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<p>The National Audit Office investigation into the government's land disposal strategy
and programmes referenced 176 sites which were sold since 2015 for £1 or less. Details
of each of these sites are already published on GOV.UK in annual Transparency Reports
listing all Government land sales. The April 2018 publication reports on sales in
2015/16 and 2016/17. The January 2019 publication reports on sales in 2017/18. The
common reasons for sales at £1 or less are:</p><ul><li>sites where costs of remediation
(for example, decontamination) are involved;</li><li>sites which are narrow strips
of land that have no other use or value; and</li><li>the sale of a lease which contains
a clause allowing the purchaser to buy the freehold for £1 after a set period or once
certain conditions have been met</li></ul><p>Of the 176 sites disposed of for £1 or
less, 160 were owned by Homes England. Homes England inherited a number of sites from
predecessor organisations which were not viable for development. Disposing of these
is helping to reduce the liability of holding costs for Government.</p><p>Departments
disposing of surplus land must do so in line with Managing Public Money and wider
disposals guidance. They should get a Market Valuation, and are restricted from selling
at lower value than a site is worth.</p>
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