UK Property Auctions What the Papers Say's

The value of Land that is undeveloped can substantially increase many times over if the Land gains planning permission in UK.

Land Use Change In England: Residential Development To 2001
Over the period from 1997 to 2001, agricultural land accounted for the largest proportion (38%)
of land for new housing.
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, May 2002

Land buyers are thus always on the look out for Land which does not presently have planning permission (and hence can be bought relatively cheaply) but which they believe will gain planning permission and hence can be sold at a large profit.

House Of Commons
Developers eye the countryside with relish. I have been involved in local government for 30 years and have seen developers building Land banks, sometimes with not an inkling of a chance of a site
being developed for 10, 15 or 20 years. They knew that the demand for such sites would be constant and that, sooner or later, their dream to realise a return on their investment in buying
options and farmland would materialise.

Mr. Mike Hancock M.P. (Portsmouth, South) - 4 April 2001

Buying in Green belt Land has hit the media headlines recently because of the potential large profits to be made if green belt land receives planning permission.

Developers Use Crisis To Invade Green Belt
Developers are beginning to scent that the green belt is theirs for the asking. All around Akeroyds house, they have bought up options on local farms, anticipating changes in the planning laws and giving them "first refusal" on any future sales.

The Observer - Sunday May 12 2002

A large proportion of Town Planners believe that the demand for housing is such that the laws relating to green belt must be reviewed and modernized.

Modernising Green Belts
Consultation of Royal Town Planning Institute membership has revealed overwhelming support amongst planning professionals for a review of green belt policy.

Royal Town Planning Institute - 27 May 2002