England UK property at auction with access owned by a 3rd party

[Verity Macdonald]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently considering purchasing a property at auction to either flip or rent. It's in an extremely desirable country village in southern UK, 2 hours from London, previously a school building but with planning permission to convert it into a residential property. The potential could be huge but there's a catch.... The access to the property, a tiny country lane, is owned by an anonymous third party. 

Because I grew up next door (and estate agents aren't always discrete) we discovered that the access land owner is likely a near neighbour who may have bought the land specifically in order to eventually get a good deal on this property by scaring off other potential buyers and pushing the price down. Smart move. 

In the legal documents there are letters between the current owners (the school) and the lawyers of this land owner disputing this issue, I need to read them more carefully. Bearing in mind the auction is on the 11 SEPTEMBER, how tricky does this hurdle seem to you? Are there any legal precedents that turned out in the new buyer's favour? Should I run a mile?

I need urgent help to make a decision in time to participate in the auction! Or not as the case may be :) 

Thank you so much in advance!

Verity