I'm with Bonnie 100% - that sums up exactly how it has been heer throughout the last ten years - the result - many 100s of 'ghost estates.
"Its a tough thing being a builder "
It's very difficult to 'pity the downtrodden builder' when wwe look out and see the (economic, social and aesthetic) devestation caused by unplanned building driven by greed.
Are you suggesting that there's nothing wrong with unplanned building?
You've had your examples - plenty more if you're prepared to take them on board.
The seaside town I mentioned earlier was expanded without the necessary alteration to the infrastructure - result - raw sewage pumped into the sea, polluting a bay that attracts many thousands of visitors each year.
We live a few miles from on of Europe's most ecologically sensitive areas, The Burren (look it up). The unplanned construction of 'trophy houses' (not many, admittedly; they wouldn't dare, but they would if they could get away with it) has resulted in ugly blots of one of the world's most important natural heritage sites.
As the result of 'pushing the envlope' (offering remuneration to the right people), the last ten + years has led to large scale building on the flood plain of the local river in our market town - result - regularly flooded shops and homes.
Four years ago we lost our view of Mount Callan - somebody put a trophy house slap in the way. "Regrettable" we though; "but people have to live somewhere"; except for the fact that the house has never been occupied.
Ireland is attractive, both to visit and to live in, for many reasons; its natural and vernacular beauty, its people, its heritage, its sense of community.... - all adversely effected by a building boom which played a major part in the current crash and which has left running sores of estates all over the country.
Jim Carroll