Land with hut versus cottage?

katerinaemalina1

Hello

We’ve been thinking about buying a second home near my parents. It’s not really a money making venture, more a lifestyle thing so we can go and stay regularly, see them and enjoy the location that they live in. We may airbnb it a bit too. 

However I’m now thinking what about buying a patch of land instead and having a shepherds hut on it. Two benefits - I won’t be that awful second home owner! And I can invest effort into creating land that is great for nature. 

Has anyone done this? A brief look and it seems I’d need planning for a shepherds hut on land. If we wanted to have a few and do a venture I guess that would be another option. Any experience with that as well? As I said it’s primarily not to make money, more a personal thing. 

I guess it appeals as I’d love a patch of land to escape to and maybe it would also be cheaper than spending 350k on a small cottage. Plus I wouldn’t be contributing to the affordability crisis (or maybe I would with land.....) 

Thanks

AdrianC

Are you talking about agricultural land?

First thing you would need to do is get planning for change of use.

Ditzy_Mitzy

In regards to the shepherd's hut, which is little different to a caravan in practice, you will need change of use and planning permission.  Your proposal verges on the creation of a new dwelling, which can be complicated.  I don't know what the rules in regards to buying a touring caravan and moving it on and off the land.  

GDB2222

If it's agricultural land, and it's a shepherd's hut, would it be sufficient just to get some sheep?

deannagone

Watch Clarkson's Farm series, keeping sheep is more complicated than plonking them in a field and come back in a few months expecting them to just be standing there waiting for you.

Ditzy_Mitzy

deannagone said:

Watch Clarkson's Farm series, keeping sheep is more complicated than plonking them in a field and come back in a few months expecting them to just be standing there waiting for you.

You have to have a sheepdog and a spinning wheel and somewhere to grow the mint for the sauce, along with a potato field, somewhere to grow carrots and a gravy granule tree!  It's a complicated business.

AdrianC

GDB2222 said:

If it's agricultural land, and it's a shepherd's hut, would it be sufficient just to get some sheep?

Only if you like wearing wool yourself.

Seriously, you'd have to prove that your presence on the land was essential to the welfare of the animals. Which doesn't exactly go along with it being occasional weekends and a bit of AirBnB...

martindow

I believe you can camp for 28 days on agricultural land without needing change of use planning permission. 

This site has a vested interest in encouraging it as they want to charge you for letting out pitches but it expalins the legal side

https://www.pitchup.com/how-start-campsite-caravan-park/

It seems that 56 days are allowed now.

katerinaemalina1

Hmm thanks. I’m not sure if it would be agricultural land. I’ve registered for plots of land to be flagged to me in Suffolk when they come up and they are a mixed bunch. I think I better speak to a planning person. I just think it would suit us much better and would also take away the second home issue too. If it was easier for it not to be airbnb so be it. It’s definitely more for us to use and stay near my parents/kids to run around/be in Suffolk. And it would also be way cheaper than buying a second home too! There must be a reason lots of other people are not doing this though….

eddddy

katerinaemalina1 said:

However I’m now thinking what about buying a patch of land instead and having a shepherds hut on it. 

Is there land available adjacent to your parents' property?


If there is, you might be able to buy that and incorporate it into the curtilage (i.e. the garden) of your parents' property. That might still need planning consent, but it may be easier to get.


Then you can construct some types of outbuilding (e.g. a shepherd's hut, a log cabin) without planning consent.  It should be "ancillary" to your parent's house - so that might be 2 guest bedrooms and a guest bathroom. (It probably shouldn't have cooking facilities, but perhaps nobody would ever know.)

FreeBear

katerinaemalina1 said: I’ve registered for plots of land to be flagged to me in Suffolk when they come up and they are a mixed bunch.

Something like this ?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-54390886.html

Be very, very careful with plots like these - They are often sold under the guise of some land banking scheme. The chances of the land ever being developed for housing is (often) extremely remote and you risk losing your money and being lumbered with a worthless patch of mud.