Melverley, Oswestry

 My initial reaction upon seeing this property was thinking that a bomb had gone off in the right bedroom. The property is striking, not least because of the bedroom bomb-factor, but also because it rests in 8.5 acres of its own land, a size not to be sniffed at.
There's a lot of information available as the current owners have had a bat survey, ground level survey and flood risk assessment. However, the results of these surveys are not specified! 

The property is clearly in need of some major renovation, if not knocking down and starting again. It has not been stated that planning permission is in place which probably means there isn't any.
The potential is there however, especially with such a large lot of land, and hopefully it will find owners that can give it the love it needs.
The property is being sold at auction and the guide price is £85,000.

For more details, see the estate agents website: www.townandcountryproperty.co.uk

Broadstone Stables

I have a little fantasy that I delve into some times where Guy Martin randomly comes passing by, sweeps me off my feet and we go motorcycling into the distance together. If when this happens, I'm sure he would have no problem with buying me these lovely little stables in his home county of Yorkshire. Benefiting from mains electricity and a private water supply, it wouldn't take much to convert and make a beautiful property - planning permission allowing.

You could, of course, keep the property as it is and have your own livery business. Something my other half who is unfortunately not Guy Martin and I have spoken about doing before. It has a generous 7.5 acres and hosts four block and stone stables, a secure tack/day room and an adjoining store room. On sale for £130,000, its value is going to be weighed in by what you use it for and, of course, planning permissions.
Find more information at: www.ruralscene.co.uk

Derelict Barn, Hereford

I haven't really posted this property because I think its a particularly good deal or an interesting find. I just wanted to share what I think is an amazing feat of construction. I have no idea what is holding this barn up, perhaps magic or just simply hope, but it looks like a sneeze could send it toppling over. No bother though, as the site has planning permission for the whole thing to be knocked down and a 2-bed house to be erected in its place. The current permissions don't have much room for creativity, as the planning in place is fairly detailed.

With the option of purchasing additional grounds, the final build could be lovely, if a bit on the small side to start with. The land, and barn, are up for a rather large £100,000 with the adjoining 1.25 acres of land being an extra £15,000.

For more details go to: www.st-hereford.co.uk/

Old School House, Nottingham

A charming, derelict school house and cottages granted with planning permission for conversion into a 5-bed house. There is something very appealing about this property, even though I usually lean towards the listings with lots of space in the countryside. This rather urban plot has a site area of "just" 1064 sq yards.

Considering the selling prices of property in the area, the price is very fair at £220,000 - though a lot of money is going to be spent to meet the plans of "demolish existing cottages, renovate and extend Oasis Building and convert to residential and erect bungalow.’listed in the planning permission. It seems a shame that the property can't be salvaged and converted, but I imagine that there is darker goings on, subsidence for example, that isn't explained.

For more information, check out the estate agents site: www.chestertonhumberts.com

Low Moss Cottage

I love a good old dry stone wall. That's what first caught my eye with this fab 18th century stone cottage in Bishop Auckland.
The property has definite potential, with planning permission to be refurbished to "provide a holiday cottage in an elevated position with far-reaching views over the moorland" - it certainly would make a beautiful holiday home, with the potential to let out or use as a retreat yourself.

It comes with 5 acres, which makes it even more appealing, and could definitely work for someone with equestrian interests. There is a further stone ruin that has planning permission to be refurbished into an office or a garage. With the relevant permissions, this could be a really lovely little family home.
On the market for a bargain basement price of £85,000. (And as the below picture tells us so subtly, its reduced)

For more information go to the website: www.ruralscene.co.uk

House of Horrors, Norwich

This is the house where the screaming girl in the tight top runs into, having grabbed the banana as a weapon rather than the gun. It's rather scary looking, rather overgrown but I think with some TLC and a heavy duty hedge-trimmer, this property could be a really lovely family home. Based in Fakenham, Norfolk, this property is actually two semi-detached houses so you have the option of renovating both, living in one and renting the other out - potentially covering your own mortgage costs. You could of course knock a bit of wall in and make it all one big house too.

