Best value/cheapest part of the country to buy land...?

I certainly would not rule out Scotland. I believe Inverness is the fastest growing city in the UK and most decent sized towns will have a couple of supermarkets and a health centre. Reckon on averaging 60mph on main roads. Beautiful scenery even on the east coast. Low crime rate. The health and education is way better than England as far as I can make out. I recently sold a Highland pony to a girl who events and is 'something in the city'. She commutes to London on a weekly basis just coming home for weekends! And whatever happened to working via the Internet? I know there are quite a few that do that.

I am originally fom South Devon but can't see myself ever going back as it is too crowded and too hot...and far too expensive! Threads like this are good because they make me realise what I have here. A tiny pokey house, admitted, but I have the land, every field watered, mains electric fencing, new barn, field shelters, round pen, two stables and tack room, seldom much snow, mains services (apart from drainage), and 600 acres of hacking in young forestry through my own private gate into neighbouring property....and thousands of acres within walking distance. This is a very horsey area so no problems with farriers, specialist equine vets, livery, events, x-country courses, etc.

Yes, I think I'll be staying! :)
 
honetpot said:
The Lincolnshire Wolds are lovely, rolling landscape and not far from the sea. Its just not a very good place to commute into London the last time we looked, or I would be very tempted.
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Lincolnshire Wolds are a very well kept secret, I love working over that way, the villages surrounding Louth are absolutely beautiful. Farmland in Lincolnshire trades off in large blocks relatively strongly against the market average - it is mostly good land around here. But smallholdings and equestrian properties you tend to get a lot more for your money, you just have to be prepared to travel further to venues.
 
jhoward said:
I saw a really lovely place in Cornwall just over 3 acres had a small stream on part of it, it had permission for 28 days camping without permission needed and with electric cables over it the estate agents thought getting a supply would be easy...marketed at 45k...
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Pretty sure that's my friends field just down the lane from my yard.St Keyne area?.Smaller parcels tend to be more per acre but generally very good value down here.And a very nice place to be though not a lot of job opportunities.
 
Not around Essex that's for sure, at the moment anything that could remotely give justification for developing housing gets planning permission, and therefore, land is generally unavailable or very expensive. I think the recent change in law, making it easier to develop on redundant farm buildings have taken a lot out. Yards seem to be sold off for housing developments at a rate of knots.

It is difficult as you can't really blame people for wanting to become millionaires overnight, we live in a greedy society. We're looking at going down towards Devon / Cornwall eventually (think retirement but maybe holiday let first) but you have to move inland to get something affordable.
 
Interesting thread. We were looking a few years ago, tied to Wilts/Glos/Ox area due to OH's work. We found a few interesting and reasonable properties in the forest of dean, and there were cheaper and better to be had the further west we looked. Some fab stuff in Herefordshire, but too far for us. We eventually bought a 3 acre property with a wreck of a bungalow and tumbledown out buildings in Wiltshire for £500,000, 2 miles from M4 junction. Doing it up has crippled us, but we still think it was a good move...we just keep chipping away at the jobs, and we've increased the value over and above what we have spent (had it revalued recently). Rubbish outriding but easy boxing distance to some of the best hacking in the country.
 
We're heading to the Midlands to be nearer OH parents in Shrewsbury but can't go that far as OH wouldn't be able to do his job so looking Shropshire/Staffordshire borders. Found one we like which is 7 acres, 4 bed plus self contained annexe, several outbuildings for the same price as our ex council house in Hertfordshire! Looked around Herefordshire and Worcestershire and really liked it but just too far for commuting unfortunately as you get even more for your money that way and so much choice!
 
north scotland - north to northeast aberdeenshire, up past Aberchirder across to Fraserburgh way and further North, Caithness. Lots of crofts with 20-30 acres whereas further south seems to be more populated by large farms and smaller equestrian properties with 2-3 acres that command a premium price.
 
NeverEver said:
north scotland - north to northeast aberdeenshire, up past Aberchirder across to Fraserburgh way and further North, Caithness. Lots of crofts with 20-30 acres whereas further south seems to be more populated by large farms and smaller equestrian properties with 2-3 acres that command a premium price.
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Funny you should say that but I've just seen a 30 acre holding with buildings and a 3 bedroom bungalow north of me on the market for £250,000. Under the Scottish system, that will be 'offers over' but it gives you an idea. Of course, I haven't seen it and it is further north. But would that be the price of a terraced house down south?

A crofts, by the way, is defined as a "small piece of land surrounded by legislation". Be careful, as they are often a minefield of conditions and restrictions! Land and buildings are often in different ownerships, too.
 
Dry Rot said:
Funny you should say that but I've just seen a 30 acre holding with buildings and a 3 bedroom bungalow north of me on the market for £250,000. Under the Scottish system, that will be 'offers over' but it gives you an idea. Of course, I haven't seen it and it is further north. But would that be the price of a terraced house down south?

A crofts, by the way, is defined as a "small piece of land surrounded by legislation". Be careful, as they are often a minefield of conditions and restrictions! Land and buildings are often in different ownerships, too.
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in the current market, a lot of properties arent going for offers over and if they making over the asking price it isnt much , certainly not what was seen a few years ago. Also, yes you are right about crofts north of the parish line which would certainly include caithness but I own a croft in North Aberdeenshire where they are also abundant. They are called crofts but basically mean they are a small farm - they dont come under crofting law as they are outwith that area.
 
JoannaC said:
We're heading to the Midlands to be nearer OH parents in Shrewsbury but can't go that far as OH wouldn't be able to do his job so looking Shropshire/Staffordshire borders. Found one we like which is 7 acres, 4 bed plus self contained annexe, several outbuildings for the same price as our ex council house in Hertfordshire! Looked around Herefordshire and Worcestershire and really liked it but just too far for commuting unfortunately as you get even more for your money that way and so much choice!
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Welcome to Shropshire - you should talk to JillA on here - she's in your future neck of the woods =D It's an easy run over to Shrewsbury from that direction
 
I was going to suggest west of the River Severn in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Herefordshire is nice too but I'm not sure what the hacking is like. Also it is very rich farmland so there is always competition for land. But you do get more for your money as it is a little far away from motorways for an easy commute
 
NeverEver said:
in the current market, a lot of properties arent going for offers over and if they making over the asking price it isnt much , certainly not what was seen a few years ago. Also, yes you are right about crofts north of the parish line which would certainly include caithness but I own a croft in North Aberdeenshire where they are also abundant. They are called crofts but basically mean they are a small farm - they dont come under crofting law as they are outwith that area.
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Aberdeen is the oil centre of Scotland and the market value of properties will vary with the fortunes of the oil industry which, at the moment, do not look so good. Further west and north is less oil related and the market will be more stable.
 
Relatively cheap here, border of Swansea, Carmarthenshire, South West Wales. Cheaper than Pembrokeshire as long as you avoid Gower which us rather expensive.
 
Lincolnshire not so cheap any more due to Mr Dyson of Dyson Hoovers owning most of it and buying up any land that goes up for sale therefore pushing the prices up! I only know because my in laws own a farm there thats been in the family for hundreds of years but they would never be able to afford it at current prices!
 
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