howplum

Which is the subject of my other topic. I don't intend to. In fact, the seller himself said not to spend any money until the matter is resolved.

Good points. I need to quiz the seller for more details, although he very open and helpful, so hopefully he will put all his cards on the table, since it's in his interest, as well as mine, to get the matter resolved. Negotiations about the strip are being dealt with by the Government Property Office, hence the potential 12 month timeline. That is my main concern, because if that situation transpires it may become uneconomic to buy the existing plot, since both are inextricably linked in order to be able to comply with the planning condition.

That's a good point, but I am actually more interested in the wider part of the strip at the northern end, which is where I would like to put a double garage because the turning area only goes about halfway to the back of the plot. The turning area would then also give me access to the garage.

Thank you all for your replies. Although some of my friends think I am able to manage the project myself, which is kind, I am more inclined not to, or at least, not totally. To save some money I can go the "shell-build" route, so that I can at least have some DIY input, such as decorating, cupboard building, garden landscaping and the like. I am very much in favour of a kit home, such as those supplied Dan-Wood, because of the speed and specification. On the other hand, good old bricks and mortar has its attractions, because I have built up a few connections in the building trade that I trust. However, it potentially takes longer, which will have an impact on the finances, because we will sell our house and live in a flat we currently rent out, so will lose the rental income. On the plus side, my wife says I can refurbish the flat whilst we are living it it! Luckily(?) we can't get a static caravan down the road!

Thanks @jack, I'll suggest to the current owner that he raises that point with his solicitor.

Thank you all for your replies. I attach a copy of the site plan which shows the plot edged in green and the turning area required, which you can see takes up a fair chunk of the plot. I think your right @Mr Punter, it must be for bin lorries, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks, so not exclusively for the use of the plot. At the moment I believe they reverse down the road, which is quite narrow. However, my question remains - can the council insist on this turning area in an unadopted road? I shall certainly check out the visitor parking space because it does seem unreasonable to provide it for public use, although no more unreasonable than requiring me to provide a turning area, or the bicycle parking I noticed on the plans! Park Gardens site plan.pdf

Thank you everybody for your replies - all very helpful. I attach a copy of the Land Registry Title which shows the plot in question, edged in red and including the word "barn". The strip of land in question is that shaded grey, which hopefully has scanned clearly. Access to the front of the plot is fine, it's just that I would like, in an ideal world, to have a detached double garage on the widest part of the strip of land, although I have room for an integral double garage if needs must. At least it will be warmer in winter when working on the car(s)! If I understand correctly, the Planning Permission does not differentiate regarding ownership of the land, i.e. the council seem to require the condition without checking on ownership, so perhaps the current owner applied on the basis that he owned it all. Are you saying that the current owners of the strip of land can only object because they disagree with the proposed plans, and not simply because they want to adopt a "dog in the manger" attitude. Land Registry title plan.pdf

Thank you @triassic. What myself and the current owner are wondering is which is the best route to obtain that strip of land, outright purchase or claiming adverse possession. Potentially I could try and purchase the strip outright, but to do so so without owning the plot itself would be potentially a waste of money. What are pitfalls relating to claiming adverse possession?

Having found a plot and just posted a question about one of the planning conditions requiring a turning area, I request your indulgence with an other question. I have not bought the plot, just made an offer subject to contract, and the owner and I are working together so that the purchase can be completed. The plot is at the end of a short unadopted road which leads to a large commercial property, and is bounded on the front and one side by the road, which leads to the gates for the commercial property. In between the east side of the plot and the road is a small, triangular, strip of land which apparently belongs to the Government(!). On the plot there used to be a large barn, which has recently been demolished, but it had been there for decades, access to it being via a tarmac driveway built over the strip in question. Historically the current and previous owners had used the strip of land as if it belonged to the plot, and even fenced it in accordingly. Whilst I can build on the plot without using this strip, I cannot comply with the planning condition to provide a turning area, because I would have to pave over part of the strip. Also, to own the strip would be better, because then I could build a detached double garage (STTPP). Almost Catch 22. The owner has been told by his solicitor to make an offer to purchase the strip, which he has done, but has now been told that the process could take up to a year, assuming the Government Property Office agree to sell. I have read about "Adverse Possession" - is this an avenue worth exploring or are there any other options perhaps?

Having just found this excellent forum and also a plot of land near to my house in Milton Keynes, I am in need of advice about one of the conditions the local council has imposed on the Planning Permission that has been granted to the current owner of the plot. The plot is at the end of an unadopted road which leads to a large commercial property, the owners of which also own, and are responsible for the upkeep of, the road. The are several houses on the road already, the last one being built in the 1970s, although the plot I am wanting to buy used to have a large barn on it, belonging to the bungalow opposite. The condition states that before any house built on the plot is occupied a turning area has to be provided, apparently sufficiently large to allow a 7.5 metre truck, which will use a fair chunk of what will be the front garden. I understand this is calculated using a standard template. My question is - can the council insist on this condition for an unadopted road? I also notice from the approved plans that one visitor parking space has to be included, which the seller says is for the benefit of the whole road - is that right? I have also raised another topic about a small strip of land next to the site - adverse possession?

Hello All. My wife and I are about to embark, somewhat late in life (71), on the roller coaster ride that is self-build. It is something that I have always wanted to do, but made it difficult by only wanting to do it in Milton Keynes, where decent sized, reasonably priced plots are about as common as unicorn droppings. However, we have found one, purely by chance, but it is proving to be less than straightforward to complete the purchase, so I shall be raising a topic (or two!) to seek advice. The plot does have Planning Permission for a bungalow though, which is exactly what we want, and which is all the local council will allow anyway. In the meantime I am having lots of fun drawing plan options and researching the different building systems available. I have already been to the NSBRC in Swindon - fascinating, and very helpful.