Property with Acricultural tie???

There is an old barn that me and my partner showed interest in buying about a year ago now. We drew up some plans keeping the outside of the building looking very similar and no eyesores and sent them off to see if planning permission was likely. They told us that we could not live in it but offices etc were fine! There is also a small outbuilding which we were told we could rent out as a holiday home for 10months of the year! So we forgot about it - It is still up for sale now and we were just wondering if there was anyway we can persuae them to lift the achricultural tie and to get plannign permission! Please help!

You are probably best using the services of a specialist, as it needs to have a change of use application which can be difficult to obtain.

One of the reasons they have designated the land as agricultural is to provide employment, however, an empty barn will only sit there and generate no income or council tax.

If either of you work from home it may give you additional options I should add.

I do not suggest anyone in particular but did notice this when I looked up "change of use" he may be a distance from your location but may have a n idea of who is capable of doing this.

I should add if you are told this is going to be a no hoper, walk away, as throwing good money after bad will only result in a more heart ache.

Planning laws are changing and the Government's proposed changes are set to affect rural as well as urban locations.

A dual-purpose approach to linking the creation of employment opportunities with the provision of new homes seems likely to result in a radical transformation in many areas where permission for change of land use, and subsequent development, was hitherto difficult or impossible to obtain.

The Government's Guidance Note No.3, published early in 2000, outlines proposed changes to existing planning regulations. In parallel with moves to make more 'brownfield' urban sites available for domestic use, and with an eye to boosting jobs within the rural community, these planning changes are likely to result in the easing of current restrictions on the variety of uses that can be made of existing agricultural land and buildings - in particular buildings over ten years old.

A major emphasis will be on the diversification of residential types with a view to creating mixed and inclusive communities. The Government does not accept the axiom that different types of housing and tenures necessarily make bad neighbours. Local authorities are therefore being encouraged to stimulate a mix of dwelling type, size and affordability in both new developments and conversions.

You may get it lifted, but be prepared to fight and be prepared to spend a fair bit of money using a specialist in planning appeals etc. It's 9 years since we went this route with no luck, but somebody has managed it - not sure whether the tie is still in place, it probably is, it did however seem to be one particular planner who was blocking all attempts, the more the chap who owned the site fought it, the more he dug his heels in! Good luck! (We're STILL looking for our perfect plot - not seen one as perfect as that one since!) Just be careful that you don't get too entrenched in winning at all costs and eat up your budget for doing the work!