Hey St George of England!
An elder told me a couple of years ago that the Society was buying up
plots of land that "may" be suitable for a KH and "may" get planning
permission. He said that as the Society were cash buyers with ready
funds they were able to negotiate some very good deals. If it turned
out that a KH was not needed or they could not get the requisite
planning permission they could always sell the plots at a good profit.
The only problem though is, as I understand it, the Society is a charity and therefore can not legally financially speculate with charitible funds - and take risks unwarranted risks buying land that maybe usuable by the charity.
Guidance: Charity land and property
How to buy or rent charity land and property
+ the property is suitable for your needs
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-land-and-property
vis-vis without permission to use land/property as a KH, it would not be suitable.
The property in question here was clearly bought for use as a double KH - even if WT can sell it for a profit (and don't forget the expenses involved in buying and selling property: legal costs etc plus costs to get permission to use, which also doesn't seem to have been straightforward - WT were having to go to an appeal as they were initially refused permission to use it as a KH!
