Buying without planning permission

[peachman]

We've just viewed a chalet bungalow that has great potential to be turned into a large five-bedroom family home, on a good plot, without increasing footprint. There has been plenty of development to neighbouring properties, and it is amongst houses, not other bungalows. Is buying a property before getting planning permission to develop an absolute no-no? The risk is buying it, and then not getting planning permission, as the layout is not ideal for a family home as is. Plus the value may go down if permission is denied. Anyone know of people doing this sort of thing? It must be quite common as it's pretty impractical to go through full planning before even submitting an offer. At the moment, we're thinking of paying for a pre-planning meeting with the local planner, and making an offer based on what they say - but even that will take three weeks. Would be interested in anyone's views.

 

[Nakajo]

This is an instance where outline planning is sometimes used.

 

[big-all]

have you asked the obvious question off the sellers ??

have any planning applications been submitted in the last 5 years for extending the property to any extent what was applied for and what where the outcomes

they can fudge the answer now but when part off the legal pack they must answer honestly or break the law

 

[Nakajo]

Incidentally, if you are thinking of going down the pre-app route, consider the following; at present you have three choices: 'yes', 'no', and 'maybe'. The best that a pre-app can do is eliminate 'yes'.

 

[peachman]

This is an instance where outline planning is sometimes used.

That's probably the safe bet, but can take weeks to get. There is actually another person interested who is going down this route.

 

[peachman]

have you asked the obvious question off the sellers ??

have any planning applications been submitted in the last 5 years for extending the property to any extent what was applied for and what where the outcomes

they can fudge the answer now but when part off the legal pack they must answer honestly or break the law

I don't think so, the owners have had the property a long time and have done nothing to it.

 

[^woody^]

Plus the value may go down if permission is denied

That's not how it works