Building a home on a steep site is both an issue and a blessing. Here are our 5 top tips that should offer you some assistance with understanding the issues with building onto sloping land and how to overcome them; providing some initial steps, insight and design solutions. 1 – Level the site yourself – Cut and Fill One route to defeat the issues of building a home on a steep site is to increase your foundation costs and implement plans to cut out a level plinth and make up levels on the lower edge with the spoil remains. Keep in mind: Test your soil! – weaker ground structure...
Every year the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) looks for the best new home in Britain to be awarded the accolade of ‘House of the Year’. Celebrating excellence in housing design the panel of judges scoured the country to find the leading examples of new properties built by architects in the UK. The shortlisted properties are the work of designers who have pursued the highest standards of design to create cutting-edge homes. For the first time, this year saw RIBA teaming up with Channel 4’s Grand Designs to present the House of the Year award. In a special 4 part series the programme followed presenter Kevin McCloud as he toured the...
With property prices at an at an all-time high in some locations, it’s understandable that one might assume that land value is increasing in line with the value of housing, however this is not always the case. In this blog we take a look at the method for valuing land to help you understand the reality of what to expect from your land valuation. When landowners approach us, there can often be an unrealistic expectation relating to the perceived value of their land. The recurring misconception is that the land is worth is in direct correlation with the current property market but the reality is more complex. The process of land valuations...
Wapping Wharf is a large scale development taking place in Bristol’s harbourside. The location will consist of homes, retail units and office space and aims to form a link between the residential communities of south Bristol and the city center. Wapping Wharf is located south of the river, behind the M Shed Museum, an area which is undergoing a transformation thanks to this and other developments happening in the area, extending the reach of Bristol’s historically harbourside. Developed on derelict land, Whapping Warf has drawn on inspiration from thriving areas in other cities such as the Lanes in Brighton and the Castlefield area in Manchester. With a number of retail units available, Whapping...
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) documents the Government’s planning policies for England and sets out how these guidelines are expected to be applied. In this blog post, we take a look at the basic principles of sustainability laid out by the NPPF and what this means for developers. When the NPPF was published on 27 March 2012 it replaced over two dozen previous planning documents, namely the Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG). In replacing these papers the government sought to simplify the process of applying for planning permission, with a strong focus on granting planning for sustainable developments and making the planning procedure more inclusive for individuals and communities....
When it come to developing land, environmental and ecological factors have a huge bearing on whether a proposal will be granted. When seeking to obtain planning permission your site will be subject to numerous assessments to analyse these factors and ultimately determine its eligibility. When granting permission for development the local authorities have a duty to protect important habitats, wildlife and trees. Ecology Reports An ecology report will consider whether any wildlife or important habitats could be harmed in the building process, or if there are any legally protected species living on your site. When there is a likelihood that a planned development could have an impact on protected wildlife planning...
This case study highlights the potential that land attached to your home might possess, if you’re blessed with a large garden or spacious grounds that are difficult to manage, you may have thought of selling a part of it for development yourself. When a Sidmouth homeowner was in this position Land Market snapped up the opportunity to create an attractive new build in a great location; leading to our very first development… The Background The site at the location in Sidmouth, Devon was acquired by Land Market in 2005 when a home owner sold off a part of their very large garden. The plot sold was in the grounds of a large...
In our last blog post we covered the issues of access and encroachment and the importance of ensuring your land is not used in any unauthorised way. Here we take a look at land maintenance and steps you can take to protect your unused land. Keeping a site in the best possible condition will improve its chance of a quick and easy sell, and prevent your planning application being affected by ecological issues taking hold. Failing to take appropriate precautionary steps against certain factors can cause lengthy delays and in some cases even remove the chance of having planning permission granted altogether. Controlling and Managing Wildlife It’s all too easy for an unused...
Here at Land Market we deal with sites of all shapes and sizes and we pride ourselves in seeing the real potential in any plot of land. In this Land Market case study there are two examples of brownfield sites we acquired which were run-down but ripe for developing… Case Study: Charles Street, Bristol The Background The disused warehouse Land Market sourced at Charles Street, central Bristol, was a prime example of an inner-city commercial property with great potential for development. Being aware of its prospects we introduced the site to local developer Woodstock Homes. Our Actions Planning was sought and obtained by Woodstock Homes for a 24 unit scheme...
Have you got land to sell but don’t know the best way to go about it? We can help! This Land Market case study shows just two of our success stories and how our company helped two struggling owners to sell their land for the best price… Case Study: Kelman Close The Background The landowner of Kelman Close had been trying to sell this old garage and workshop complex for a number of years by partnering with local developers (who promised an enhanced sale price by undergoing planning permission). However, there was one major problem… the site was in a conservation area and was impacted by a very large and important tree. The owner...
