Advice needed with land!
Discussion
My parents have seen 4 acres of 'agricultural land' with a fairly new barn on there. Mum's always wanted a nice bit of land and a barn to live In so this seems Ideal!
We could only afford It by selling our current house which means we'd have nowhere to live for a few years untill we got planning permission to change the barn Into a house? We thought about buying a big Caravan to live In while we were waiting for it but we're not too sure on the rules regarding this! I read somewhere that you have to move the Caravan around a couple of times a year but not sure how true this Is?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Leon
We could only afford It by selling our current house which means we'd have nowhere to live for a few years untill we got planning permission to change the barn Into a house? We thought about buying a big Caravan to live In while we were waiting for it but we're not too sure on the rules regarding this! I read somewhere that you have to move the Caravan around a couple of times a year but not sure how true this Is?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Leon
Check 'VERY' cacefully the status of the land, if its greenbelt then obtaning PP could be difficult if not inpossible. I've been granted PP to convert redundent barns into dwellings with grant to locate caravan on site during the build. I've heard about people saying you can move the van around the site it's NOT true, if PP not granted then enforcement will follow
The fact that your Mum has even had the chance to see the land for sale tells me it will never get planning for change of use .
I hope I am wrong for your parents sake , but "deals" very seldomly hit the open market .
edit to change never to very seldomly
I hope I am wrong for your parents sake , but "deals" very seldomly hit the open market .
edit to change never to very seldomly
Edited by Busamav on Monday 2nd August 15:05
Just to echo what everyone else has said, if it really was as easy as buying a few acres sticking up a barn and then applying for a conversion of use, we'd all be living in sodding great houses with 3 acres of garden, sadly the Countryside Commission, CPRE, planners etc are all going to make sure that doesn't happen.
t and at a premium price because they have the planning approval.Don't get conned by people selling land who tell you 'getting planning permission is easy'. It's not true. If the authorities don't wish to give you planning permission, there is nothing you can do - you have no essential rights to live on a given piece of land. If the land is near a water course, you may also need planning permission from the environment agency as they're very sensitive about flooding.
Even if the land can be converted to residential use, if it can be seen from any distance (often the case in rural locations), then you will be strongly restricted on the sort of house you can build - planners are very uncomfortable with anything that 'changes the landscape', so even putting a roof light in a barn can be treated as controversial.
Remember also that to be used as a home, you will need to provide services (water, electricity, sewage) and that can cost. A septic tank installation might start at 5 grand and easily end up double that depending on the site - you might also need to obtain permission from the environment agency. Electricity and water connections are charged by the distance from the main supply, so you can easily spend 10K plus just on getting power.
You would normally get a separate planning permission to put a caravan on site - often it will only be granted for a set time, after which you would have to remove the caravan or re-apply for permission. If your caravan is 'plumbed in' to services (electricity, water, sewage, gas), moving it is a pain in the arse. Whilst it is possible to live in a caravan, it's difficult and very cold in winter. Remember you won't have any decent storage or washing facilities unless you have a decent sized static caravan. You should plan on living on site for at least a year - if that seems like too much hassle, then don't even consider it. Often you end up on site much longer than that.
The people talking about moving the caravan are probably talking about trying to avoid needing planning permission. If you're planning to live on site, you need permission so don't think you can really avoid it unless you're up for a fight - basically, if you're caught out, you're caught out and the caravan can be taken away and destroyed. Note also that you'll probably be stung for council tax too (though at a reduced rate).
Even if the land can be converted to residential use, if it can be seen from any distance (often the case in rural locations), then you will be strongly restricted on the sort of house you can build - planners are very uncomfortable with anything that 'changes the landscape', so even putting a roof light in a barn can be treated as controversial.
Remember also that to be used as a home, you will need to provide services (water, electricity, sewage) and that can cost. A septic tank installation might start at 5 grand and easily end up double that depending on the site - you might also need to obtain permission from the environment agency. Electricity and water connections are charged by the distance from the main supply, so you can easily spend 10K plus just on getting power.
You would normally get a separate planning permission to put a caravan on site - often it will only be granted for a set time, after which you would have to remove the caravan or re-apply for permission. If your caravan is 'plumbed in' to services (electricity, water, sewage, gas), moving it is a pain in the arse. Whilst it is possible to live in a caravan, it's difficult and very cold in winter. Remember you won't have any decent storage or washing facilities unless you have a decent sized static caravan. You should plan on living on site for at least a year - if that seems like too much hassle, then don't even consider it. Often you end up on site much longer than that.
The people talking about moving the caravan are probably talking about trying to avoid needing planning permission. If you're planning to live on site, you need permission so don't think you can really avoid it unless you're up for a fight - basically, if you're caught out, you're caught out and the caravan can be taken away and destroyed. Note also that you'll probably be stung for council tax too (though at a reduced rate).
Edited by Tuna on Tuesday 3rd August 11:59
Also - we're finding that it's not the barn purchase cost that is putting people off, it's the actual conversion costs once you've bought it. Financing the conversion is the main problem.
Most people have the money for the barn purchase but usually need to borrow the conversion costs. Banks simply don't want to know right now, unless you've got over 50% of the equity for the conversion too.
Most people have the money for the barn purchase but usually need to borrow the conversion costs. Banks simply don't want to know right now, unless you've got over 50% of the equity for the conversion too.
Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:
Also - we're finding that it's not the barn purchase cost that is putting people off, it's the actual conversion costs once you've bought it. Financing the conversion is the main problem.
Most people have the money for the barn purchase but usually need to borrow the conversion costs. Banks simply don't want to know right now, unless you've got over 50% of the equity for the conversion too.
Most people have the money for the barn purchase but usually need to borrow the conversion costs. Banks simply don't want to know right now, unless you've got over 50% of the equity for the conversion too.
Conversions are expensive, budget £150,000 for even a small barn.
Lots of pain in the arse restrictions as well due to planning regs.
Side note if I may!
I know of a barn which the Broads Authority (Very strict Council in Norfolk) have given the green light for it to be converted!
Based on "Architectural merit"
Will the farmer sell??????
Nope!
& I have 5 buyers intrested willing to pay up to £200K for a shell with a pile of dung inside & out!
Go figure?????
I know of a barn which the Broads Authority (Very strict Council in Norfolk) have given the green light for it to be converted!
Based on "Architectural merit"
Will the farmer sell??????
Nope!
& I have 5 buyers intrested willing to pay up to £200K for a shell with a pile of dung inside & out!
Go figure?????
herbialfa said:
Side note if I may!
I know of a barn which the Broads Authority (Very strict Council in Norfolk) have given the green light for it to be converted!
Based on "Architectural merit"
Will the farmer sell??????
Nope!
& I have 5 buyers intrested willing to pay up to £200K for a shell with a pile of dung inside & out!
Go figure?????
Perhaps he doesn't need the money and doesn't want a load of 'townies' living on his farm complaining everytime he spreads muck, sprays, drives a tractor past on the weekend or does any other of the things people moving into barn conversions often seem to object to. I know of a barn which the Broads Authority (Very strict Council in Norfolk) have given the green light for it to be converted!
Based on "Architectural merit"
Will the farmer sell??????
Nope!
& I have 5 buyers intrested willing to pay up to £200K for a shell with a pile of dung inside & out!
Go figure?????
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