is this search necessary

[Stephen1]

NO!!!!!!!

[Landpikey]

We didn't bother with anything like that. It just seems a way of parting you from even more of your money.

Pollution has strict guidelines anyway, if you have a problem you can call the relevant body for them to help sort it.

Radioactive material would be stored securely anyway. The penalties for not storing it safely are severe. We use radioactive sources for logging work (not the tree variety!!!) and they are in their own receptacles (extremely strong) held inside a movable container, held inside a bunker under lock and key and the compound is alarmed and monitored 24/7 with cameras. Movements of the sources have to be recorded in a detailed log and we get audited on them regularly.

An old map of the area would tell you what the land used to be used for.

If there was anything really bad there the trees/flowers/grass wouldn't grow.

The fee won't clear it up, it will just tell you what's there so in my opinion (for what it's worth) it's not good value for money.

[MartinB]

We're at the same point as you are, but we have just instructed our solicitor what searches to do.

We have asked for a Local Authority Search and an Environmental Search, although ours is only costing £114 and that's upto 15 hectares.

It covers all the things you have mentioned and a lot more besides. We're having it done for various reasons but mainly because there was mining in the area in the past and would like a detailed idea of anything that happened near our potential woodland.

[ericmark]

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[Stephen1]

Im sorry, you seem to know lots about fires from your other post's, but do you even bother reading past posts, this post is concerning buying woodland, NOT A HOUSE!!!!
had it been a house we would be on the small house owners group, and not the small woodland owners group, would'nt we....

When midnight's been and gone hours ago get some sleep - and stop drinking coffee!! Ratcatcher!

I think Eric's point is basically valid if the wood you're buying is pretty close to where you live then you will have a good idea of the main potential issues. The sort of problems people most commonly encounter - for example asbestos illegally dumped years ago and now hidden by soil, leaves and undergrowth - would not show up on these searches anyway.

[ericmark]

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[MartinB]

I suppose that it all boils down to you do whatever searches you feel you need to do to be comfortable in your woodland purchase.
Your search decision may not make sense to others, but if it reassures you in some way then it is worthwhile.
Does that make sense?

[Meadowcopse]

Depends on your familiarity of the area where you are about to complete your purchase and what has and is going on environmentally and in respect to industrial, mineral and agricultural activities.

Selecting various layers in the Defra Magic Map at different scales can be helpful prior to purchase, http://magic.defra.gov.uk/

[Bearwood]

An environmental search does not limit the search criteria to purely environmental parameters alone. I work within an industry whereby such a search clarifies the role of the land under investigation within the regional development plan, as well as ascertaining the likelihood of any future transport or development initiatives impinging upon your woodland. For me (us) HS2 was a possibility, however we were lucky as it swayed to the south

Information is precious, what's a couple of hundred pounds to ascertain the future of your land?

[Meadowcopse]

OldClayPaws makes some interesting points (along with other posters) and I would guess that what we value within the forum under the umbrella of 'Environment' is different from the formality of an Environmental Search.
I'm a little perplexed as to why this is separate from the local searches that the solicitor performs though and not included?
(Does the solicitor normally perform agricultural / forestry / estate conveyancing)?
Mineral rights (where known) and former land use should be made available, as well as details of any agricultural holding number and if split from a larger holding / estate agreement / written communication via the vendors solicitor, woodland grant scheme if applicable / single farm payment scheme designation and statutory land / conservation designations and current status (as in Natural England 'improving'