Amazing house in Salisbury/Longhedge, but it hasn't sold and I'm not sure why

[Flanderspanders]

I'm looking to move to Salisbury/surrounding area with DH and two young kids. I have found the house of my dreams. It's a converted barn in Longhedge, however....few red flags...

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/165249305

1. I've seen it on the market with a few different agents for over a year now, so it's clearly not selling for a reason?
2. It backs onto farmer's land. Amazing views, but I'd be worried someone may build (I'm assuming that's why it hasn't sold yet).
3. The track going up to the house is owned by the farmer, with the owners having a right of way

With the development aspect, I was thinking the Longhedge development is on the other side of the road, and surely building on this field behind the house would make the area over-developed? There are no planning applications at the moment. I actually wouldn't mind losing the view, it's more the idea of construction traffic that puts me off.

Does anyone know this area well? I think the house is beautiful, but there must be a reason it's not shifting. I think it's fairly valued for the amount of space you get, and it's really only 5mins into Salisbury, but would love to hear from anyone who knows the area well? I really don't, so would appreciate the guidance!

Thank you

lol. I have never owned a new build, didn’t know it was a general thing on all new builds! Read it like after 6 years it might well fall apart 😂

Absolutely this. Sooner or later, that arrangement will cause problems; expensive ones, more than likely.

Some of it is nice, but some of it is a bit strange. A weird basin and I don’t like the staircase.

I know the area very well. Is it very close to the road? That is a very busy road. If it’s close, it’ll be loud I would think. I also think that more housing estates are planned for old Sarum, not sure where or if you can find out?

I know this area pretty well, used to live in Salisbury and have friends in longhedge. It's a really busy road, one of the main routes from Salisbury to the A303 so it's noisy. It's not in the middle of nowhere, fairly close to Salisbury but still a drive (really close to the park and ride though) but right opposite the new estate (longhedge is basically a new village which is one large new housing estate). Id be worried about them developing the village further around the property and surrounding the house, and you could get a nicer location for that money in the area in my opinion!

I think it is overpriced for starters.

The access road would be a big no for me, and it is very close to a busy road. I would also be worried about potential future development around this house too.

I can't put my finger on it, but I just get the feeling that something is 'off' with this one.......

Guys, I've unsaved it from my Rightmove. It has taken a year but, I'm finally moving on. Well done everybody. DH was never keen anyways so this is for the best. I needed this closure!

It’s probably got a 10 year NHBC warranty (with 6 years left).

@Flanderspanders It is off the main road between Salisbury and Amesbury, therefore the A303 and is very busy. If you only ever needed to turn left towards Amesbury I think you'd be ok but I imagine turning right towards Salisbury would be a nightmare at certain times most of the day.
There was another converted barn to the left of this one, wasn't on for long and has sold. I think it was about the same price but it had a far better layout imo

Nooo just go and see it! Otherwise you’ll always be wondering what if 😜

How? The track/drive to our house is owned by a farmer, we have access over it. Its been the way since 1978 with no issues 😅

Yeahhhh a lot of people don’t like these big box barn like spaces either. It’s a certain style. Great if it your style. But I prefer more irregularity, character, historical style, and a mix of intimate rooms and open space. It feels overpriced to me.

I really don't like it.

It screams holiday let and is quite pokey.

My guess would be potential flooding issues or likelihood of further development meaning loss of view.

I'd also want to know what the farmer sprays that field with.

It isn't my cup of tea really - if I were in the market for a converted barn I'd expect there to still be some evidence of its history incorporated into it.

Agree with others about the right of way thing.

Five beds so a house for families and with a staircase that is moderately dangerous for young children as well as hideous. Not a great fan of that colour green and one bedroom seems a bit spartan/ cramped.

Garden is a mess in one picture so probably poor quality grass and what looks like a bomb shelter - could be a plus I guess. Not just shared access but down a track that may be extremely muddy in winter and is likely to get rutted by tractors. Busy road and you'll have to drive to get kids to school.

Also lots of maintenance likely to be required for that much wood cladding.

1. It is not a beauty.
2. North facing over the land.
3. No garden developed.
4. Very busy road - noise and traffic.
5. Price too high. Offer £800,000.
6. Possible nearby estate development.
7. Another party has access to the drive.

I know the area, it's on a main traffic route into Salisbury. I would think overpriced. The housing estate is on the other side of the road so I expect people are thinking what would stop them building if the farmer sold the land. I don't think council/developers care about over developing. Seen lots of housing estates around Salisbury that have been further expanded out.

Best thing you can do is go and see some houses, get a feel for the area. The market is pretty slow in Salisbury.

So about 10 to 12 years ago we went to look at this next door which was for sale then - I think at 850k. It was a lovely old house but in need of quite a bit of work. We were in the process of doing the sums on what work we needed to do to buy it, very keen. Then I checked for local planning and was gutted to find the approval for the new estate across the road. In the end that's what stopped us moving forward. We passed it again last year and I pulled in to drive around the estate - we decided we had dodged a bullet. The estate is OK, but not great. A lot of it is social housing, which we didn't want to live next to at the price of the property and the refurbishment needed. The value of that handful of properties on the other side of the road your looking at has been hammered imo. Its location advantage has been completely changed from what it was pre estate build, the one your looking at could have been worth 1m without the development but certainly isn't now. That's why it won't sell, the house we looked at also didn't sell and was eventually withdrawn. Personally the track with rights of way wasn't a stumbling block for us - though at the time we visited it wasn't in great shape. That's to be expected when it's used by farm machinery.

Yeah. Area360 picked it up

Well done, at 750/800k it might have been worth a visit but it really isn't a 1m property in that location 👍

Good decision. It's just not worth that price, or even close imo, given the location.

It's not a particularly attractive building, off an busy main road opposite a modern estate with some industrial areas.

I wouldn't give £1M for it. Not in that location and the issue with the drive would also be a deal breaker. For £1M I'd expect to own the access as well.