Buy a nice Welsh field – for £1.2m

Mar 18 2008 by Sally Williams, Western Mail

LOCATION, location, location is a familiar mantra among estate agents and property experts everywhere.

But rarely can the importance of position have been demonstrated quite so well as in the case of an empty West Wales field.

The six-acre meadow, in the shadow of the Preseli Hills, has just gone on the market for an astonishing £1.2m.

The field, boasting spectacular views of the Welsh coast, does not even have planning permission.

But vendor Huw Harries, of Ty Canol farm, said the land – in an “idyllic location” with vistas to Snowdonia, the Wicklow Mountains and St David’s Peninsula – has already attracted great interest.

“There have been calls about it already,” said Mr Harries. “I think a lot of people would like to buy it.”

The plot is near the desirable Pembrokeshire town of Newport, between Fishguard and Cardigan, which is key to its price tag according to its estate agent.

Arwel Thomas, marketing the property with local company JJ Morris, said the land benefited from a degree of “hope value” despite the declining property market being predicted by economic forecasters.

Mr Thomas said, “It is not common for a bulk of land to come up for sale that is outside the town’s boundary.

“Currently there is no planning permission granted, but there may be a chance for longer term potential, which makes it way beyond the value of agricultural land alone. The field is on the open market for a negotiable price of £1.2m.

“In the event of planning permission being granted – and it is a long shot at the moment – then this asking price for the land would be very cheap.”

Newport features a Norman Castle and church and the small medieval town on the slopes of the ancient Carn Ingli mountain is a tourist trap in the summer.

Pubs and restaurants provide locally caught sewin, lobster and crab and there are cafes and boutiques aplenty. Its pathways lead directly to the river Nevern Estuary and the Welsh name, Trefdraeth, can be translated to “town by the beach”.

Its long, golden stretch of sand features craggy headlands and is a hotspot for swimming, windsurfing, sailing and canoeing.

But even though the land – near to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path with its abundance of wild flowers and sheltered coves – is surrounded by priceless natural beauty, local residents were last night stunned that a field could be worthy of such a price tag.

Peter Harwood, chairman of Newport Town Council and chairman of its planning committee, said, “The only reason a field of six acres would be expensive, would be if there was an intention that it could be developed.

“Under all normal planning laws this land could not be developed but there may be a way around it.

He added, “Newport is special because of its unspoilt location by the sea. It is described as the jewel in the North Pembrokeshire crown and the majority of residents here would like to keep it that way.”

The field fit for a millionaire joins a growing list of other improbable Welsh “des-reses” to have gone on the market for jaw-dropping figures in recent years.

Only last year a one-bedroom metal shack near Usk fetched £231,000 at auction.

And in 2005 a small patch of sand, with planning permission for a beach hut, in Abersoch fetched £63,000 at auction.

Jonathan Hale, a property developer who owns Baytree Homes in Swansea, said he would be prepared to pay more than £1m for the six-acre field – but only subject to certain conditions.

“It seems a lot to pay for a piece of land without planning permission and I wouldn’t pay that much for a gamble,” he said.

“But I would be prepared to pay such a price, subject to planning permission.

“You can get permission for up to 20 houses per acre in some areas of Wales for high density schemes.

“But planners can be reluctant in some areas and they can restrict it to permission for just one or two properties full stop.”