Property Description

A Grade II listed farmhouse in need of modernisation, a timber frame traditional barn and range of former farm buildings with potential, subject to planning, for redevelopment.

Osbournes Farm occupies a pleasant site off Warren Lane, a quiet road to the south of the attractive village of Cottered.

In total the property extends to approximately 0.72 hectares (1.77 acres), which includes part of the field to the east.

The farmhouse and buildings have historically been used for farming and a family haulage business. They are currently unoccupied.

Buntingford – 2.9 miles
Baldock – 6 miles
Puckeridge – 7.1 miles
Stevenage – 7.8 miles

GUIDE PRICE – SOLD

Method of sale
The property is offered for sale by informal tender. Unconditional offers are sought by 12pm on Friday 22 July 2022.

Description
Please refer to the plan which shows the various buildings numbered as follows.

1. Osbournes Farmhouse – a 4-bedroom Grade II listed farmhouse in need of renovation (131.10 m² (1,410ft²)).
2. Traditional barn – a timber frame barn with potential (subject to planning) for development (103.95m² (1,119 ft²)).
3. Covered yard and buildings – timber framed structure adjoining the traditional barn with further buildings adjoining (474.15 m² (5,102 ft²)) in total.
4. Pig Shed (132.95 m² (1,431 ft²)).
5. Outbuildings – a range of dilapidated buildings (290.67 m² (3,128 ft²)) in total.
6. Farm buildings – a range of steel frame buildings (759.37 m² (8,171 ft²)) in total.

Buildings 2-6 have been measured (footprint only) using digital Ordnance Survey data with online mapping service Land App.

Planning
The site lies within the Rural Area beyond the Green Belt in the administrative area of East Herts District Council.

The vendor has submitted two applications in respect of the buildings numbered 6 on the plan, seeking consent for conversion to residential use (under references 3/22/0642/ARPN and 3/21/2555/ARPN) using permitted development rights. Both applications have been refused. Copies of the application documents as downloaded from the EHDC website are available in the Weldon Beesly data room. Illustrative drawings of the traditional barn (2) showing a possible residential conversion are shown in our data room.

Services
Mains electricity and water are available at the property.

Tender process
The property is being sold by informal tender. Offers should be made using the Tender Form available in the Weldon Beesly data room.

Tenure and possession
The property is offered for sale freehold with vacant possession available on completion.

Fencing
The purchaser will be required to post and 3 rail fence the boundary A-B-C-D on the plan within 3 months of completion and thereafter maintain. This boundary will be accurately marked out on the ground prior to exchange of contracts.

Easements, Covenants and Rights of Way
The property is sold subject to all existing wayleaves, easements, public or private rights of way, covenants and restrictions, whether stated in these particulars or not. A right of access for the benefit of the property will be granted over the area shaded blue on the plan, subject to the Purchaser paying a fair proportion of the costs of maintenance according to use.

Overage
The property will be sold subject to overage provisions affecting the land shown shaded pink on the plan.

In the event planning permission is granted for any residential or commercial development within a period of 30 years, the purchaser(s) shall pay to the vendor 30% of the uplift in value to which the planning permission gives rise. Further details are available in the Weldon Beesly Property Portal.

Exchange of contracts and completion
Contracts to be exchanged no later than 9 September 2022. A 10% deposit will be payable on exchange of contracts with completion no later than 30 September 2022.

VAT
The vendors have not opted to tax for VAT and no VAT will be chargeable on the purchase price.

Viewing
The site can be inspected strictly by prior appointment with the Agents. In this respect, the Agents will advise of the specific viewing times and dates.

Health & Safety
All prospective purchasers must use all due diligence and vigilance when inspecting. The owners and the agents so not accept responsibility for the safety of those viewing.

Please note a dog is kept at the premises for security purposes.  

Further information
Further details including Land Registry title information can be found in the Weldon Beesly Property Portal
https://weldonbeesly.com/property-portal. The username and password for access is ‘Property’

Anti-money laundering
In accordance with the most recent Anti-Money Laundering legislation, the Purchaser(s) will be required to provide proof of ID and address once an offer has been submitted and accepted (subject to contract) prior to solicitors being instructed.

Vendors solicitors
Longmore Solicitors, 14 Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 2HP
Ref: Victoria Sandberg. Tel: 01992 300333