31 replies to this topic

[che]

A father and son partnership delivering an alternative education provision in a smallholding setting.  We both have extensive childcare experience and have a working knowledge of livestock.  At present we use rented land and buildings but are looking for our own site. The search for land is proving more difficult than expected.  Unlike other commodities offering the asking price does not seal a deal.  To some it appears to be a way of gaining interest followed by an attempt to draw further bids.  Still our venture is under way and we do feel well prepared for the future armed with "THE BOOKS" and the "FORUM" to fall back on.
This may seem a strange combination and no doubt Dennis Norden would advise against but then we dont intend to make a film.  What we are sure about is our livestock wil be well cared for in ethical conditions and children who have been failed by the education system will have another chance.

[che]

At last we have had an offer accepted on a piece of land and we wait with baited breath while the solicitors do there work.  We have already lost out on three properties despite offering the asking price.  Q When is the price not the price? A When you are buying land.  The first got saddled with a covenant forbidding any development including agricultural.  This land is still for sale wonder why.  The second piece was gazumping pure and simple.  The third piece one month down the line we still do not have a yes or no the asking price was clearly not enough for the farmer who is selling it.
Anway we now will have somwhere to house our livestock rather than rented land.  It is not exactly what we wanted but we needed a base and it is now down to us to fulfill the dream. We do not have 5 hectares  but the site does have electric ,water, 2 barns and a range of dilapidated livestock pens needing attention (I feel a caravan coming on) glad we bought the book.

[che]

Finally we have a completion date 10 June and at last we can progress. I look forward to making lots of new friends at the local planning office and welcoming old friends to the house warming. Well you have got to be optomistic havent you.
Thinking of running a sweepstake on how long it will take the planners to call after the mobile home arrives.

[che]

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS

Lets start with the bad. The farmer who we are renting our land off passed away two weeks ago. Today we spoke to a stranger on a tractor who when asked if he was well he replied "I want the buildings back" and then wandered off. Is it too much to ask for people to introduce themselves and discuss the situation. As my dear departed Mum would say "not even a thank you or kiss my ar*e". Hope this shows the importance of buying your own patch as no one knows what tommorow will bring. No doubt this diplomat moans about the image the public portrays of farmers whilst he continues to provide them with fresh amunition.

The good news is tommorow we should complete on our 9 acres so this gentleman can stick his dutch barn where the sun dont shine.
Dave C

[che]

Today I should be telling you we have completed on our piece of land. God knows the bills for professionals would lead you to think nothing could go wrong. Add to this 10 weeks to co-ordinate a dozen documents you would be hard pushed to think there could be a problem.

Main culprit, a bank who a day before exchange can't find a document. Excellent timing could you not have thought about it in the preceeding 9 weeks and 4 days. Should have known the professionals who managed to screw up the whole economy probably could not be trusted. Nice to see the same guys are still around helping themselves to our hard earned cash. Thought of asking them to reduce their fees but how would they pay the bonuses?

NOT A GOOD WEEK SD FAR

[che]

Sadly not only did our bank fail to collate the the appropriate paperwork, the vendors solicitors failed to return the contract in time . We are now aiming to exchange sometime next week, between us we have spent over £3000 on professional fees to no avail. My next post in this section will be confirmation that we own the land. No point in relying on these people to perform as expected. Fortunately we have been in regular contact with the vendors explaining the situation and this has not affected the transaction.
Dave C

[che]

Yesterday we completed on our new piece of land "well new to us". Today we start preparing the site to recieve the new caravan "well new to us". Hopefully the stock and other bits and piecies will be moved by the end of the month.
The income from the education project is already covering viability so we need to work on functional need. Two or three ideas at present which we will contemplate as we refurbish our livestock housing.
Dave C

[che]

Today we moved on a mobile home 35x12 which we will use whist doing repairs to excisting buildings and the drive. We have also taken delivery of an old David Brown tractor. Good news the water and electricity are still connected so only need readings and change of name. We have started tidying up a neglected site but not before taking plenty of photos.

