The Highways Agency uses statutory powers to acquire property in connection with the operation, construction and maintenance of the Trunk Road and Motorway network. The Agency receives Blight Notices under the Town and Country Planning Acts which provide protection for property owners who cannot sell their properties because of planned road improvement schemes. When these notices are accepted, they require the Agency to purchase property in advance of its operational requirements. These properties are held while the scheme is in the programme and the route is protected from development. In some cases this can be for a number of years.
Where possible, properties are let until they are required for operational purposes or can be sold and their management is contracted out to a private letting and management agent.
Properties which are not cost effective to repair, but which are repairable, are maintained in their present condition because a future sale may take place. These properties are described as being beyond economic repair. Derelict properties that present a safety risk or will have an enhanced value by having planning permission for rebuild/development may be demolished if it is cost effective to do so.
The 13 properties beyond economic repair being held by the Highways Agency are detailed in the table. This shows their addresses, how long they have been vacant, and how much council tax has been paid in respect of each property for the financial year 2008-09.
The road schemes that affected Woodview and Park Hill Lodge are now complete. These properties did not need to be demolished and are now at the beginning of the Agency’s disposal process. The other 11 properties are not available for sale.
The Agency obtains appropriate professional advice about valuation, method of sale and planning potential in respect of all its surplus properties. The Agency has not yet obtained that advice in respect of Woodview and Park Hill Lodge.
Property address Vacant period Council tax 2008-09 (£) Comments The Old Farmhouse, Ashflats Lane, Stafford 15 years 240 days 1,060.49 Highways Agency’s managing agents have been instructed to seek planning permission for it to be demolished and rebuilt once it is sold. 4 Grange Farm Cottages, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge 9 years 233 days 737.39 Required to be demolished for the road scheme. Darlaston County Kennels, Yarnfield Lane, Stone, Staffordshire 7 years 241 days 1,301.41 Highways Agency’s managing agents have been instructed to seek planning permission for it to be demolished and rebuilt once it is sold. Farm Manager’s Cottage, Iridge Place, Hurst Green, East Sussex 2 years 274 days 0 Was to be let in current condition to the buyer of an adjoining Highways Agency property, this sale has just fallen through. Options currently being considered. Bantony Manor House, Silverhill, East Sussex 6 years 108 days 0 Listed building—currently reviewing options and bidding for funds to bring back into use in next financial year. May Day Farm, Pembury Road, Tonbridge, Kent 284 days 0 Listed building required to be demolished for the road scheme, demolition consent currently being applied for as part of scheme design. Firholme Farm, Great North Road, Richmond 12 years 60 days 0 Required to be demolished for the road scheme but early demolition is currently being considered. Demolition for the scheme was imminent but this section of the scheme has been re-programmed. South Lodge, Great North Road, Brompton-On-Swale, Richmond 6 years 240 days 0 Required to be demolished for the road scheme but early demolition is currently being considered. Demolition for the scheme was imminent but this section of the scheme has been re-programmed. Woodview, Todhills, Carlisle, Cumbria 4 years 212 days 1,338.49 Currently being declared surplus and will be sold in its current condition. 382 Stockport Road West, Stockport 8 years 304 days 1,309.56 Not cost effective to repair, likely to be sold to local authority for their road scheme. The Cottage, Lostock Hall Farm, Lostock Hall Road, Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire 7 years 243 days 1,034 Not cost effective to repair, likely to be sold to local authority for their road scheme. Canberra Farm Bean Leach Road, Stockport 2 years 62 days 1,410.11 Highways Agency’s managing agents have been instructed to seek planning permission for it to be demolished and rebuilt once it is sold. Park Hill Lodge Walton Road, Wetherby 12 years 152 days 0 Currently being declared surplus and will be sold in its current condition.
To ensure best value for the taxpayer the Highways Agency sells properties that are surplus to operational requirements with vacant possession whenever possible.
One property has just been sold. The remaining 33 properties that are currently vacant and in the disposal process are:
in the process of being formally declared surplus by the Agency, this includes obtaining and acting on planning/valuation and sales advice;
being offered to former owners under the Crichel Down Rules;
being offered for sale on the open market;
under offer awaiting legal completion of the sale.