We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Building plot worth the risk ?
Options

Mgman1965
Posts: 279 Forumite

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/77114333
This looks a great plot at a good price.
It's a good size and would have stunning views over open rolling countryside.
BUT.
There is the potential for its stunning views to be ever so slightly changed by a dual carriageway village bypass.
The village is very badly congested at peak times and has been for years, and a bypass has been on the cards for over 25yrs. The bypass route has been decided and approved and was almost started then the DFT withdrew the funding due to austerity and it fell through.
That was a few years ago and there is a campaign by villagers on a regular basis to try and get the funding back so could be built in a couple of years or not for another 20+.
Village plots like this are a rarity but am worried any house on this plot if it is built (and could be quite close) would be forever blighted by noise and pollution and plummet in value compared to now without.
So would you build your forever home on it ?
This looks a great plot at a good price.
It's a good size and would have stunning views over open rolling countryside.
BUT.
There is the potential for its stunning views to be ever so slightly changed by a dual carriageway village bypass.
The village is very badly congested at peak times and has been for years, and a bypass has been on the cards for over 25yrs. The bypass route has been decided and approved and was almost started then the DFT withdrew the funding due to austerity and it fell through.
That was a few years ago and there is a campaign by villagers on a regular basis to try and get the funding back so could be built in a couple of years or not for another 20+.
Village plots like this are a rarity but am worried any house on this plot if it is built (and could be quite close) would be forever blighted by noise and pollution and plummet in value compared to now without.
So would you build your forever home on it ?
0
Comments
-
Depends how close you're talking about...0
-
I don't understand the access. Anything you build on there will be very overlooked by the house that is already there.0
-
I don't understand the access. Anything you build on there will be very overlooked by the house that is already there.
I assume access is via a long driveway and the front of the new house would face away from the present one with the garden ut the front of the new hose so not overlooked.0 -
Would help if you showed us what the route is.
https://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/councilservices/northamptonshire-highways/major-highway-projects/Documents/Major%20highways%20projects/Isham%20Scheme%20Layout.pdf
The route appears to be in a deep cutting at the closest point to the plot, but then emerges onto a substantial embankment to cross the river to the south.
The thing that would concern me as much as the noise and visual intrusion is the possibility of future housing development on the land between the village and the new bypass. It seems standard practice for a new road to become the new development boundary."In the future, everyone will be rich for 15 minutes"0 -
Also, until if and when the bypass is ever built, you're going to have an annoyingly busy road even closer to you.0
-
The problem with plots like this is that the real developers are not interested since it's got this far and not been sold.
Many developers are hand in hand with local agents since the agent knows they will get two bites of the cherry. A normal "retail" sale of the plot usually means there's no money in it. Bad for a private developer who will take all of the risk with none of the upside.
You can see in the aerial shot all the cars shoved together at one end to make access to this plot look better.
Bypass aside, this would be better as a whole plot with the main house. Demolish that and build 2-3 houses on the plot, not try to squeeze something out of the back garden.Signature on holiday for two weeks0 -
Also, until if and when the bypass is ever built, you're going to have an annoyingly busy road even closer to you.So would you build your forever home on it ?
The planning history for the site doesn't make good reading. The current consent was only won on appeal, the decision was dated 12 May 2017. The development has to commence within 3 years of that date.
Are you happy with the consented design? Would you feel it is your home once built? Normally part of the attraction of building a home is the ability to have it designed and built to your wishes. If you aren't happy as it is, then you need to think about going back through the planning process with your own preferred design (bearing in mind the proposals previously rejected) taking into account that you too might need to appeal against an initial refusal. Meanwhile the clock is ticking down to 12 May 2020...
You also need to be aware of the leylandii type trees in the garden. According to the planning documents it would appear these will be staying whether you like them or not. :undecidedMutton_Geoff wrote: »Bypass aside, this would be better as a whole plot with the main house. Demolish that and build 2-3 houses on the plot, not try to squeeze something out of the back garden."In the future, everyone will be rich for 15 minutes"0 -
As above, I wouldn't build my forever home there due to the existing A class road.
Fine countryside views are good to have, but if they're only achievable by being close to existing property and busy infrastructure then their value is eroded.
Building plots in or close to the countryside are tricky in this respect. They tend to be in places where development is happening or scheduled to happen, which leaves them at the mercy of others' 'forever' plans.
The alternative is to seek out much more readily-available rural property and re-develop, though there are still few complete guarantees of preserving views. We did this, but although we control the view behind, in theory, a farmer could build a large barn in front of our plot without even requiring planning permission.
There are always compromises.0 -
Personally I don't find the views that inspiring, it's just looks like intensively managed farmland, probably saturated in pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertiliser.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.4K Spending & Discounts
- 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 256.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards