Company selling off pasture land

The plots are being sold for between £2,500 and £28,500

An internet website is selling off small plots of land in north Devon.

None of the plots near Chittlehampton has planning permission, but Gladwish Land Sales says the plots could be a potential investment.

Residents say they are anxious about the field near their village which has been divided up into 59 plots.

Gladwish says about 70% of the plots have already been sold. Land is also being sold at other locations in Devon and Cornwall.

There is little prospect of planning permission being granted Malcolm Easton, North Devon District Council

Sites include Woolsery, Ashwater, Chilsworthy, Holsworthy, Chulmleigh, West Putford and Pyworthy in Devon and Stratton in Cornwall.

Plots of pasture land, some of which have derelict properties on them, are selling for between £2,500 and £28,500.

Dave Billington, chairman of Chittlehampton Parish Council says he believes it is unlikely the site would get planning permission.

He said: "I just cannot see why anybody from away would want to come and buy a little plot of land on the edge of the village.

"I don't know if they've come to see it, or just bought the land from the internet. It can only be pure speculation on their part."

Malcolm Easton, planning manager for North Devon District Council, told BBC News Online that the council was aware of the sales.

Leisure use

He said: "We believe the area is someway outside Chittlehampton village.

"There is little prospect of planning permission being granted and anyone who has purchased land cannot reasonably expect to be given permission for residential use."

But Gladwish sales manager Paul Reps says the company makes it very clear the plots do not have planning permission and people are buying the plots mainly for leisure use.

He said: "It is not our intention to mislead people. Most use the land for leisure, whether it be for sport, picnicking, allotments or keeping animals."

Mr Reps says the company, which sells land across the country, puts money back into the local communities mainly through sports sponsorship.