Considering buying a strip of land from local council

Allib

Hi 
we are considering buying a strip of land adjacent to our house to extend our garden. 

The price I’ve been given by the local council is minimum £5000 for anything under 50sqm and then increase after that. 

I’d then have my legal costs on top. 

I just wondered how this compares to other council areas? Does anyone have experience of ‘haggling’ this price down? 

theartfullodger

Doesn't matter how it compares, you are dealing with your council not e.g. Blackpool or Mayfair.

Section62

Allib said:

I just wondered how this compares to other council areas? Does anyone have experience of ‘haggling’ this price down? 

Generally councils don't like selling land they own.  When they do, it is because they see an opportunity to generate a substantial capital receipt - they won't do it just to be nice to someone.  They also have a duty to obtain the best value when disposing of public assets.  Both of which work against your hope to haggle the price down.

What is the land currently used for?  If it has highway rights over it then you'll also need to pay the stopping up costs.

ssparks2003

Is it worth £5k to you? Personally it seems quite a bit of money, but the value to you may be more 

Allib

It’s currently just a strip of grass (around 7ft wide) between my house and the public path. 

I’ll attach a photo 

davidmcn

I've seen cheaper, but with the buyer having to pay the council's surveyor/legal costs on top - I take it that price assumes each party meets their own costs?

buglydb

If it’s public land at the moment you will also need to apply for a change of use from
the planning department. My council have many examples of the property team in my council agreeing to sell the land but then planning says no