Big trouble in Little London: Tiny Hampshire village that's being overrun by wealthy city dwellers from the capital rage at 'greedy' developers pushing up prices

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Its name is thought to derive from when Londoners were fleeing the capital for the Hampshire countryside during the Great Plague in the 17th century.

But more than 350 years later, residents of Little London have hit out at 'greedy' developers amid fears they are being overrun by newcomers from… London.

Locals in the village near Basingstoke say wealthy people who are after a 'country pad' are buying expensive houses in the area that they cannot afford.

And they warned those looking to escape the city that there is 'nothing here' for them because the infrastructure will not cope with the number of residents.

Little London has just one pub, no shop or street lights, and hosts a population of only a few hundred – which could rise significantly if developers get their way.

Local residents of Little London in Hampshire protest in front of the sign for the small village

Locals are concerned about the number of new homes being built in Little London, Hampshire

Retired teacher Carol Donner, 65, who has lived in Little London for 13 years, said she and other villagers are now working together to stop the overdevelopment of the village 

One example of a house in Little London that has significantly risen in price is this cottage. It sold for £500,000 in 2004, then £845,000 in 2019 and is now on the market for £1,100,000

Among those concerned for the village is Carol Donner, 65, who has lived there for 13 years. She said: 'We have got this sign that says 'Welcome to Little London'. 

'We were going to put a sign underneath it and say 'Twinned with Greater London'.'

The retired teacher said she and other villagers are now working together to stop the overdevelopment of Little London.

Mrs Donner said: 'There's quite a few of us that are getting together and we have met up and come up with ideas and things we need to do. 

'It's an ancient village, there's not many houses and it's got no infrastructure at all - we don't even have street lights. We have got nothing in the village at all and it's just being concreted over by people who are being greedy.

'They are coming from London because they want a country pad and they are just going to concrete over here.'

Among the applications are plans for multiple houses, battery storage facilities and conversions of barns into business units and event venues.

Mrs Donner added: 'It's just ridiculous. It's not a village where you can buy affordable houses because there's no infrastructure, even if you thought you could build affordable houses, it's not the right place for them.

'It's greed over need and it's the wrong houses in the wrong place'

She continued: 'I looked at all the houses for sale within a two and a half mile radius and I stopped counting... 25 houses all over £700,000. I mean, who is going to buy those houses?

New homes being built in Little London in Hampshire which are causing concern for locals

Carpenter and joiner Tom Cullum has lived in Little London for 37 years and said: 'It's just horrendous what's happening in this village'

Applications include plans for multiple houses and conversions of barns into business units 

'It's a very stoic village because there's nothing here and it's not a place people move to. There's just nothing here for them, this is the whole point.

'We can't stress this enough, this is just a village with some houses and a pub that doesn't open very often.'

A plan to build three detached houses in Little London is one of the many new applications that sparked a protest from residents.

According to Mrs Donner, the proposed plan will transform stables into homes and she fears this will encourage other neighbours to do the same.

The resident said the application saw 40 objections from frustrated locals.

Kevin Chatburn, 69, chair of the local rural protection group, said:  'I've got relatives in their 30s and they have all moved out of the area completely because they can't buy anything here'

Locals fear the continual planning proposals threaten to destroy parts of the nearby woodland

Josie Calladine, five, on the shoulders of her father James, holds up a tongue-in-cheek sign to add to the 'Welcome to Little London' sign in the area, adding: 'Twinned with Greater London'

She added: 'None of them are what we call nimby, they are people that have their heart and soul in the countryside and want to protect that. Why can't people go and build affordable houses on brownfield sites that people can afford to buy.

'We don't know who will be able to afford to buy them and none of the houses around here are cheap.'

Ms Donner added: 'The situation is appalling here... no sooner is the ink dry on one application than another one pops up.'

Tom Cullum has lived in Little London for 37 years and said: 'It's just horrendous what's happening in this village'.

The 79-year-old added: 'It's obvious what's happening, the village is being infilled by houses - really expensive houses - over £700,000 to £800,000 and they're filling in the spaces.

The Plough Inn is the only pub in the Hampshire village of Little London, which has no shop

Locals in the village near Basingstoke say wealthy newcomers are after a 'country pad'

A phonebox in Little London which now hosts a small book exchange for people in the village

'It's just gone absolutely crazy in this village and the traffic has doubled - it's horrendous. It's almost a rat run now.'

The carpenter and joiner said the houses that are being built are 'not affordable houses anyway'. He added: 'The type of houses that are being built, local villagers couldn't afford them anyway.

'They're people from London, I would have thought - business people who want to come and live in a rural village.'

Kevin Chatburn, 69, is chair of the Tadley and Pamber Rural Protection group.

Residents warned those looking to escape the city that there is 'nothing here' for them

The retired engineer from neighbouring Tadley said: 'All of the houses that are being proposed in Pamber are typically £750,000 to £1.25million so they're being purchased by people from outside the area.

'They are not providing dwellings for those who are already living in the area - particularly young people.

'I've got relatives in their 30s and they have all moved out of the area completely because they can't buy anything here.'

Little London backs onto Pamber forest, which is described by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust as being 'one of the foremost important woodland sites outside of the New Forest'.

Residents of Little London have hit out at 'greedy' developers amid fears of overdevelopment

But locals fear the continual planning proposals threaten to destroy parts of this woodland.

Mr Chatburn said his organisation works with villagers to oppose 'inappropriate developments'.

He added: 'The landscape and visual amenity of the village is impacted by quite a lot of these developments as well.'

The planning portal has seen continuous objections to developments from neighbours.

Objecting to a stable conversion proposal on the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council planning portal, Gary Hills said: 'The proposed development is another attempt to extend the village into the surrounding farmland, expanding the footprint of the village.'

Little London has just one pub, no shop or street lights, and a population of a few hundred

On behalf of the Pamber Parish Council, Chris Gunnell wrote: 'There is no local need.

'At present there are at least 17 properties for sale in the area, there are 13 properties under construction in the parish and 30 yet to be constructed that have planning permission granted.'

There are 12 villages called Little London in the UK, although there used to be more than 100 - and the name is said derives from the outbreak of the Great Plague in 1665.

Describing the history of the village, Mrs Donner said: 'There are a few Little Londons in the UK and they come from when there was the great plague.

'People moved out of Greater London to avoid the plague and set up the small villages.'

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