Access Gates for Paddock

Amberelli

Hi All! I am hoping that you may be able to help me please

I am in the process of buying a new property. It is in a conservation area (I am aware that there are a number of restrictions and that permission needs to be sought for most changes).

There is a 1 acre paddock that does not currently seem to have vehicular access -  there are stables here that are not currently in use but previously would have been used for horses.

I find it odd that there is no gate access to get to the paddock and we would want to look at reinstating this after we move. Is there anywhere I could find out about historical access and gates etc to support an application?
I have looked on the council planning  page but there are no site maps associated with any recorded requests.

Would a title deed provide such information?

Thank you

WIAWSNB

Is this paddock part of the property you are hoping to buy? Does it share a boundary with the house plot?

Any chance of a looksee at the deeds map?

If vehicular access is important to the purchase decision, I'd have that all clarified before going much further. Aren't these straightforward Qs for your conveyancer to ask about?

Section62

Amberelli said:

Hi All! I am hoping that you may be able to help me please

I am in the process of buying a new property. It is in a conservation area (I am aware that there are a number of restrictions and that permission needs to be sought for most changes).

There is a 1 acre paddock that does not currently seem to have vehicular access -  there are stables here that are not currently in use but previously would have been used for horses.

I find it odd that there is no gate access to get to the paddock and we would want to look at reinstating this after we move. Is there anywhere I could find out about historical access and gates etc to support an application?
I have looked on the council planning  page but there are no site maps associated with any recorded requests.

Would a title deed provide such information?

Thank you

Assuming there is no sign of an access on the ground then the historic situation probably won't affect the outcome of a planning application to create a new access.  The assessment is likely to focus on the visual impact of the new gateway/entrance, and any road safety issues.  Creating the access may cause some concern about plans for further development of the land, so if you purchase you might want to let local people know what you intend to do with the land and why you need the access (so long as it doesn't involve building on it).

Evidence of a historic access may be relevant if the application is refused and you go to appeal - particularly if the refusal is on road safety grounds and the access had been in use relatively recently (say 1980's) for when the council have road accident records available.

tacpot12

Google Streetview sometimes has history that you can look at. This might show that gates were in place at some time in the past, but you will be lucky to find much before 2011.

If access from the road isn't possible, can you get vehicular access via another part of the property?

If you can get planning permission for a gate, have a look to see if you can get it made in Accoya for maximum lifespan. 

user1977

Old mapping is available from a variety of sources e.g. https://maps.nls.uk/ or Individual Historic Maps - Promap Digital Maps

Amberelli

Thanks All. It's part of the property yes - directly attached and not even a fence between... although I am not sure vehicles could pass around the rear of the property as there is an established garden there. The adjoining field belonging to someone else has an access gate directly on the boundary and as there are stables, I don't see how access can't be a requirement for use.

It looks like there was a driveway on the left of the property but that now seems to be a fence rather than an access gate.

I'll speak to the solicitor - we're at the start of the process so all these things will be asked - and we're gong to speak to the owner of the field next door too.

eddddy

Amberelli said:

I'll speak to the solicitor - we're at the start of the process so all these things will be asked - and we're gong to speak to the owner of the field next door too.

It might be better to ask the seller directly or via the estate agent. It might be quicker and easier.

If anything comes up in the discussion which you want reflected in the contract, you can tell your solicitor what it is.


To be fair, assuming your solicitor is doing fixed fee conveyancing for you, I doubt they'll want to get too deep into a back-and-forth exchange with the seller about historic access and potential planning consents.

And I doubt that a conveyancing solicitor will be able to advise you on planning matters generally (especially if you're not paying for that advice).