Acquiring land owned by The Crown Estate
Discussion
Long story cut short, my local allotment site has a small gravel car park area suitable for no more than 4 cars, but this small patch of land is owned by The Crown Estate, with a free right of access in order to gain access to the actual allotment site which is owned by us members (not, as is usually the case, by the parish local council). Last year's AGM saw the matter arising once again of looking into 'buying' the car park area. The idea of £thousands in solicitors fees for a little village allotment society means that the idea was quickly dismissed and 'parked' by our power-mad chairman. I suggested writing to Prince [now King] Charles with a wordy letter, sucking up a bit and highlighting our mutual love of organic growing and asking if it can be considered that the land is gifted to our allotment society. Again, this was poo-pooed by our Dearest Most Excellent Supreme Leader chairman.
Therefore, I'm planning on personally writing a wordy letter to our new king, highlighting the rich history of the village (traced back to the days of Charles II), the fact that the allotment society has just celebrated its centenary, and that we all have a mutual love of organic growing. Developers have come and gone through the years, dangling attractive amounts to buy the land which is held in Trust but these have unanimously always been voted against by us with our voting rights.
If the reply from Charles or one of his underlings is favourable (wishful thinking?) then it could be the thin end of a wedge, but if it's no then nothing changes.
Has anybody been through a similar process?
Therefore, I'm planning on personally writing a wordy letter to our new king, highlighting the rich history of the village (traced back to the days of Charles II), the fact that the allotment society has just celebrated its centenary, and that we all have a mutual love of organic growing. Developers have come and gone through the years, dangling attractive amounts to buy the land which is held in Trust but these have unanimously always been voted against by us with our voting rights.
If the reply from Charles or one of his underlings is favourable (wishful thinking?) then it could be the thin end of a wedge, but if it's no then nothing changes.
Has anybody been through a similar process?
Looking at the site overview, is that not a 'ransom strip' to ensure that the allotment site cannot be used for development as no access road could be created?
If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
jbuk__ said:
Looking at the site overview, is that not a 'ransom strip' to ensure that the allotment site cannot be used for development as no access road could be created?
If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
Looking at the Land Registry, the house to the left owns all of that driveway (the square of car park is unregistered) so getting access wouldn't depend on the Crown Estate land.If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
One question though is why is there a need to take ownership of the land? Do the Crown Estate know that it exists, and do they care what is done with it, eg. if you were to resurface it?
Gareth79 said:
jbuk__ said:
Looking at the site overview, is that not a 'ransom strip' to ensure that the allotment site cannot be used for development as no access road could be created?
If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
Looking at the Land Registry, the house to the left owns all of that driveway (the square of car park is unregistered) so getting access wouldn't depend on the Crown Estate land.If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
One question though is why is there a need to take ownership of the land? Do the Crown Estate know that it exists, and do they care what is done with it, eg. if you were to resurface it?
I get the 'ransom' point, but the site is surrounded by other houses, gardens and small residential roads so building an access road somewhere else would not be impossible should a developer wish to pursue that.
Map link: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6972576,0.469477...
(Site entrance and piece of land in question is in the northwest corner)
Golfgtimk28v said:
The crown isn't in charge of crown estates , writing to them is pointless.
Can you elaborate?That's got ransom strip written all over it.
If you only want to guarantee access, then contact the Crown Estate and ask for rights to pass and repass in perpetuity. Not an expensive or difficult thing to do. It will be a right of access and egress tied to the use of the allotments. no need to take ownership.
The Crown Estate is a standalone organisation. The Crown is nominally the head, but it owns and manages marine, rural, Royal Parks and commercial. Revenue passes to Treasury. It is also a very interesting bunch to work with.
They are contactable via the web, although you will probably be passed to their local agent for your area. Not sure who it would be for where you are. Sometimes it's a local other areas it is KF, Savills or whichever.
Koyaanisqatsi said:
Can you elaborate?
Might be called the crown estates but the Monarch has pretty much zero to do with how they are managed, that is done by an independent group. Writing to the King about some scraggy bit of land would be doubley pointless and futile, write to the managing committee if you must said:
Acquiring land owned by the crown estate
The traditional way to sort this out, is to buy a horse and some shiny armour then challenge King Charles to battle. Bosworth is quite a central location or Hastings if you’re down south.
https://www.halloweencostumes.co.uk/men-s-knight-i...
Edited by Mr Miata on Wednesday 26th October 18:29
Mr Miata said:
said:
Acquiring land owned by the crown estate
The traditional way to sort this out, is to buy a horse and some shiny armour then challenge King Charles to battle. Bosworth is quite a central location or Hastings if you’re down south.
https://www.halloweencostumes.co.uk/men-s-knight-i...
Edited by Mr Miata on Wednesday 26th October 18:29
jbuk__ said:
Looking at the site overview, is that not a 'ransom strip' to ensure that the allotment site cannot be used for development as no access road could be created?
If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
Any developer would just buy the detached house to the right for access. Make them an offer they couldn’t refuse. If so then I expect that it might raise questions about how much longer the allotments would continue to exist, or whether the offers from property developers would become significantly more tempting if the land ownership included access up to a main road.
Golfgtimk28v said:
Koyaanisqatsi said:
Can you elaborate?
Might be called the crown estates but the Monarch has pretty much zero to do with how they are managed, that is done by an independent group. Writing to the King about some scraggy bit of land would be doubley pointless and futile, write to the managing committee if you must Their website includes a contact page.
https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/contact/
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