Land to buy in Stafford for non-residential, non-commercial purposes?

[citricsquid]

I want to build a private bmx/skate park or track for myself to ride around, unfortunately I live in an apartment and don't have access to any outside space (that I can develop). My options are buying a house with a large garden (I don't like living in houses and it would be very expensive) or acquiring some land, I'm thinking about half an acre, an acre would be doable.

Researching land prices in Stafford I've found that it's ~£50,000 per acre minimum: this is because the listed land has planning permission and is viable for residential/commercial development. I don't need land that can have houses built on, just a flat piece of land I can stick a few (temporary) metal structures on, or dig a bunch of dirt mounds.

Here's my question for anyone with knowledge about land in Stafford (or in general):

Does land that is flat that I could use to build a bmx park on exist in Stafford at less than, say, £5k per acre? I've found some land in the middle of nowhere that would be more than adequate but I want to stay within Stafford. If the answer is yes: how do I go about finding it? Do online market places for barely-usable land exist, or do I need to instruct a certain type of company to find land for me? or have I missed something really obvious?

I suspect this is a pipe dream but I'm asking anyway.

Thanks in advance for any help / thoughts!

 

[Gramaisc]

I suspect that you might get some opposition, but there are quite a few unused allotments. A group of four together might suit for what you require. There are a good few on the Coton Fields site. They might rent you a clump of four unused plots.....

 

[citricsquid]

I suspect that you might get some opposition, but there are quite a few unused allotments. A group of four together might suit for what you require. There are a good few on the Coton Fields site. They might rent you a clump of four unused plots.....

That's an interesting idea! I think you're right though, I can't imagine the average allotment owner would be at all willing to tolerate that sort of use and I don't really want to upset an entire community for the sake of my own enjoyment. That does raise a good point though, where do allotments get their land from, from what I understand allotment plots are fairly cheap to rent (~£20/year?) so either they're subsidized in some way (perhaps council funding), some sort of donation of land or the land is unusable for any other reason: hopefully it's the latter. I'll poke around and see what I can learn about allotments, thank you for the idea.

 

[Gramaisc]

The Coton Fields allotments used to go all the way from the back of Corporation Street to Charnley Road - they built the Edison Road estate and the playing fields on a lot of them.

You could ask - they can only say 'No'.

 

[littleme]

So, like, I know Im old & that, innit, but. when I was young like (25yrs ago), your peeps just built ramps & that in the woods wherever they could?! Like, innit.

But yay you for even thinking of something like that.

Farmers fields to hire?

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

I want to build a private bmx/skate park or track for myself to ride around, unfortunately I live in an apartment and don't have access to any outside space (that I can develop). My options are buying a house with a large garden (I don't like living in houses and it would be very expensive) or acquiring some land, I'm thinking about half an acre, an acre would be doable.

Researching land prices in Stafford I've found that it's ~£50,000 per acre minimum: this is because the listed land has planning permission and is viable for residential/commercial development. I don't need land that can have houses built on, just a flat piece of land I can stick a few (temporary) metal structures on, or dig a bunch of dirt mounds.

Here's my question for anyone with knowledge about land in Stafford (or in general):

Does land that is flat that I could use to build a bmx park on exist in Stafford at less than, say, £5k per acre? I've found some land in the middle of nowhere that would be more than adequate but I want to stay within Stafford. If the answer is yes: how do I go about finding it? Do online market places for barely-usable land exist, or do I need to instruct a certain type of company to find land for me? or have I missed something really obvious?

I suspect this is a pipe dream but I'm asking anyway.

Thanks in advance for any help / thoughts!

Sounds like something other people may be interested in - you could do it as a co-operative, so you all pay an amount each month (or whatever) for use of the park/track and that goes towards maintenance, and if you're really savvy and do a good business plan you may be able to get a loan to cover the initial purchase (or lease?) of land. The maintenance costs would be minimal as if people are putting an investment into something and have a sense of ownership they're less likely to trash it - especially if they're the ones that will have to sort out the repairs!

 

[citricsquid]

The Coton Fields allotments used to go all the way from the back of Corporation Street to Charnley Road - they built the Edison Road estate and the playing fields on a lot of them.

You could ask - they can only say 'No'.

Maybe they have some surplus land then! I'll look into it, thank you.

So, like, I know Im old & that, innit, but. when I was young like (25yrs ago), your peeps just built ramps & that in the woods wherever they could?! Like, innit.

Farmers fields to hire?

I'm hoping to be able to build something more... formal, and something that I have control over. There are a few locations around Stafford with stuff people have built on public land (there is -- or was 10 years ago -- a bunch of track somewhere in the woods near Wildwood) but ideally I'd like something that I have ownership and control over.

Renting a field seems like a good thing to look into, it seems plausible that there will be fields out there that aren't in use for some reason, and I could move between fields when they come back in use. I'll look into that, thank you for the idea!

