Land Purchase

[jezzaaa]

Chaps - I would be very grateful for some advice on buying land, with no planning permission, and the process and likelihood of getting permission to build a single residential property as a home, rather than an investment. The bits of land I've seen are generally around berks or Surrey and have some out buildings and/or hard standings on them. Some have been used as commercial sites for storage etc. There are residential properties within view near most of them. Most of them have water and electricity connected but no gas, and potentially no waste services I guess. Question is, what's the process of the planning permission and what are the chances of getting permission for building a house on land like this? I'm asuming the chances aren't good or its not economically viable because I guess the owners would get permission and then market the land with a huge price increase.

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,
J.

[MikeyT]

Can a mod move this to P&P?

[richyb]

If a bit of land could have a residential dwelling built on it then it would definately be sold with planning permission as its worth more to the seller. Therefore if you found a bit of land with no planning permission very high chance you'd be refused. What sort of size and price are you talking. Within the commuter belt you'd be looking at serious money, several hundred thousand for only maybe a half acre plot.

[V8mate]

See if you can download any information from the Land Registry (costs £3 I think). This will tell you about any covenants precluding residential use.

Pop in and see the local planning department. They'll tell you straight away whether the site is in an area within which they have decided not to permit residential use.

Nothing stopping you making an offer on theland 'subject to receipt of planning permission'. Nothing to stop you, in fact, applying for outline planning on a site you don't own!

[mr_spock]

Can I ask how you find land like this? I'd be happy to find a piece of land not too far from NW London with a garage/workshop/storage building on that can't be used for residential (to keep the cost down).

[Ravix]

Local Authority Councils develop Unitary Development Plans (UDP) which sets out their preferred uses for land as part of the overall town / county planning. (ie ensuring balanced, sustainable communities). These are usually reviewed every five years or so. UDP might be available on the web. Alternatively, you my be able to ask about the specific site at the Planning Dept.

BTW - UDP uses are not always set in stone...

Another thing to consider when buding more remote sites in the cost of getting services to it (ie Electric, Gas, Water & Sewerafe, Broadband etc). Can be very expensive if there is nothing nearby.

Ravix