Right of way laws pose threat to property prices

Government proposals to open coastal areas to ramblers could prove detrimental to property prices in affected areas, according to property consultant Smiths Gore.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed on April 3rd that provisions for improving access to the coast in England would be contained in the Marine bill.

The bill is presently being debated in parliament, and formed part of Labour's 2005 manifesto.

But the changes – which will see a continuous path created around England's coast – are likely to be negative for those residents in affected areas.

Research from Smiths Gore finds properties with a new right of way created under the legislation are likely to see prices drop by ten to 15 per cent.

"It's the loss of privacy," said Jason Beedell, head of research at Smiths Gore.

"If you think about it, if you're buying a house where you can look out of the window onto the sea – but you can see people walking in front of your house, you'd probably pay less for it."

However, the new act may be unnecessary according to Smiths Gore.

"The government itself commissioned two or three big pieces of research on coastal access, and their own research says that people generally think access to the coast is already good," Mr Beedell.

"The way to improve it is by better information, maps and signage."

Access to the coast was extended under provisions made in the Countryside and Rights of Way (Crow) Act, in 2000 – with 70 per cent of the coast presently accessible to the public.

"One of the things that came out of the Crow Act [were] right of way improvement plans for local councils or access authorities to develop," explained Me Beedell.

"But in general these have been pretty under-funded, and they're not fully implemented yet. I would think there is an element of indecent haste here; perhaps once they've got the Crow Act fully implemented and working, then would be the time to see whether we need new legislation."

Smiths Gore's sentiments were echoed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), which finds the new legislation may cause house prices to drop by 20 per cent.