leasehold land development

missliss75

I would like to buy a property with a partial leasehold element. The house and garden is freehold, the driveway/partial side garden is leasehold 999yrs. Planning was granted 10 years ago for a garage, utility/wc to be built on the leasehold element. It has now lapsed. I want to build a double extension on the leasehold element of the land but Im being told the council will not permit because its their land. The proposed double extension is not overlooking anyone, nor out of character. Could this be taken to committee? Any other solutions? Can I build a single storey kitchen extension on the leasehold land under permitted development? In order to purchase the leasehold element, the council have said they consider it 'developable land' and therefore attach an exorbitant price tag. Surely, it's not, because if I purchase the house, I'd have the lease, which they can't do anything with. It seems like a ridiculous catch 22. Avoid like the plague? TIA

AdrianC

What does the lease say about building on the leasehold land...?

missliss75

TrAdrianC said:

What does the lease say about building on the leasehold land...?

Trying to obtain the lease as we speak.

eddddy

missliss75 said:

Could this be taken to committee? Any other solutions? Can I build a single storey kitchen extension on the leasehold land under permitted development? In order to purchase the leasehold element, the council have said they consider it 'developable land' and therefore attach an exorbitant price tag. Surely, it's not, because if I purchase the house, I'd have the lease, which they can't do anything with. It seems like a ridiculous catch 22. Avoid like the plague? TIA

The lease will tell you what you can and cannot do on the land. It's not really possible to guess what the lease might say. 

For example, if the lease says you can't build on the land - there is nothing to take to any committee. (Unless you want to try to re-negotiate the terms of the lease with the freeholder.)

The issue of "permitted development" isn't relevant here - that's just planning rules. Again, it's the lease that will tell you what you can and can't do with the land.  (But if the lease says you can build on the land, you'll also have to obey planning rules - which might involve getting planning consent, etc)