We have five acres of grazing land advertised for sale with a local agent. We have had several satisfactory offers, but now one of these has revealed to the agent that she has made enquiries about possible planning permission. The local council has asked the agent for a map showing the field's location in relation to a nearby village.
I have asked the council for any further information, but beyond saying that someone has submitted a Pre-planning enquiry form, they cannot reveal anything else as such enquiries are not publicly available.
The field is in open countryside about a mile from the village, and the estate agent agrees that it seems very unlikely that any kind of development permission would be granted. However, we are now in a quandary whether to continue to negotiate with buyers on the basis of purely agricultural land, seemingly unable to find out whether there is any serious possibility of planning permission. It is therefore impossible properly to value the land, and we run the risk, albeit tiny, of selling it for a song.
I know we could, for a fee, submit our own Pre-planning enquiry, but we would need to know what we are asking about. She could merely be asking about an animal field shelter, or perhaps a 10-home luxury development. The question we want to ask is, "Is there a cat in hell's chance that you would approve any development here?"
Has anyone encountered this situation, or can offer any advice?
I have asked the council for any further information, but beyond saying that someone has submitted a Pre-planning enquiry form, they cannot reveal anything else as such enquiries are not publicly available.
The field is in open countryside about a mile from the village, and the estate agent agrees that it seems very unlikely that any kind of development permission would be granted. However, we are now in a quandary whether to continue to negotiate with buyers on the basis of purely agricultural land, seemingly unable to find out whether there is any serious possibility of planning permission. It is therefore impossible properly to value the land, and we run the risk, albeit tiny, of selling it for a song.
I know we could, for a fee, submit our own Pre-planning enquiry, but we would need to know what we are asking about. She could merely be asking about an animal field shelter, or perhaps a 10-home luxury development. The question we want to ask is, "Is there a cat in hell's chance that you would approve any development here?"
Has anyone encountered this situation, or can offer any advice?