Hello anyone who manages to stumble across this one!
I’m in the fortunate, or possibly unfortunate position of having just bought some agricultural land, with the intention on gaining outlying and then specific planning permission for the site, in approx 4 – 5 years. Fortunate because the land was cheap, unfortunate because the land has the wrong status.
Does anyone have any advice or guidance as to how best to approach and apply to change the use of the land for the purpose of a home.
I do not wish to build string of ‘Barretts’ type new-build houses, I simply wish to build a single timber frame house utilising environmentally sound technologies, materials and utilities in an effort to minimise the impact on the local countryside.
The site is in the North Lincolnshire district, close to the Humber estuary.
Has anyone found themselves in a similar situation, we’re they have built or are in the process of building a low impact home like this, and if so, can they offer any assistance or guidance?
It is extremely difficult to get Agriculture land changed into Development land with Planning Permission (unless your a Traveller! --you don't require any permits at all). I can tell you now that you will have an uphill battle in trying to gain that permission which of course is why you managed to purchase the land cheap in the first place. Doesn't matter how environmentally friendly or appealing you intend to build the Council do not want 'Ribbon' development by individuals and by approving your plans this would open the floodgates to others. Sorry to be the messenger of Doom and Gloom but it is fact and I'm sure you probably had an idea that events would lead to this.
I have to agree with Melboy. Also, chances are that the original owner of the land would have tried to get OPP before selling as it would have increased the value of the land by a huge amount.
You might get lucky in four or five years, depending on the need for housing in your area, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Does anyone have any advice or guidance as to how best to approach and apply to change the use of the land for the purpose of a home.
Have you ever wondered why the previous owner didn’t get planning before selling it to you?
If the land is within a ‘village envelope’ you stand a small chance of getting planning approval, if its outside you stand no chance at all. I’m seriously thinking about selling a few acres of land I’ve got because a neighbour recently sold his two acres for 100k to a 'developer' who’s taking ‘a long term view’ even though the council had dedicated a web page to the land stating “there would be no prospect of an application for one or more dwellings on this site being viewed favourably. This should be made very clear to any potential purchaser of the site or part thereof.”
What you need to do is get permission for a change of use from Agricultural to Horticultural then use it as a business for say 10-20 years, then you can call it a brown field site and wait another 20 years+ in the hope you get another change of use to residential use which is most unlikely. Sorry mate.
Makes you laugh BB! I like the last bit about the Council taking positive action against anyone erecting a fence to partition off plots. Down here in Minety, Wiltshire, the Travellers had a full blown, up and running caravan site with 28 caravans on it within 2 days and the Council did nothing for 2 Months before seeking a Court Order--- which they lost, and the Travellers are still there with absolutely no chance of the Council removing them. Perhaps these people have shown the way to go about it, move in and build and when told to gerrof tell the Judge that the Council Planning Act is against your Human Rights! What is good for the Minority who flout the Law must be good for the Majority.
Originally posted by MELBOY: Makes you laugh BB! I like the last bit about the Council taking positive action against anyone erecting a fence to partition off plots.
Another field only a few miles away has been bought by http://www.propertyspy.co.uk/ who have split the field in to I guess 50-100 tiny plots and it looks ridiculous. I believe they are selling each ‘plot’ for £25k+ each! Perhaps I should sell mine like that? Anyone interested???
Are you in Minety, Melboy? Would we have seen you on Tonight with Trevor McDonald?
I think I'm right in saying that the travellers in Minety 'built' their site and then applied for retrospective planning permission on it. I suppose that BIN could do the same! Didn't some Tory MP do this too with a massive conservatory which they then had to knock down?
Hello all, thanks for your responses; unfortunately you have all confirmed my suspicions! I realise that many other landowners may have tried for PP already in the area and failed, but I believe (or rather hope), that with the district council for the area reviewing their outlying PP in 2006, that this is an opportune chance to grab some land cheap.
I have researched the chance of a change to the outlying planning permission boundary as it stands and there is some good news in that there is provision for 196 houses in the area I have purchased. One on the most divulging sites I have found to assist in this research is the planning portal, which I would recommend to anyone starting out as I have just done - http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/
On the subject of retrospective planning, I’m would like to ask if anyone has any experience of this.
In my particular case, I have bought a plot in a field, that is no more that 500 meters from the nearest village, and existing outlying planning boundary attached to that area. In order to apply for the specific planning permission I would like for my plot, I believe I have to gain some kind of planning permission for the field? Is this correct?
If I were to have built already, would I have to obtain retrospective PP on the field and then on the plot?
I have been talking to LPC about them representing the site to the planning people, anyone heard of LPC?
Originally posted by Hatster: Are you in Minety, Melboy? Would we have seen you on Tonight with Trevor McDonald?
I think I'm right in saying that the travellers in Minety 'built' their site and then applied for retrospective planning permission on it. I suppose that BIN could do the same! Didn't some Tory MP do this too with a massive conservatory which they then had to knock down?
Not far from Minety as it happens Hatser so I am well aware of the misery these people have caused to the local tax paying residents of the Village. The ironical thing is that a Minety Villager has just had an enforcement order placed against them because they did not replace the windows EXACTLY as they should have done on the Planning Agreement that was passed. Makes you want to weep doesn't it! One rule for these Travellers (they are not Gypsies by the way) who have no respect for anyone elses Human Rights and this Government, especially Fatso 2 Jags Prescott wants them treated with kid gloves! I wish they would camp out on Fatso's front Garden perhaps he would have a different view on the subject.
I saw it on Tonight wTMD - took me ages to work out that the village wasn't called Minty.
The idea about retrospective planning permission was meant as a bit of a joke, BIN! Don't take it seriously - it's basically a bit of a loophole in the law where you can take a very long time to get anything done about your property, because first you apply for rpp and then you appeal. I happen to know about it as apparently it's a sneaky way round if you only want to use something for about a 18 months - so it's quite handy if you want to use your house as business premises for a short amount of time and then plan to put it back to normal anyway.
I have in front of me sales details for 41 acres in W. Sussex which has full planning for a large house to be built on it (7 beds, 6 baths).
It is only a green field site at present (no building of any sort) - without planning, it is worth around £15,000 to £20,000. As it is, with the full planning, it is currently on the market at £2m..................
Canvas support for an 'affordable' scheme for local young people and key workers. There are agencies out ther who will assist.
When you say outlying, I think you mean outline. Our planning system is a shambles but sometimes it makes it difficult for people who are only out for profit.
Look after the site whilst it is in your ownership, you will always get your money back with interest. As they say 'They aint makin any more'.
to a 'developer' who’s taking ‘a long term view’ 