[che]

We have been working on our plot for a week now no sign of the planners but then the caravan is unoccupied. The locals walk by and slow down in their cars to see what is going on. We take our breaks by the font gates and say hello or wave to passers by in an effort to engage the locals. Today two people entered into conversation one seemed pleased that we were tidying up a local eyesore. The site was once a busy smallholding but as the owner aged the site became too much and he never achieved his dream of living there. He achieved two modern portal buildings, electric, water & and a collection of rustic animal housing units. Hopefully we will fulfill his dream and placate the locals by tidying up the neglected area.
Today we got our new holding number so we will begin to move the livestock soon.

[che]

Two weeks on and still no visit from planners althiugh the caravan is now occupied. The Jacob sheep have now moved in as have the British Alpine goats along with two horses(integral part of our educational course) Son is also going on Equine Assisted Therapy course this should help convince the planners that they are not just there for our pleasure.
On Sunday we are collecting some Tamworth pigs and next week we will move the chickens, ducks and geese and the move should be complete. Just found out that the DB in Aston Martin stands for David Brown who bought the car company. So have renamed our trusty tractor an Aston Martin DB 880 eat your heart out James Bond.

[che]

MORE FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURS

Just had some more neighbours call round commenting on how well we were tidying up a local eyesore and exchanged tel no's. They explained to my son where the local bridleways were and said call them if we needed any help. Dont get us wrong it is only the buildings and its immediate surronds that are untidy and on full view, the rest of the land is in good heart having been rented out to local farmers. Point being dont dismiss land that might need a bit of work. We are getting the distinct impression that locals are pleased to see improvements and it may in the long term help with any planning issues. The idea to reach out to the local community comes from Monty Don's series "My Dream Farm". We are visiting the local shows this year with the intention of exhibiting next year.

[che]

JULIAN THE PLANNER

Three weeks on and our first visit and we were out but they left a calling card. Rang them back out of courtesy wanted to know about the caravan so we told them it was a replacement for the previous one. Then he wanted to know why someone is living in it, so we told him about the building and engineering works. He said he had never heard of that one before. Time to talk to his boss as his team obviously needs some extra training to ensure they do not mislead the people they are paid to serve.
Watch this space.

[che]

Today we had a meeting with the enforcement officer and it would now appear they accept a caravan has been sited there for more than 10yrs. They suggested we put in for a certificate of lawfullness for it but not for residential which we accept. He queried the need for anyone to live there considering the amount of building work going on. Also questioned the need for family to stay on site with workers. Looks like they also accept that a block of brick buildings built over 10yrs can stay and be repaired. Says he will talk to his boss about the caravan use and get back to us. We suspect they will come back with a deadline much like they say in the book.
Meanwhile we have filled a 9sq yd skip with rubble and have enough to fill another plus the same amount of wood as well as metal. The council are keen to protect the appearance of the countryside but have shown no interest in the the 54sq yds of rubbish on this site. Accross the road a large house already extended 3 times has just had approval for a two storey extension and round the corner a large equestrian centre is being built with a house big enough to house the "Waltons". The usual 5000sq ft portal buidings keep springing up but I accept the light from our caravan at night is a blight on the area. No wonder they say "the law is an ass".

[che]

Just recieved a letter entitled "Unauthorised use of land for residential purposes". Despite being well advanced in our Building & engineering works the council have deemed that that because my sons wife and daughter aged 3 are there it is residential use. Not even visited since original visit but state no evidence of work. We have reinstated original track by hand including laying stone chippings manually. We have also created a safe access to buildings and have removed roofs and rotting windows as well as tin cladding to walls and have now started reblocking. No problems with us doing work just does not warrant residential use of van as it is not considered substancialy involved with building work. They would like me to put in a retrospective planning application for residential use within 6 weeks and are advising that I use PPS7 to try to justify a need for an agricultural dwelling.
Been given 2 weeks to indicate whether we are going to seek a planning application and if this is not forthcoming in 6 weeks they will consider enforcement action. I will update you when I reply
PS he stated if you do what you are suggesting anyone could buy a piece of land and build a barn whilst living in a caravan. Now where have I heard that one before?

