Overseas Property designed better than UK

I hadn’t been to Strafford upon Avon for many years, but yesterday I had occasion to go there and as I drove in on the A3400 I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, it was horrible, dreadful, appallingly designed blocks of flats every where. For gods sake this is Stratford upon Avon a major organ in the body of British Heritage, what on earth is going on, how can this sort thing be allowed happen?

My point is, affordable (if indeed these flats are) doesn’t have to mean utilitarian, dull, uninspiring architecture of the type that confronts the visitor to Stratford upon Avon.

As you might imagine I get to visit a large number of developments around the world and I am often impressed by the creative designs and the way in which the planners and the architects are able to maximise the land available in terms of units (development yield) and yet get it to “blend” with its surroundings.

I cannot imagine for one minute the authorities in Stratford upon Avon's equivalent overseas allowing any type of development that didn’t enhance or integrate with the status of the Town, indeed it’s a great pity that Stratford upon Avon is not Spain, where if it were then someone in greater authority would surely come along with a bulldozer and sort it out.

We can learn a lot from our neighbours overseas if we had the humility to admit we not very good at planning.