Wreck of the Week

Now don't let this become a thing, but today's property was sent to me by an estate agent. You know - those folk one step above us journalists on the 'collectives we don't like' list. But look at that picture, for goodness sake - how could I not feature it? It's an unconverted former oast house on the outskirts of pretty Plaxtol village, around six miles from Sevenoaks and three-and-a-half miles from mainline train links to London. And as if that wasn't enough to get your Grand Designs mojo going, it comes with seven acres including an active cobnut orchard and woodland. (I had to google cobnuts because I thought they were things you fed to horses (sorry, I'm a Northerner); turns out they're a tasty type of hazlenut.) Downside is the property is being advertised as land for sale without planning permission to convert to residential use. According to Carl, who sent me the details, it's failed to get planning permission to convert twice - ...