Sounds like something other people may be interested in - you could do it as a co-operative, so you all pay an amount each month (or whatever) for use of the park/track and that goes towards maintenance, and if you're really savvy and do a good business plan you may be able to get a loan to cover the initial purchase (or lease?) of land. The maintenance costs would be minimal as if people are putting an investment into something and have a sense of ownership they're less likely to trash it.

Fortunately the financial side isn't a concern at this point, finding the land is my hurdle. I'm not opposed to allowing others access to my hypothetical bmx track and some sort of community effort would be wonderful, but from what I understand there's a bunch of health and safety liability considerations so I'd like to avoid it for now, but certainly something I could consider if I eventually build something somewhere.

 

[Gramaisc]

The Coton Fields allotments certainly have surplus space - https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=st...108002&spn=0.001425,0.002411&t=h&z=19&vpsrc=6 . Agreement for your intended use will be a greater hurdle. There are many small packets of 'underused' land about - and the County Council has a Health Promotion Officer, or such-like - maybe try to get them onside..?

 

[John Marwood]

I want to build a private bmx/skate park or track for myself to ride around, unfortunately I live in an apartment and don't have access to any outside space (that I can develop). My options are buying a house with a large garden (I don't like living in houses and it would be very expensive) or acquiring some land, I'm thinking about half an acre, an acre would be doable.

Researching land prices in Stafford I've found that it's ~£50,000 per acre minimum: this is because the listed land has planning permission and is viable for residential/commercial development. I don't need land that can have houses built on, just a flat piece of land I can stick a few (temporary) metal structures on, or dig a bunch of dirt mounds.

Here's my question for anyone with knowledge about land in Stafford (or in general):

Does land that is flat that I could use to build a bmx park on exist in Stafford at less than, say, £5k per acre? I've found some land in the middle of nowhere that would be more than adequate but I want to stay within Stafford. If the answer is yes: how do I go about finding it? Do online market places for barely-usable land exist, or do I need to instruct a certain type of company to find land for me? or have I missed something really obvious?

I suspect this is a pipe dream but I'm asking anyway.

Thanks in advance for any help / thoughts!

1 No
2 You won't
3 Yes,No,Yes, change of use

 

[Withnail]

(there is -- or was 10 years ago -- a bunch of track somewhere in the woods near Wildwood)

Some years ago the owners of Hazelstrine Woods -
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=52.779314,-2.083459&spn=0.001898,0.005284&t=h&z=18
- were looking for someone to "insure and supervise" the track that had been built there.

Some info here - http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....ck-faces-axe/story-20153776-detail/story.html

and the only follow up on the story here - http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....-fansOn-bike/story-20153873-detail/story.html

Don't know what happened thereafter and i realise it's not exactly what you're looking for but it might be an avenue worth exploring. Haven't been that way for a long while so don't know whether they did get rid of the jumps - i could go and take a look for you if you'd like?

 

[markpa12003]

You need to find some land that has no residential or commercial potential because if it does the landowner won't sell it and / or it will be optioned by a developer.

Allotment areas may be a possibility because it should fit your size and location requirements. Also because planners try and protect these areas for open space purposes, consequently developers tend to stay clear of them.

I suspect you may have more luck if you focus your search beyond the immediate boundaries of Stafford and into the open countryside and look for sites unused or unloved land. Some farmers may have land that they have no use for. SCC may also be able to help. They are a significant land owner. Alternatively, some farmers are looking to diversity into other areas, i.e. a Ray Blower - Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge (off the A449). He may want to diversify what he offers and provide a bmx track. You may know he already runs a number of activities on his land, farm, motor x, paintballing etc.

 

[PPPPPP]

Have you tried contacting Inglewood, which seems to own most of Staffordshire. As you're a needy cause, no doubt they'd just give you the land and the council would probably build the ramps for nought..

 

[gon2seed]

So, like, I know Im old & that, innit, but. when I was young like (25yrs ago), your peeps just built ramps & that in the woods wherever they could?! Like, innit.

But yay you for even thinking of something like that.

Farmers fields to hire?

So, like, I know Im old & that, innit, but. when I was young like (25yrs ago), ?

Call that OLD!

 

[citricsquid]

Some years ago the owners of Hazelstrine Woods -
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=52.779314,-2.083459&spn=0.001898,0.005284&t=h&z=18
- were looking for someone to "insure and supervise" the track that had been built there.

Some info here - http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....ck-faces-axe/story-20153776-detail/story.html

and the only follow up on the story here - http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....-fansOn-bike/story-20153873-detail/story.html

Don't know what happened thereafter and i realise it's not exactly what you're looking for but it might be an avenue worth exploring. Haven't been that way for a long while so don't know whether they did get rid of the jumps - i could go and take a look for you if you'd like?

Ah, that does seem very interesting. I think those may be what I'm thinking of when I mentioned Wildwood, the map you've provided is very near where I think I used to go -- although I'm not sure the date matches up. I'll take a ride up there next week and see if there's anything still there, although based on those articles I won't get my hopes up! Thank you!