The plot covers about half an acre in total, so a good garden size for both properties. Its for sale by auction, on the 21st March 2013, with a guide price of £120,000 - £140,000. With no inside pictures, and no reports stated, its hard to guess at the state of the building - but you'd be looking at spending a lot on top of that. For more details: www.brown-co.com

Derelict barn, Gloucestershire

There is something very whimsical about this next property. Situated near the Forest of Dean, this piece of land - the size not stated - hosts a derelict barn, now completely overgrown by nature. 

The property has planning permission to be converted into a holiday home and would be ideal to let out for those wanting to explore the beautiful, local countryside or perhaps as an artist's/author's retreat. 

For what it is (that's assuming there is no land), its quite pricey. Valued at £69,000, it has no doubt been pushed up in price by the acquisition of planning permission. Nevertheless, its a quaint little plot with definite charm.

For more details, check out the estate agents website: www.ferrino.co.uk

Woolsington Hall

Calling all you millionaires out there looking for a challenge! Woolsington Hall is a spectacular Grade II listed property and is in desperate need of restoration. It totals a whopping 92 acres with its own manor, cottages, farm steading, orangery and woodland. Unfortunately there are no photographs of the inside, which is a shame because I would have loved to see the boasted about venetian windows with lattice cames and the large stone fireplaces.

This is a collasal project, everything needing renovation and as it currently stands there are no fixtures, fittings or working services. There are also no planning or listing consents - something else to add to the mounting to-do list. In addition to the hall, there are 3 cottages, a range of concrete portal framed general purpose buildings, timber frame lean-to, and hayshed and range of predominantly built brick byers and outbuildings.
Hold onto your purses because the bones of this project don't come cheap: The whole lot is currently for sale for £2,000,000.
So if you're keen on hard graft (but great reward) start buying those lottery tickets!

For more details go to the estate agents site: www.struttandparker.com/

Auchareoch Farm

Another property in Scotland that has me bowled over is this beautiful, fully functioning farm on the Isle of Arran.
Aucharoch Farm isn't a wreck but the potential is still fantastic. It amasses to a staggering 51.54 acres, boasts substantial modern farm buildings, can host red deer stalking, pheasant, snipe and woodcock shooting and has a large 3-bed farm house.

You'd probably have to be prepared to run a farm, or get some major planning permission in to perhaps set up a holiday home/glamping site but for just £270,000 you own quite a fair percentage of an island and I doubt you'd need to worry about Jehovah's witnesses knocking on your door.

For more details visit the estate agents site: www.bellingram.co.uk

Dalreoch, Perthshire

I absolutely adore this property and adamantly wish that I could buy it all. Unfortunately, its slightly out of my price range at the moment but most certainly won't be out of range for others.

Dalreoch is being sold in 2 lots or as a whole and has a HUGE amount of potential, particularly for those looking with property development in mind. 

Situated in Tummel Bridge, Perthshire, it can either be described as nicely private or, put frankly, inconveniently out of the way. 

The whole thing is largely derelict, though the listing gives the impression that the farmhouse is perhaps liveable. There is a colossal amount of development opportunity here and unusually a lot of planning permission to go with that. 

The 3-bed farmhouse has consent to enlarge; the cottage (described as currently uninhabitable) also has consent to enlarge, there is a plot with consent for a huge 5-bed new build, and the stables could definitely be converted into a residential property. 

The potential is amazing and, I'll admit, I did shed a light tear when I found it was a whisker away from being within my personal price range. 

Lot 1 (Farmhouse, Cottage and Steading. 0.9 acres) has an asking price of at least £195,000

Lot 2 (Stables and Paddock 1.3 acres) has an asking price of at least £120,000

and the whole is £315,000. 

Property in the area has excellent value though and the right investor could certainly make a pretty penny on this beautiful wreck. 

For more details have a look on the estate agents website: www.bidwells.co.uk