What Constitutes a Ransom Strip

Griffta

Thanks everyone for your reply. The track is approx 1/5 mile and is roughish track but is perfectly passable for vehicles and we are always talking to the other property owners as to the upkeep which is a minimal expense. I think if we wanted to upgrade it I think the other property owners would be more than happy to contribute. The deeds say we have access for all purposes so I am quite confident it is not a ransom strip. Thanks again.

Hoploz

This is a little like a lane near me. It is unadopted and leads to several houses. There is a field adjacent which has a gate and this nursery field has permission to use the gate for access. This nursery field owner has been trying for planning permission for up to 40 houses. The owners of the lane are arguing that the gate is only access for the nursery and not constant use by likely nearly a hundred cars.

There seems to be some room for negotiation for permission from the owners of the lane due to the changing nature of the gate access. In this case they agreed access but only for 15 homes max which the owner is having to take account of with a new planning application.

Point is, the owner of the access is dictating to the landowner the number of homes he is willing to permit. Perhaps this might happen to you. If the access landowner doesn't like your plan then you may not be allowed to change the nature of the use without permission. Not necessarily to do with payment/ransom. (Though it might help!)

Davesnave

Surely it is the council which decides whether land or buildings that are currently agricultural may be changed to residential?

If access is at all times and for all purposes, then I don't see how the owner of a road can seek to restrict this, although it's obviously up to highways to decide whether the junction with the county road is fit for so many vehicle movements per day.