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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To sell our land for millions...

331 replies

Rosebyanothername19 · 16/01/2021 23:14

Long story short, we baught a house and some land along with it as we had got wind that they might be planning to build houses on it and other surrounding land and we didn't want other houses directly around ours.

We were then told by the local council that there was no chance as it had been rebuffed a number of times and wasn't going to happen. So felt a bit like we had wasted our money.

A few months later we find out that our land is the only land in the area that has been put forward for planning permission, so is potentially worth millions if sold for housing. But also a relief that we baught it so it can't get built on without our consent.

We could sell the land and the house and buy something else. In a way, we have possibly won the lottery. But we love the house and the whole reason for buying the land was so there wasn't houses on it!

So wwyd?

AIBU?

YES: Don't sell the land
NO: Sell the land and the house and buy something else.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 17/01/2021 00:05

@Dawnlassie

So somebody has applied for planning permission for houses on land they dont own?

Are you sure you have this right op?

Happens a lot - you don't have to own land to obtain pp for it.
WhereverIGoddamnLike · 17/01/2021 00:05

Who has told you that your land is worth millions? Is it the council who want to turn it into a housing estate? Or a developer put the plans in way before you bought?

Lily193 · 17/01/2021 00:06

If it's your dream house or could be that with some work then don't sell. Buying the two fields was smart so enjoy the peace and quiet. You can sell sometime in the future if you change your mind.

JinglePies · 17/01/2021 00:08

bought bought bought bought bought bought bought bought......

Sweettea1 · 17/01/2021 00:08

So some has applied to build on your land with out your knowledge? How does that work 🤔

SoosanCarter · 17/01/2021 00:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LionLily · 17/01/2021 00:11

Oh yes it happens quite often round here (Kent)
Property developers put in speculative planning proposals on land to find out what the likelihood is that it could be built on. Then they slowly buy up land as and when available.
We have parcels of land that have been subject to these sorts of applications for decades.
Gosh, that would be 10 houses per acre, high density. Although round here that density would cost about £350k per house. So potential sales of £3.5million per acre.
And the schools, drs surgeries, transport links, play parks all promised in the planning proposals never seem to materialise...

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 17/01/2021 00:13

@Sweettea1

You dont need to own land to apply for planning permission on it. Someone else could have done it. That part isnt unusual.

But it just sounds like the cou cup are re-zoning and those fields have been earmarked as possible development sites if anyone took it on.

Sweettea1 · 17/01/2021 00:13

I see its been put on a list as housing can be built on their. But no one has actually came up with a plan for it an might not. Is it really worth millions? If it was then go for it who wouldn't after all you would be a millionaire.

Indecisive12 · 17/01/2021 00:14

@SoosanCarter Grin

Original poster
Rosebyanothername19 · 17/01/2021 00:15

Off topic but... Sorry everyone that has commented on my spelling. I'm dyslexic and that is one of the words, for the life of me, I can't spell! For some reason my spell check doesn't flag it!

OP posts:
WhereverIGoddamnLike · 17/01/2021 00:16

*cou cup was meant to be council

Lockheart · 17/01/2021 00:20

@MamaTookMyEyebrows

I thought people were moaning that there’s lot enough houses. Now they shouldn’t build at all?
There aren't enough houses. But we should address that by clamping down on second and holiday home ownership, buy to let landlords, and by building residential properties on brownfield sites.

Not by building on green fields.

PrimalLass · 17/01/2021 00:26

Of course I would sell. I know of a similar issue where a family said they wouldn't but then had a huge change in their circumstances so did. No one could blame them.

maddening · 17/01/2021 00:27

If.this is in a village and there is strong.local opinion against developing the land around your village then be prepared to move away, it could be quite tough being that person in a small locality.

Wearywithteens · 17/01/2021 00:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

honeylulu · 17/01/2021 00:38

Solicitor here. Make discreet enquiries to see if the developer has any proposals to broach but don't be too keen. It is likely you have what they really want/ need so let them do the running in negotiating. If it seems serious instruct a property lawyer and/or surveyor to negotiate. The correct measure if it went to a Land Tribunal would be "willing buyer to willing seller" .

It is possible you could get into a compulsory purchase situation but the rules are the same. I'm rusty on this as not done pure property for over 12 years but I did a few compulsory purchase negotiations when sites were being cleared for the Olympic Park and people were astonished at what they got. Play it cool. Don't rush to accept a first offer without advice.

Fuckitsstillraining · 17/01/2021 00:40

Sell it. My parents did, they bought land that had been previously in our family and lost due to a second marriage, after buying they were approached by builders who paid them millions for it (its a few years ago when crazy things were happening regarding building houses), they sold it and its still not been built on, economic crash meant its still a green field. They didn't move, the field is a few miles away, they live in a rural enough area, house is big enough, bought a nice car, still drive it (its 13 years old now), bought a few rental properties (soft ll's, refused 3 months rent when tenants business closed during lockdown), paid nieces mortgage for 18 months when she had cancer, took a few great holidays but otherwise life is pretty much the same except and this is why I say sell, they have no financial worries, if they ever need something they can afford it. That peace of mind is wonderful.

FortunesFave · 17/01/2021 00:40

@SpaceRaiders

Sounds like the land is zoned for potential housing development. The land wont actually be worth millions, until panning is approved, this will likely be a quite lengthy process. Zoned land round here took nearly 5 years before building work actually started. .
This.
FortunesFave · 17/01/2021 00:43

Rosebyanothername one of my DDs is Dyslexic...until she got her diagnoses I never considered how rude people on here are about bad spelling.

They act as though the offender is stupid or something. SO annoying. Everyone knows what you mean....

To all the spelling police...try to consider that a LOT of folk have Dyslexia and similar issues to deal with.

MiddleClassMother · 17/01/2021 00:44

If it's millions then sell it, and move somewhere rural and quiet, where they won't build a housing estate. I would hate the idea of the houses being built but wouldn't feel too guilty if I could move away.

GingerNorthernLass · 17/01/2021 00:44

bought

You don't need to own the land to apply for planning permission.

So buying the land was less about saving the countryside and more about the inconvenience to you. Now it might be worth £££ you're happy to sell it and buggar off?

Disappointing but everyone has their price I guess.

SimplyRadishing · 17/01/2021 00:52

Ignore it OP - People on here are arseholes half the time.
On another thread on here a women's daughter has been seriously assaulted and all half the posters want to do is nit pick because she had the audacity to write fanny instead of vulva instead of giving any useful advice.

If people can read it and get the meaning its fine
My family are heavily dyslexic the rest are just shit at speeling Grin

Sell the land and your house.
Make all the dollar and sit in your gorgeous mortgage free mansion misspelling things to your hearts content.

GreenlandTheMovie · 17/01/2021 00:59

Don't sell it for yet another brain dead housing estate. Preserve the land and protect it from development.

scubadub · 17/01/2021 01:05

Anyone can apply for planning permission on a piece of land....even if they don't own it. They can't build obviously...but yes anyone can look to get planning permission. But that's all it is...permission. It's a waste of money for them if they don't intend on buying the land. But not if they don't l.

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