Who would fork out thousands of pounds for a grass verge outside somebody’s doorstep on a housing estate?

That’s the question we asked an expert after numerous random parcels of land across Medway were snapped up at auction.

To add to the mystery, not only did all of the lots exceed their £1,000 guide price - one measuring just over an acre went under the hammer for £20,000, - but none came with planning permission.

This means there’s little chance of the new owner making a fast buck by building on them.

Andrew Binstock, a leading UK auctioneer who features in the TV show Homes Under the Hammer, explained to KentOnline why buying land without building consent can yield substantial profits and unearth hidden gems.

It can, in some cases benefit homeowners who initially feared the sale of land could lead to a lack of privacy and depreciate the value of their homes.

Mr Binstock is a director and founder of Auction House that hosted the sale which included lots in the Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham areas at the end of July.

He said many of the small plots, ranging in size from under an acre to seven acres, are part of substantial sites acquired by house builders years ago. They became surplus to requirement once construction had finished and properties sold.

He said: “The developers would have made their millions and then think hang on what about the smaller plots of land? These are essentially no man’s land.”

He said an increasing number of speculative investors are buying up what is known in the trade as “land off-cuts” for lower upfront prices. They don’t tend to attract competition from other bidders who favour land with consent to build.

He said: “It’s a massive business and popular all over the country.”

Some savvy investors are sitting on their purchase until the time is right to seek development - this is termed land banking,

This could be determined by changing planning regulations prompted by population growth and demand for accommodation

Others are buying “for fun” and perhaps passing on to future generations.

“You can pick up a piece of land for a competitive price and it could be with 10 times as much by the time you hand it over to your grandchildren,” he said.

Another option is renting it out to an advertiser to promote their business on hoarding - much like is commonly seen on roundabouts nationwide.

Alternatively, as many border onto residential roads, it could be split up into smaller parcels and sold on - a process known in the trade as “chopping”.

A prime example of this could be seen at Kenilworth Gardens in Rainham described as “a communal green space” by residents who set up a petition with more than 700 signatures voicing concerns about development.

Mr Binstock said: ”This is a classic case. Looking at this, I'm somebody who calls our numbers at an auction, I’m not a developer, but it would seem blindingly obvious.

“There are 25 properties bordering the plot and a lovely grassy area.

“The new owner might ask each householder if they want to buy a piece straight next to their homes.

“Who wouldn’t want an extra bit of garden? It would add to the value of their homes and somewhere for those with families for children to play.”

The lot which includes the cul-de-sac and a section of neighbouring Kenilworth Drive sold for £10,000 to a mystery buyer known only as Mr P according to people who live there.

Residents we have spoken to were concerned that there has been consultation and they had only learned about the sell-off through social media or estate agents’ websites.

Richard Travers, who has lived in Mierscort Road, Rainham with wife Elaine for nearly 40 years, was “astonished” when he learned that a patch of grass outside , was going under the hammer.

At the time he complained: “The whole thing seems to be shrouded in secrecy.”

When we contacted Mr Travers, 69, about the possibility of buying the land he was delighted.

He said: ”I think we’d be up for that. We’d look after it. It would be no big deal

“One of the reasons we bought the house was that there was somewhere for the kids to play football at the front.”

While Medway Council does not own any of the lots it does maintain them and has slapped emergency tree preservation orders on some plots to hinder any planning applications.

Some are designated highway land and therefore, irrespective of ownership, nothing can happen to the plot.

Naushabah Khan, Gillingham and Rainham MP has paid a visit to Kenilworth Gardens and has pledged to try and track down the buyer to find out his intentions.

The buying of so-called ransom strips is another common practice, which is normally acquiring a piece of land which provides vital access or needed to connect services to a bigger development.

Owning a ransom strip can be lucrative because you can name your price to sell it or alternatively hold on to it if you oppose development.

An example of this can be seen in Medway where the council owns the access route to a housing development at Capstone where a developer has been in a long-running battle to build hundreds of homes.

With a lack of a local plan and the authority’s need to meet the government’s requirement tio build 35,000 homes by 2040, the project has finally been given the go-ahead using another route.

At the end of the day buying land without planning permission is regarded as investing in a blank canvas where by and large patience pays off.

And for homeowners it could bring an added bonus of gaining a bigger garden and increasing the value of their property,.

Other lots that went under the hammer, according to Auction Houses’ catalogue, include plots at Princes Avenue/Prince Charles Avenue, Chatham which went for £20,000; Princes Avenue, Chatham, £10,000 and Lordswood Lane, sold for £4,500.