Livestock buildings near Residential properties

[TeaKay]

One of the neighbour's to my parents farm have wanted to buy a piece of land that sits between their house and one of the farm buildings. We are keen to keep it as expect them to sell at some point and it provides a bit of space between there house and the back of the building. They are now trying blackmail saying the building which is used for storage and shearing in the summer and to hold ewes for lambing in the winter is too close to their house. The building is over 20years old and previous farm building predate this. Am I right in stating that the often touted 400m rule is only applicable for gaining planing permission for new buildings? There daughter has just joined a solicitors and I think they are trying to be clever!

 

[Bill the Bass]

400 metres is just for new buildings under permitted development I believe. However I don’t see what the problem is, just quietly tell them the more they complain and scheme the dearer the land gets, or you could agree to sell if they draw up the documents and cover the cost and then back out at the last minute and say the price has just gone up. It’s yours to sell not theirs to buy.

 

[Goweresque]

Well, you've just discovered what sort of close neighbours they would be if you did sell them the land.............run Forrest run!

 

[essexpete]

I thought it applied to new construction otherwise there will be rather a lot of problems for older small farms in particular.

 

[Baker9]

If they are trying that do not sell to them as you are letting them get closer to you. I feel you need to keep as far a distance from then as possible between your yard and them. They are already trying the blackmail route. This is only my opinion. I assume your buildings were there before they arrived.

 

[Banana Bar]

Get some outdoor pigs

 

[J 1177]

If they used that trick with me I would tell them to go forth and multiply. Then at least graze the land with sheep or put outdoor pigs on it. Don't be threatened.

 

[J 1177]

If they used that trick with me I would tell them to go forth and multiply. Then at least graze the land with sheep or put outdoor pigs on it. Don't be threatened.

Oh and just to add it may not be a bad idea to give your local planners a ring and see where you stand 're. existing livestock buildings.

 

[Tarw Coch]

They’re trying it on pure and simple, there are plenty of farms right next to houses in villages.
It’s not uncommon for house dwellers to think they can pull a fast one over thick carrot crunching farmers. I would say they have now established the sort of characters they are and you should have no further dealings with them.

just Supposing for a minute that they were right, which they are not, what would happen if they decide to move house, what would happen to that special agreement they propose then? they’re not right but they would have a house with a bigger garden to sell and let me guess, because they’re doing you a favour they won’t want to pay much for this land which could add a lot of value to their house.

Have they used their daughter working at a solicitors as a threat or is that just common knowledge?

As for the 400m, it’s the distance you need to apply for a livestock building under permitted development, which is a more simple straight forward process than full planning permission. You can still get full planning for a livestock building at less than this distance.

I’d like to tell you not to worry about it but considering their attitude towards you i suspect such neighbours could be a pain in the ass.

 

[O'Reilly]

I think the 400m thing is where you apply for permitted development for an ag building, ie the 28 day thing, if it is within 400m of a dwelling off farm so to speak, then you need full planning permission. Provided that you have permission(either full or permitted development) or the building was built before the rules were changed to require permission for ag buildings then you have nothing to worry about. Politely decline an offer to sell, and possibly plant some screening between their house and the building to avoid sights, sounds and smells coming their way.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

You don't mention how big a patch it is ..... instead of selling it off why not go for a woodland plantation Grant and put in some hardwood trees . It will bring in a bit of income and screen off your buildings from the house or houses.
As said earlier don't be pressured by threats . if I did sell it off I would certainly put a clause in that the ground could never be developed .

 

[Hfd Cattle]

I think the 400m thing is where you apply for permitted development for an ag building, ie the 28 day thing, if it is within 400m of a dwelling off farm so to speak, then you need full planning permission. Provided that you have permission(either full or permitted development) or the building was built before the rules were changed to require permission for ag buildings then you have nothing to worry about. Politely decline an offer to sell, and possibly plant some screening between their house and the building to avoid sights, sounds and smells coming their way.

Was writing mine as you was posting yours !!

 

[sticky]

I'm in a village and I have houses which have been built right up to me. The closest one would be 30 metres away from yards that house upto 300 cattle, nothing they can do. IMO never sell that land to anyone it will only cause you trouble in the end.

 

[TripleSix]

Tell them no.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

You don't mention how big a patch it is ..... instead of selling it off why not go for a woodland plantation Grant and put in some hardwood trees . It will bring in a bit of income and screen off your buildings from the house or houses.
As said earlier don't be pressured by threats . if I did sell it off I would certainly put a clause in that the ground could never be developed .

and if you did sell could you not have a clause that if it was ever to be sold (by them or their successors in title), the owners of the farm would have first right of purchase (and if the figure could not be agreed, to be set by RICS as agricultural land)

 

[teslacoils]

Be calm. They are wrong. Let them beat their drum and then look foolish.

 

[multi power]

Instead of telling them no, tell them it's for sale, offers over £375.000 are invited

 

[ewald]

If the money is right, sell and rebuild the shed away - they can make your life very difficult in all sorts of ways....

 

[Tarw Coch]

If the money is right, sell and rebuild the shed away - they can make your life very difficult in all sorts of ways....

I don’t dislike your thinking but I doubt wether the owners of a residential house would come up with enough money to do that, my guess would be that they’re after a bit of land on the cheap.

 

[Raider112]

Say that you were in the process of getting it valued but have changed your mind due to their aggressive attitude.