Paddock & planning permission?

Natalie_1989

Hi, I’m looking for a little bit of advice,
I’m looking at buying a home with a ‘paddock’ to the rear.
The ‘paddock’ currently has gravelled parking for 4 cars, a very large shed, and a summer house with full electrics. I wondered if anyone knew if planning permission is needed for all these to be put on this land?

thanks in advance. 

davidmcn

Probably at least in part, depending on the size of the buildings. But if they've been there long enough it's probably irrelevant. Have you checked the planning history of the site on the council's website?

pinkteapot

If you like the house I wouldn’t let that put you off. Mention that concern to your solicitor and they’ll investigate. If PP should have been sought and wasn’t then the seller will probably end up paying for an indemnity policy and that’ll be that. 

Davesnave

'Paddocks' are often bought from farmers as extensions to a garden. They usually remain designated as agricultural land, so no development beyond an orchard or allotment should occur and anything like a summer house ought to require planning permission.

What happens in the real world is that allotments often turn into gardens, small structures are erected and over time the nature of the land changes. Despite having satellite technology to see and record all this taking place, local authorities lack the money and staff to enforce in these situations, so over time these paddock gardens become legal by default.

It's not necessarily a bad thing; modern agriculture being as it is, the gardens are often more ecologically diverse than the farm land they replace....but then, having turned a 30' garden into one exceeding an acre, I might be slightly biased!