Amenity land - planning permission possibility?
Discussion
Hopefully this is the correct spot, but mods please move if you feel its more appropriate elsewhere.
So in short, the wife, kids and I currently live in rented accomodation and have been on the lookout for a suitable house that will support equestrian usage. Living in rural cambridgeshire/Norfolk, there are quite a few properties available but none have really ticked all the boxes. Yesterday when searching for aplot to do a self build or replacement, we found a plot of land for sale, in all about 3+ acres, described as amenity land( at a fair price as well).
Now quickly searching on the web last night threw up a host of issues with amenity land and the chances of gaining a change of usage or even planning permission, and this seems to be mainly concerning what surrounds send Amenity land.
In the case of this parcel of land, there is a property on a plot next door (accoroding to Google map) and that's it. Its all agricultural land for several hundred acres in all directions. The plot itself has several dilapidated barns and outbuildings rip for re-development, but does have power and water.
An approach to the local council planning office is a first stop, which I'll do later. But I was after any PH'ers experiences of trying to get changes of use for Amenity land or even planning permission, or peoples expierenced views in whether this is worth the effort.
The price is not insubstantial and I want a good idea of chances of success before I seriously consider an offer.
I will pop buy to answer any questions that arise but i don't have much more info than already described.
Thanks in advance.
So in short, the wife, kids and I currently live in rented accomodation and have been on the lookout for a suitable house that will support equestrian usage. Living in rural cambridgeshire/Norfolk, there are quite a few properties available but none have really ticked all the boxes. Yesterday when searching for aplot to do a self build or replacement, we found a plot of land for sale, in all about 3+ acres, described as amenity land( at a fair price as well).
Now quickly searching on the web last night threw up a host of issues with amenity land and the chances of gaining a change of usage or even planning permission, and this seems to be mainly concerning what surrounds send Amenity land.
In the case of this parcel of land, there is a property on a plot next door (accoroding to Google map) and that's it. Its all agricultural land for several hundred acres in all directions. The plot itself has several dilapidated barns and outbuildings rip for re-development, but does have power and water.
An approach to the local council planning office is a first stop, which I'll do later. But I was after any PH'ers experiences of trying to get changes of use for Amenity land or even planning permission, or peoples expierenced views in whether this is worth the effort.
The price is not insubstantial and I want a good idea of chances of success before I seriously consider an offer.
I will pop buy to answer any questions that arise but i don't have much more info than already described.
Thanks in advance.
Three things immediately spring to mind:
- Its 'amenity land' designation may exist as part of an earlier planning approval that the 'amenity space' was intended to support, in which case it is possible that in addition to Planning there is a legal agreement (usally known as either a Section 106 agreement or a Unilateral Undertaking) that prevents its use for other purposes. Has the property with the dilapidated buildings on it got any form of Planning consent (active or expired) for redevelopment, which relied upon the neighbouring land to supply its mandatory 'Public Open Space'?
- As a general rule, local authorities are usually reluctant to grant approval for change of use of amenity land to other purposes (and 'equestrian use' is recognised as a separate and distinct purpose which would represent 'enclosure' of the land) unless it can be demonstrated that alternative, replacement land is being offered elsewhere. This may be an exception it you're in the middle of hundreds of acres of farmland and your intended use is to build a single replacement dwelling on the neighbouring plot rather than building a dozen new houses, but the Planning Officer should be able to advise, and to give the reasons for the 'amenity land' designation.
- Beware possible 'village green' objctions, if there are established rights of public access to the land.
What Sam said!
There maybe a local plan policy in place that encourages redundant barns to be converted "BUT" they have to be structurally sound and sustainable.
If you are surrounded by countryside left, right & centre then its highly unlikely you will get approval.
How close is the nearest school, bus stop, pub, shops etc is another thing to think about.
If you are thinking about replacing the dwelling (if I have got this right???) Councils vary on what you are allowed. It depends on square meterage in 1 council and the other could be a percentage.
HTH!
There maybe a local plan policy in place that encourages redundant barns to be converted "BUT" they have to be structurally sound and sustainable.
If you are surrounded by countryside left, right & centre then its highly unlikely you will get approval.
How close is the nearest school, bus stop, pub, shops etc is another thing to think about.
If you are thinking about replacing the dwelling (if I have got this right???) Councils vary on what you are allowed. It depends on square meterage in 1 council and the other could be a percentage.
HTH!
Guys, thanks for the responses its appreciated. A quick check of the web has shown that the local council has in the past been aminable (spelling?) to changes of usage of amenity land to gardens, with various restrictions on its usage for building on.
In this instance I cannot see what benefit this piece of amenity land provides for the single dwelling it's next to.
The Amenity land (which has the old barns on it) is next to a developed plot (old house, appropriate fencing and parking etc).
My very crude understanding of amenity land is its supposed to provide a green space inbetween developments or belts of land. In this instance I cannot see what purpose this piece of amenity land fullfills, being in the fens and an oasis of delapidated buildings in the flat expanse of agricultural land?
The mrs is going to the planning office tomorrow and will also check things out with the estate agent.
As far as I'm aware there is no planning permission elapsed or otherwise on this land. We'll also try and check to understand how the land got its amenity tag.
Regards
In this instance I cannot see what benefit this piece of amenity land provides for the single dwelling it's next to.
The Amenity land (which has the old barns on it) is next to a developed plot (old house, appropriate fencing and parking etc).
My very crude understanding of amenity land is its supposed to provide a green space inbetween developments or belts of land. In this instance I cannot see what purpose this piece of amenity land fullfills, being in the fens and an oasis of delapidated buildings in the flat expanse of agricultural land?
The mrs is going to the planning office tomorrow and will also check things out with the estate agent.
As far as I'm aware there is no planning permission elapsed or otherwise on this land. We'll also try and check to understand how the land got its amenity tag.
Regards
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff