Finchampstead Road verges sold for £200,000
MYSTERY surrounds the sale of two pieces of roadside verges in Finchampstead.
The strips of land alongside the B3016 Finchampstead Road, close to its junction with Warren House Road, have been sold for £100,000 each by Henley-based real estate agent Simmons and Sons.
One plot measures 0.35 acres and one measures 0.22 acres.
They were described by the agent in the sales brochure as being roadside land.
The sale was highlighted by the well-known broadcaster, writer and adventurer Ben Fogle in an Instagram post that has received more than 350 comments.
Kerry Clarke, a partner in the rural department at real estate firm Simmons and Sons, said: “Small parcels of land do continue to generate interest for many different reasons, as they are relatively affordable.”
She was unable to elaborate as to the identity of the vendor or purchaser, or the motivation for purchasing the plots.
The maintenance responsibilities for such land are dependent on whether the land is part of an adopted highway, which can also include roads, paths and verges.
If the land is not part of an adopted highway then maintenance is the responsibility of the owner of the land.
Individuals familiar with the purchase of similar land plots have suggested this could be described as a typical “ransom strip” speculative purchase, whereby the land is acquired with the intention of selling for profit in the future, if and when planning was granted for development nearby.
The arable land in the adjacent fields has not been the subject of any planning applications for development.