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23/09/2025
Felixstowe
How much money can I borrow against a fishery?
Generally speaking if you are able to service the loan through outside income and the business you may be able to borrow up to 60% of the market value of the property. Lenders only provide finance on a commercial basis, which is usually more expensive than a residential mortgage.
What is a section 106 agreement?
This is a legally binding agreement, under the terms of Part III ( Control of Development ), section 106 of The Town and Country Planning Act [1990], between the owner of a property and the planners. When quoted in reference to a dwelling the effect is usually the same as having an “Ag Tag” but the proviso might state that the dwelling could not be sold off separately from the rest of the property.
What is an Agricultural Occupancy Condition?
Although there is a presumption against new residential development in the countryside the planners recognise that some workers need to be housed in the countryside in order to carry out their job e.g. a cowman needing to live near the milking parlour. Historically such properties were designated with an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (“Ag. Tag”) meaning literally that the occupant of that house had to be employed in agriculture. Some fisheries in the past described their activity as fish farming and come with “Ag Tag” properties. Now, however, under Planning Policy Statement 7 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas the agricultural dwellings provision has been extended to include ‘other occupational dwellings'. Other occupational dwellings can now include dwellings on livery yards and managers' dwellings on caravan parks and fisheries. For new dwellings to be given permission under these rules two criteria must be satisfied, the functional test and the financial test.
Can I put a caravan on my land?
A common misconception is that living in a caravan or log cabin does not require planning permission. Any building used as a dwelling requires planning permission. Even a structure which is not a building but is used for residential purposes requires permission (the planning system controls not only the erection of building, but also any change of use of land and buildings). i.e. if you live in a caravan you have changed the use of that land away from a rural use to a residential use.
Can I build a houses near my fishing lake?
Most lakes are located in the countryside where there is a strong presumption against any residential development away from established settlement boundaries (as defined in the relevant Local Plan, copies of which are usually in the local library or on the local council's website). However, planning law allows for certain exceptions to this.