, actually, I think.
"I mean, they knew what they were going to be doing with it - that doesn't seem very honest."
Ash Bennett, Mr Abbott's former neighbour, also said: "I've lived here 18, 19 years.
"I was aware when they sold the house, I didn't know until more recently about what was going to happen to it.
"I didn't follow it closely, but my understanding was that there was an agreement it wasn't going to be knocked down and developed, it would be renovated which isn't what they wanted to do.
"Personally speaking, I would rather they wouldn't knock it down."
The dad-of-three added: "I went in it 18 years ago, nothing much has been done to it since.
"My understanding is it would require a lot of work to it."
On the planning application, Historic England said there's no evidence to suggest property was built before the 19th century - but around 1840 to 1868.
It read: "The building does not illustrate an important aspect of the nation's history, nor does it have the historic associations with nationally important individuals, groups, or events, which might give it historic special interest.'
A decision is due to be made about the planning application on July 18.
The new owner and the estate agent have been approached for comment.
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