Derelict Farmhouses

[brooklyn07]

Hi all

This may be a bit long winded so bear with me.

Partner and I farm in a village, we own around 150 sheep, partner is an agri contractor and all work is within the village. We live 10 miles away and are looking to get back to the village as driving back and fall especially during lambing season is proving to be too much - we thought we could do it but we can't (we both lived with parents in the village previously)

We own a small piece of land (only 2 acres) and tried to get planning on that and were totally shot down which is understandable given that its an SSI area.

Anyway, nothing ever comes up for sale in the village and when it does the price is just too steep - you're looking at around 600k for a small house with no ground - just isnt feasible on our income,

There are 2 derelict farmhouses with ground, compulsory purchased by the national assembly for wales when they were planning to build a new motorway, but that got abolished so now they are just sat there doing nothing. I've contacted the welsh assembly and they've basically said they aren't interested in selling them, its on their list of things to look at in the future but they basically aren't interested in looking to sell them in the next 10 years but they also have no plans to do anything with them either - its just a paperwork issue.

Is there anyone else we can contact to get this reviewed? Just seems awful that they are sat there falling down when they could be farmed again. I don't even know where to begin.

 

[Still Farming]

Assembly Wasted tax payers money again for nothing.

 

[Cowmansam]

Of contact your mp for a start

 

[Still Farming]

Of contact your mp for a start

And MS

 

[brooklyn07]

thanks just emailed MP and MS - wish me luck!

 

[B R C]

Surely the original owners would have the right to buy back, unless of course they they were overpaid in the first instance....

 

[Cowmansam]

Or move in on the sly become a squatter doubt they come out and check

 

[brooklyn07]

they were tenanted farms, both tenants have died since they were purchased and their families dont farm.

I had a response, I was basically told they arent surplus as they are still protected under a tr111 order which as far as I can make out means whilst they might not be building a motorway they might decide to knock them down and build houses (for example)

"Due to this protection, the properties are not currently surplus.

Should the properties become surplus, in the first instance, the land must be offered to other Welsh Government Departments, as well as various Public Sector organisations. We must also consider whether it needs to be offered back to the original owners, at the current market value, under the provisions of the ‘Crichel Down’ rules. If there are no expressions of interest, or the offer back does not apply or is not taken up, then Welsh Government Officials would normally instruct a local estate agent to market the land. Any interested parties would be passed to the appointed agent at that time to ensure that they can make an offer if they so wish"

so we have no chance unless all the above won't be interested in it first

 

[curlietailz]

Surely the original owners would have the right to buy back, unless of course they they were overpaid in the first instance....

Unless more then 40 years have elapsed (certainly England) Critchel Downs rules

 

[Cowmansam]

That’s government for you

 

[brooklyn07]

It just feels so wrong, surely if the reason for the compulsory purchase is no longer there then they should either give it back or sell it not pass it around all the public bodies to get a look in first!

All the other farmhouses that had agri ties on them in our area have been handed down to family who don't farm and were then able to get the tie removed because they hadn't farmed for over 10 years and then sold them on for double the price.
The one place even put their house up for sale to prove there was no interest so we immediately went in and offered the asking price - 2 days later the house was taken off the market due to a change of heart.
Then they applied to take the tie off again and was refused due to the land not being accessible by any other means other than through their own grounds or via someone elses grounds so they just sold all their ground off to the people that owned ground right next to them and then they were able to get the tie removed because the house no longer owned ground to farm!

I thought the whole point of these agri tied buildings was so that farmers could afford to live in the area they farmed. Just so frustrating.

 

[Bushcraft Paddler]

If you moved in, don't you get squatters rights after 7 years? Am I showing my age and that was abolished a long time ago.....

 

[br jones]

Squatting isnt what it used to be, you now have to inform the owners of property that you have squatted and land registry.if the owners say no you cant ,you are illegal ,and can be removed

 

[Bushcraft Paddler]

Squatting isnt what it used to be, you now have to inform the owners of property that you have squatted and land registry.if the owners say no you cant ,you are illegal ,and can be removed

Where's the fun in that !!!!!!

 

[Forkdriver]

There's no incentive for them to go through the rigmarole of a property disposal, jumping through hoops, and at the end of the process it would have to be offered on the open market, probably without planning consent and a development clawback clause just to screw you over if you do manage to acquire it.
More chance of getting an affordable home if you can find a landowner in the village willing to put land forward and a local development plan looking to provide affordable housing.