Caution advised: Warnings issued regarding fraudulent land sales resulting in substantial financial losses for purchasers

In the picturesque town of West Bicester, Oxfordshire, a series of controversies have arisen regarding the sale of land plots. The Cherwell District Council has refused planning permission for several plots due to non-compliance with local planning policies, primarily concerns about environmental impact, infrastructure strain, and community objections, as governed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The value of these initially cheaply bought parcels of land has skyrocketed, with some now being sold as potential building plots at inflated prices. An estate agent in Bicester is marketing a plot that was bought for £10,000 and is now asking for £100,000.

However, some plots sold in Bicester include trees with Tree Preservation Orders, which have led to planning rejections. This issue has resulted in a combined loss of £300,000 for four buyers who paid around £70,000 for a plot and failed to secure planning permission.

The council advises anyone thinking of purchasing a plot of land to check the planning history on their website and warns that if plots are being marketed as coming with the benefit of planning permission when they don't have it, it is misleading. People may wish to seek advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service in such cases.

Michael Holmes, Vice Chair of the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) and Homebuilding & Renovating's self build expert, provides tips to avoid plot scams. His advice includes researching the seller thoroughly, verifying ownership, checking planning permission, seeking professional advice, avoiding pressure tactics, investigating the local area, scepticism of guaranteed returns, beware of marketing hype, documenting everything, and caution with overseas investments.

Bicester West councillor Les Sibley is submitting a new Cherwell Local Plan to prevent green spaces from being destroyed. This plan aims to protect public amenity land and Local Green Spaces (LGS), which were introduced in the 2012 National Policy Planning Framework and provide green spaces highly valued by local communities, with the same level of protection as Green Belt land.

The original estate developer in Bicester went bankrupt before transferring ownership to the council. The developer's assets, including public green spaces, were sold off on the open market after passing through a now-defunct Portuguese bank.

Another seller is marketing a plot on Facebook Marketplace as if it is a house shown in the drawing. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, advises Michael Holmes. Some buyers have lost thousands of pounds, with some claimed to have been forced into bankruptcy, due to purchasing land without planning permission.

In light of these issues, it is crucial for potential buyers to exercise due diligence and carefully consider all factors before making a land purchase in West Bicester.

Caution advised: Warnings issued regarding fraudulent land sales resulting in substantial financial losses for purchasers