[che]

Today was the deadline to file planning application or face enforcement. Four weeks ago I emailed enforcement rebutting there claim we had changed use to residential and to apply for retrospective planning. I also emailed planning for pre planning advice as recommended by there own procedures. To date no reply despite council policy to reply to emails within 5 days. Rung enforcement to check they had recieved said communication. They had and have discussed the matter and need to meet again, can not help but think they are struggling, we have moved a long way from the original demand that the caravan be removed within 7 days.
Originally they stated that I was reluctant to commit information in writing now it has turned full circle. Whilst I am happy to meet again they need to reply first.

Dave C

[che]

Oh Dear looks like my request for a reply has upset the planners and they now want to visit again within 10 days to see what building work is taking place. Prior to this they were considering enforcement action without a visit so some progress there. They indicate at present they have no evidence to support an application for an agricultural workers dwelling which they had asked us to submit. At least we know where they stand now.
We have relaid the track, connected services, laid blocks and fenced our paddocks. On top of this we have cleared the site of rubbish and tidied up a local eyesore whilst earning a living from our land. This apparently is not classed as proper building work. For this we are about to be perecuted. Just down the road a local farmer has gained permission for a 4 bedroomed house as well as a 5 bedroomed house at the same time they have two static caravans without permission that appear to be occupied by migrant workers. So if my planning friends are reading this you should be ashamed of your planning system. Next door is a derelict site that the planners could issue with a section 215 to tidy up the site. Yet we are deemed to be spoiling the countryside.
We now have 10 days to arrange a convenient date for a meeting. They seem to like deadlines probably makes them feel powerful, pity they dont keep to ther own deadlines.

[che]

Enforcement officers came today yes two of them for a final visit. Asked loads of questions and took loads of photos and say they will inform us of there intentions within 10 days and this will be decided by the council solicitors. Despite two of us earning more than the viability test from our farming diversification(education) they still seem preoccupied with our use of the caravan for building purposes. As a parting shot we informed them if they took enforcement action we would appeal and expect the result would be that we would be given 12mnths to complete.
As a resolution we offered an undertaking to cease occupation of the caravan within 12 mnths or submit a planning application within that time. They suggested putting this in writng for consideration. This would appear to be a fair offer avoiding the use of enforcement action and we await the outcome.
Bizzarly they suggested my son stopped in my motorhome rather than the caravan cant get my head round that one. Realisticley we expect to end up in court as we dont think the enforcement team will recognise a good offer. By the time it goes to court we will end up with more than the 12 mnths we offered them today, add the court costs and it will make an interesting story for the local rag.

Dave C

[che]

Just returned from a 10day break (one of the advantages of a partnership) but life does not stand still so here is a brief update. A theft and then crimal damage with remarkable little loss due to on site supervision. Not pleasant but proof enough of the effectiveness of on site supervision.
Before leaving for Spain I asked enforcement to postpone there decision due on 28th Oct till when I returned. This was granted and we will now hear by Nov8th, is this the human face of the planning dept. My son thinks they are just struggling as to what to do next and therefore happy to gain some more time. Either way it looks positive to me. Just goes to prove the old adage "every cloud has a silver lining".
On the business side we have secured a deal to buy our feed direct and retail it as well. They are even providing us with promotional flyers to get us started. Happy days.

[che]

Today another deadline slipped by perhaps my son was right(dont you just hate it when that happens).
Nearly 5mnths have elapsed and no decision from the council, beginning to see where the 5yrs comes from. Was going to chase them up but we have decided to leave them to it. All seems so pointless really.
I allways recieve a deadline from the council with an implied threat if I dont meet it. The council respond when they feel like. Ah well "mum said there would be days like this"

[che]

Still no reply from council despite promise. Popped along to Parish Meeting tonight and considering concerns raised at previous meetings offered to talk to council at their next meeting about our plans for the site and what we are doing. Chairperson said that the council were not allowed to discuss our site whilst it was part of the legal process. Firstly there is no legal process other than they are taking advice probably from a specialist as there own solicitors are struggling to deal with it.
Most importantly the parish council is an elected body who have a duty to represent parishoners and not allowing them to discuss our site is a clear breach of democratic rule. Only a planner could consider they have the power to interfere with free speech and gag an elected body.
Yet another basic mistake by power mad enforcement team.