Greenfield...

Dec. 1, 2002
<b><b>Broken dreams</b></b><br> For a golden decade, builders in Surrey slapped &amp;“funny money&amp;” price tags on houses - and got away with it. For lavish landscaping around the private drive, kitchens by Mark Wilkinson and gated entrance within a mile or two of the M25, buyers have been all too ready to part with millions.<p></p><p> Times, however, could be changing. Between 50,000 and 100,000 City jobs have vanished in 2002, and the A3 is closer to becoming the Boulevard of Broken Dreams than it was possible to imagine a year or so back.</p><p> There is no sign, so far, of Tony Pidgley flogging off his land bank and jumping into Berkeley&amp;’s updated version of Noah&amp;’s Ark. But the atmosphere is suddenly chilly: builders&amp;’ jobs are going at MD level and &amp;“tin hats&amp;” are weekday uniform in the lower ranks as everybody keeps their head down.</p><p> At a West End dinner the other night, words of comfort were offered up those selling houses in Surrey for more than &amp;£1 million. Under &amp;£500,000, the market is still firm - but blocks of flats for first time buyers look a safer bet for builders pondering bonuses in 2003.</p><p> Economists promise a housing crash is …

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