Land development

[Clippy]

Anyone on here ever purchased a plot of land and subsequently developed it by building a house or similar?

What was the experience like?

A plot of land nearby is available and I'm toying with the idea of pursuing further.

[DimPrawn]

I've looked at this a lot.

Never found a plot of land that wasn't stupidly priced to such an extent it would be cheaper to buy a house and knock it down and rebuild.

The trick is to find a rundown bungalow on a large plot and then apply for PP to demolish and replace with a modern house.

If you don't get PP you can always flog it again.

[alreadypacked]

Anyone on here ever purchased a plot of land and subsequently developed it by building a house or similar?

What was the experience like?

A plot of land nearby is available and I'm toying with the idea of pursuing further.

Go for a chat with the local planning officer first, they should tell you if there is a chance to get planning permission.

I went down that road a few years ago, a mistake on the plans and they got rejected. Lost interest, sold the land a few years later and got 100K more than I paid for it

[Clippy]

That's the challenge - getting the land for a good price.

As has been said, this is hard to do nowadays particularly in the South East.

[jmo21]

Mrs jmo21's cousin is doing that just now.

her bloke is a builder though, and doing a lot of the work himself, mostly nights and weekends, and arranging contractors for the rest. It's taken them over 2 years, including planning permission and right of way issues.

They lived on site in a caravan for most of the time (moved back with her parents during the winter there).

From the photos I've seen the house is going to be spectacular and according to them it's been well worth it.

[DimPrawn]

Where in the SE are you looking?

I joined Home | Land for sale in the UK from Plotfinder.net at one point.

Trick is to ring all the estate agents in the area you are looking at and tell them what you want to do. Also look at all the auctions.

[TestMangler]

That's the challenge - getting the land for a good price.

As has been said, this is hard to do nowadays particularly in the South East.

A absolutely hate to have to say this, but I agree with DP (and some other advice on this thread).

Has the land you're looking at have outline planning permission ? Or any permission ?

I know a guy who is good at dealing with planners/council officials and he buys un-permissioned land and fights his way through to outline permission before selling on to developers. The difference in land value from brown/green field to outline PP is significant, to say the least !

[Clippy]

The owner of the land has, in the past, applied for planning permission to build a house which was rejected.

Upon further cursory investigation, it appears the rejection was due to proposals by the Highway Agency to widen an adjoining road which would have meant, I presume, said road would move closer to the boundary of the land in question.

However, the land particulars from the vendor suggest the Highways Agency are no longer planning on widening this road so, potentially, any future building plans should be approved.

With this in mind, the question that arises is why isn't the vendor pursuing obtaining permission again - in theory all he would have to do is update and re-submit his previously rejected plans which, I believe, shouldn't be too costly.

[PAH]

The problem is that land with planning permission or potential to demolish and rebuild is priced too high.

Similar to houses that need refubishment priced equivalent to estimated value after refurb minus estimated cost of refurb.

Hard to find bargains, unless you're willing to put up with flaws such as near a pylon, railway line, motorway, floodplain, or disused mine shaft.

In the last 10 years or so speculating developers have cornered the market. Many estate agents have preferred clients (builders who may have 'done a deal' with them to get first nod) they contact before advertising new land/properties to the wider audience. So any advertised suitable land is going to be top whack.

[PAH]

With this in mind, the question that arises is why isn't the vendor pursuing obtaining permission again - in theory all he would have to do is update and re-submit his previously rejected plans which, I believe, shouldn't be too costly.

Maybe he has already enquired and found permission unlikely, so it's more profitable to sell as 'potential for development' with the premium added to the price, and let the mug who buys it find out it really isn't.

Only way to be sure is to apply for permission. Only when it's granted can you say the land will get it.