You need to find some land that has no residential or commercial potential because if it does the landowner won't sell it and / or it will be optioned by a developer.

Allotment areas may be a possibility because it should fit your size and location requirements. Also because planners try and protect these areas for open space purposes, consequently developers tend to stay clear of them.

I suspect you may have more luck if you focus your search beyond the immediate boundaries of Stafford and into the open countryside and look for sites unused or unloved land. Some farmers may have land that they have no use for. SCC may also be able to help. They are a significant land owner. Alternatively, some farmers are looking to diversity into other areas, i.e. a Ray Blower - Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge (off the A449). He may want to diversify what he offers and provide a bmx track. You may know he already runs a number of activities on his land, farm, motor x, paintballing etc.

I'm hoping to remain within (or near) Stafford because I'd like to avoid the need to travel a significant distance, in an ideal world I'd find something within this white circle but I'm guessing that's not going to happen. Farmers looking to diversify is an interesting idea, for now my goal is a simple private bmx track with no commercial use, but if that's the only way it's going to happen I'll investigate that.

From searching around the internet it looks like there is suitable land available, unfortunately it seems that Staffordshire is devoid of those sorts of sales. This website has a number of listings that I think meet my needs but they're all in other parts of the country. I guess I'm going to need to do a lot of leg work and seek out viable land and approach the owners, instead of clicking buy it now on ebay... Fortunately so far I've learned than an acre is far bigger than I thought, I could probably go as low as 1/5th of an acre so that should make it easier.

Thank you for your input.

 

[citricsquid]

oh! This might be something: http://www.englishlandagency.co.uk/location.asp?Location=149 & http://www.perfectplot.co.uk/location.asp?location=149

Gnosall is a bit further than I'd like but it's not too far, I'll have to look into whether or not I can "build" on pasture land -- and if so, to what extent. I know houses can't be built in pasture land, but maybe a bmx track can!

 

[kyoto49]

Not sure what type of stuff you'll put on this bmx track, but have you considered the car parks on industrial units? I work on Tollgate industrial estate and there seems to be quite alot of neglected land belonging to the untis that doesn't really seem to be used much. Maybe rent a unit and use the carpark? Certainly there would be less neighbourhood objection if you sorted somewhere away fom residential housing.

 

[Gramaisc]

oh! This might be something: http://www.englishlandagency.co.uk/location.asp?Location=149 & http://www.perfectplot.co.uk/location.asp?location=149

Gnosall is a bit further than I'd like but it's not too far, I'll have to look into whether or not I can "build" on pasture land -- and if so, to what extent. I know houses can't be built in pasture land, but maybe a bmx track can!

I remember, some years ago, some people out that way getting some considerable grief over gardening in a field adjoining their 'legitimate' garden.

 

[citricsquid]

Not sure what type of stuff you'll put on this bmx track, but have you considered the car parks on industrial units? I work on Tollgate industrial estate and there seems to be quite alot of neglected land belonging to the untis that doesn't really seem to be used much. Maybe rent a unit and use the carpark? Certainly there would be less neighbourhood objection if you sorted somewhere away fom residential housing.

A car park would definitely work, that's a really good idea, and Tollgate industrial park is in a very good location for me. I imagine though that after the cost of renting a unit, business rates and utilities that it would work out more financially viable to purchase high value land with a view to eventually sell to recoup my outlay. I'll definitely look into the industrial park though, perhaps there will be some unused/unusable land I can acquire or rent. Thank you!

 

[kyoto49]

A car park would definitely work, that's a really good idea, and Tollgate industrial park is in a very good location for me. I imagine though that after the cost of renting a unit, business rates and utilities that it would work out more financially viable to purchase high value land with a view to eventually sell to recoup my outlay. I'll definitely look into the industrial park though, perhaps there will be some unused/unusable land I can acquire or rent. Thank you!

I'm not a BMX type person, although I love bikes, what is your hope for the site? I mean, what does a BMX type place involve? Is it permanent fixtures and landscaping or what?

If you use google maps you can see waste land between and around units on the Industrial estates quite easily

 

[citricsquid]

I'm not a BMX type person, although I love bikes, what is your hope for the site? I mean, what does a BMX type place involve? Is it permanent fixtures and landscaping or what?

There's a couple of different options, at this point I'm open to any depending on the type of land I can find. The easiest option would be a traditional skate park using non-permanent fixtures which would just require a flat concrete surface (a car park could work!), a permanent concrete skate park is another option but that would require a large amount of building work. Farm land would be good for either a pump track which can be built on pretty much any land by a couple of people with spades, or dirt jumps which are what people often build in woods (for example Wildwood above mentioned by Withnail). I have no preference at this point, all are enjoyable to ride and I'll take what I can get!

My hope is just to have somewhere that I can take my bmx and ride around, any time of day. There are some public skate parks already in Stafford, there's the bowl in Victoria Park and a new skate park opened in Wildwood in September but they're often closed or crowded and I really like the idea of having a private place that I can spend time at riding (and building if applicable) undisturbed.