About Waymark Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents

Development Opportunity, Highworth, SN6 7QQ

Posted on Monday, January 22, 2018

Development Opportunity, Highworth, SN6 7QQ

LOCATION

A striking rural setting located on the northeastern edge of Wiltshire close to the Oxfordshire border and between the Upper Thames Valley to the north and the Lambourn Downs and Vale of White Horse to the south.

Highworth, a historic market town is within 0.8 miles. Swindon to the south-west is 7 miles with Junction 15 of the M4 is 9 miles.  Oxford to the east is 25 miles.

A mainline railway station at Swindon provides fast trains to London (journey time approx. 60 minutes) and to Bristol and the West.

State primary and secondary schools are both available in Highworth and the nearest private schools are Pinewood (4 miles) and St Hugh’s (10 miles). Higher Education facilities are in Swindon, Cirencester (18 miles) and Oxford.

The well-known Wrag Barn Golf and Country Club is located opposite the site, off Shrivenham Road to the west.

DESCRIPTION

Comprising a number of period and more modern agricultural buildings in varying states of repair clustered together in open farmland on a largely level site of approximately 2 acres. Set back from Shrivenham Road, the site benefits from outstanding rural views in all directions.

A further c 0.85 acre is included for the existing drive which is c. 280 metres in length and to be approximately 12m in width.

The period buildings form almost the complete original layout following the principles of a Victorian Model Farm including a full height central granary/threshing barn flanked either side by cattle byres/stables. The pair of semi-detached cottages are positioned to one side.

The more modern barns comprise two buildings, a single storey cattle barn which is subdivided for planning purposes and a full height general purpose barn.

NOTE: At the time of preparing these marketing details, a fire has destroyed the walls and roof of Barn 7, leaving the steel frame. An engineering report has been commissioned to establish the integrity of the structure which is expected to confirm that it remains largely intact other than some limited repair work. It is not proposed to re-clad the building as this would only then be removed by a purchaser when undertaking the conversion. The photo images show the building before the fire.

PLANNING

The planning permission granted on the 17th November 2017 for the conversion of the buildings is in two parts:

  a)  Detailed planning for the conversion of the period buildings. Planning Ref: S/17/1023/RM
  b)  Prior Approval for the modern buildings. Planning Ref: S/PRIORC/17/1004

Description on the dwellings permitted:

Period Barns:

Barn 1 (the Granary) - 352 sq m / 3,789 sq ft  4/5 bedrooms, 4 shower/bath, open plan living area (part full height)

Barn 2 – 282 sq m / 3,035 sq ft  4 bedrooms, 4 shower/bath, kitchen/dining and separate sitting room (part full height)

Barn 3 - 279 sq m / 3,003 sq ft   4 bedrooms, 4 shower/bath, kitchen/dining and separate sitting room (part full height)

Cottage 1  -  77 sqm / 829 sq ft    3 bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen and living area, cloakroom

Cottage 2 -  77 sqm / 829 sq ft    3 bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen and living area, cloakroom

Carport for the cottages - 32 sq m /344 sq ft

Steel Framed Barns:

Barn 5 -  109 sq m / 1,173 sq ft  3 bedroom, 3 bath/shower room, open plan living

Barn 6 – 109 sq m / 1,173 sq ft  3 bedroom, 3 bath/shower room, open plan living

Barn 7 -  240 sq m / 2,583 sq ft   4 bedroom, 3 bath/shower room, kitchen/dining, sitting room, study

Total Consented Floor Area = 1,557 sq m / 16,760 sq ft

NB: Total floor area in existing use = 1,093 sq m / 11,760 sq ft

SERVICES

The only mains services to the site is an over-head mains electricity supply. 

A review has been commissioned to establish the capacity and approximate costs of upgrading the electricity (if needed) and bringing mains water and BT/Data onto the site.

Foul and Surface Water drainage is proposed as being a private system discharging to a nearby stream (for which the appropriate easements would be granted based on an agreed specification of the pipe size depth and outfall) after  on-site processing/attenuation

ADDITIONAL LAND

Further land for agricultural or equine purposes only can be made available.

FURTHER INFORMATION/SITE REPORTS

The following documents can be viewed here.

  • Ecology
  • FRA and Drainage
  • Full planning drawings
  • Planning Consents
  • Topo Survey
  • Structural Report
  • Heritage Report and Photos

VIEWINGS

The site and buildings remain in use as part of a working farm. Viewing days are likely to be arranged – please contact the selling agent for further details.  Protective clothing appropriate for a cattle farm in winter will be needed.

LOCAL AUTHORITY

Swindon Borough Council (as a Unitary Authority)

GUIDE PRICE

£1.75m

PROPOSED COVENANTS/RESTRICTIONS

The site will be sold with the following rights and restrictions:

a)  There is a Well within the curtilage of the property which our client wishes to retain as water supply to their retained land. A separately metered power supply would be required and a spur off the well to the retained land to be provided
b)  A right of way for all purposes would be retained over the first 30m of the entrance drive off Shrivenham Road which will include the right to upgrade this section
c)  An overage arrangement will apply if planning for additional residential dwellings is granted by way of new standalone structures (unless than as a replacement of the steel frame buildings of equivalent size) being a payment of £50 per sq ft of the Gross Internal Floor Area payable to our clients within 3 months of grant of the consent. This payment to be increased in line with the Nationwide (or equivalent) House Price Index.
d)  A restriction will be placed on the land to be used for residential dwelling purposes only (which would allow associated ancillary uses such as a home office etc…)
e)  In the event that additional land is purchased for agricultural/equine purposes, this land will be subject to covenants prohibiting use for any other purpose and include requirements for boundary fencing and planting.
f)  The purchaser and successors would agree not to object to our client continuing usual agricultural use of the retained land.
g)  The purchaser would be responsible for installing new stock proof boundary fences (and two gates at the entrance of the site) within an agreed period post purchase.

METHOD OF SALE

Offers unconditional on planning are sought for the freehold interest with vacant possession by noon March 8th 2018. Please note the vendor will not be obliged to accept the highest or any other offer.

Please note the following when preparing an offer:

a)  Provide full information on the proposed purchaser including experience of undertaking developments of a similar nature and/or scale
b)  Confirm if any conditions are attached to the offer and when it is expected that these would be satisfied
c)  Provide details as to how you propose to fund the purchase
d)  Accept that an undertaking will be provided by you to cover up to £10,000 plus VAT of our clients' reasonable legal costs incurred in progressing a sale
e)  That a  10% deposit on exchange will be required
f)  That completion of the purchase will need to take place no later than June 2018 (to allow the owners sufficient time to provide replacement winter housing for their cattle)
g)  If additional land is required, please separately state your offer for this element from the main site purchase

CONTACT DETAILS

Ed Preece MRICS
07880 728188

ep@waymarkproperty.co.uk

Important Notice

Waymark and their clients give notice that:

  1. They have no authority to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not  be relied upon as statements or representations of fact
  2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance purposes only.


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