Costs involved in owning a plot of land with trees

RHemmings

I'm now in the process of buying a house. And, that's where my focus is. There are some other things that I am thinking of for the future.

I also have my eye on a plot of land in my city, which is a good size and has a lot of trees on it. The guide price for it is extremely cheap. 

Note: my purpose in owning this land wouldn't be to try and profit from it by getting planning permission for houses etc. My intention would be to own it to stop anyone else doing that.  I'm an eco-nut, and am thinking seriously about this. 

If I bought this bit of land, then what would be the costs involved in owning it? Would I be required to get tree surgeons in to work on the trees, or could I just leave it wild? As a sort of private wildlife refuge.

But, I suspect that it would be very expensive to do that.

Note that I cannot afford to do anything right now, so this is long term planning for after February 2024. 

Flugelhorn

A lot would depend on the size, type and age of trees and how you want to keep the land looking. Tree surgery can be expensive!

Is there any public access to the land ?

Section62

RHemmings said:

I'm now in the process of buying a house. And, that's where my focus is. There are some other things that I am thinking of for the future.

I also have my eye on a plot of land in my city, which is a good size and has a lot of trees on it. The guide price for it is extremely cheap. 

Note: my purpose in owning this land wouldn't be to try and profit from it by getting planning permission for houses etc. My intention would be to own it to stop anyone else doing that.  I'm an eco-nut, and am thinking seriously about this. 

If I bought this bit of land, then what would be the costs involved in owning it? Would I be required to get tree surgeons in to work on the trees, or could I just leave it wild? As a sort of private wildlife refuge.

But, I suspect that it would be very expensive to do that.

Note that I cannot afford to do anything right now, so this is long term planning for after February 2024. 

February 2024 isn't "long term planning". If you are serious about this, and the property is already on the market, then you need to be doing something about it now.

It is quite unusual to find "good size" plots of land in a city with nothing but trees on them where the land isn't already in public ownership. Let alone one which is "extremely cheap".

Something doesn't add up here.  Expect difficulties and possibly a lot of baggage.

RHemmings

Flugelhorn said:

A lot would depend on the size, type and age of trees and how you want to keep the land looking. Tree surgery can be expensive!

Is there any public access to the land ?

It's this: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139620689#/?channel=COM_BUY

I haven't checked for public rights of way, and things like that. I wouldn't want to landscape the land, but am concerned about liability should one of the trees fall - for a start. 

Flugelhorn

wow some pretty tall trees on there - might land on the houses opposite if not looked after and we had some high winds - interesting to see why it has been left now , presume a buffer between the houses and the business units 

RHemmings

Section62 said:

February 2024 isn't "long term planning". If you are serious about this, and the property is already on the market, then you need to be doing something about it now.

It is quite unusual to find "good size" plots of land in a city with nothing but trees on them where the land isn't already in public ownership. Let alone one which is "extremely cheap".

Something doesn't add up here.  Expect difficulties and possibly a lot of baggage.

Thanks. I was guessing that if there is any reasonable chance that planning permission could be obtained, that the price would be a lot more. Or, it's a fake auction 'guide price' which is nothing like its actual value. There may be tree preservation orders on every tree (if I lived there, I would do that.) Etc. 

RHemmings

Flugelhorn said:

wow some pretty tall trees on there - might land on the houses opposite if not looked after and we had some high winds - interesting to see why it has been left now , presume a buffer between the houses and the business units 

The buffer between the houses and the business units is my guess for it still being there. There is at least one piece of land for sale in that small area, but it's very different. As I have nothing much to do today with my fiancee overseas, I'm tempted to cycle out and have a look at it all. 

GDB2222

That land is open to the public at the moment. Even if you fenced it, it would be a potential danger to passers by, as branches could fall off onto the road and neighbours. It would be grossly irresponsible just to leave it, as people could be killed. 

Only take this on if you are prepared for the responsibility involved.

Planning varies, as do covenants, but I bet this is at least currently not remotely feasible for building, or the guide price would be far higher. So, you might not even need to worry about it. If there is a chance of development, you can ignore the guide price completely. 

Flugelhorn

go and have a look - there may be a stream, may be almost anything. check on the council planning site too - see what has happened in the past 

Flugelhorn

PS this is your bit of land I think - worth a bit of research seeing who owns it and what the history is , maybe council selling as fed up with having to look after it  https://pa.oadby-wigston.gov.uk/online-applications/caseDetails.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=LLUW87MB04Y00

in 2015 it was owned by Taylor Wimpey

RHemmings

Thanks @Flugelhorn. How did you find out who it was owned by? I looked for a title deed but couldn't find one. 

I think I'm definitely going to have a looksee at that and two other nearby bits of land today. Not that I can buy them now. I think I planned my current house purchase well in terms of buying a good house without having to wait until February, but I will be FLAT BROKE until February. When I should be good again.