Are you a South West farmer or landowner considering selling your land for development? Are you wanting to maximise the value of your land? Our strategic development land team advises landowners across the South West on the disposal of land for development.
With an ambitious target of one million new homes across the UK over the next five years, demand for residential development land remains strong. Consented land prices are high, but with different disposal options available, it’s vital you take the correct approach to protect and optimise the value of your land.
Below, we explain the type of sites that residential developers want to acquire and outline the disposal options available to landowners.
What type of sites do developers want to acquire?
Developers are particularly keen to acquire strategic land sites that have the potential to deliver new housing developments over the next 5-25 years.
Strategic development land is usually greenfield and located within or on the fringe of existing settlements. Sites vary in size from major tranches of land capable of being an urban extension or a new settlement, through to smaller more rural sites.
What are the different disposal options available to me?
If you are considering selling a plot of land, you’ll want to ensure you maximise its value while at the same time minimising your exposure to financial risk. We have many years’ experience working with landowners on identifying suitable sites and, using our connections with housing developers and specialist promoters, we can advise you on the best approach. The main disposal methods are detailed below. Please contact us so we can advise on the best option for you.
- Immediate outright sale
- Your own pursuit of planning permission
- Granting an Option to a residential developer
- Working with a specialist land promoter
- Selling with a conditional contract
- Entering into a joint venture with a developer
The Process
Once the correct approach has been agreed, the site is often put on the open market in order to create a competitive environment and drive the best deal for the landowner. After agreeing contracts, work then begins on securing planning permission.
Once the site has secured planning permission, its value is greatly enhanced and a final sale can then be concluded, often following a competitive tender process to ensure best value for you as landowner.
Alder King’s expertise
Demand for strategic land opportunities remains strong. However to protect and enhance the long-term value of land assets, the importance of landowners securing professional advice cannot be underestimated.
We have well-established connections with national and regional house builders and promoters and can draw on the skills and expertise of our development, planning, viability and valuation teams at each stage of the process.
We have successfully delivered a number of significant strategic land transactions across the South West. These include greenfield and brownfield sites available for immediate development, conversion opportunities and the sale or purchase of consented land.
You can read about some of our recent disposals here:
Wickwar, Gloucestershire
Alder King was instructed by the landowners following a recommendation from their solicitor. We marketed the 10.8 acre (4.37 hectare) greenfield site and selected a promoter to work with. Outline planning permission was granted for 80 units and the site was subsequently sold to a national house builder. Read more about this here.
Yatton, Somerset
Alder King was instructed by the landowners to locate a promoter for a 14 acre (5.7 hectare) site and negotiate on their behalf. Consent was successfully gained at local level for 170 units including 30% affordable housing and the site subsequently sold for well in excess of the land’s former use value.
Stalbridge, Dorset
Acting for the landowner, Alder King marketed the site and recommended a promoter. Outline consent was granted for 120 units on 16.3 acres (6.59 hectares) and was acquired by a plc housebuilder.
Former Filton Airfield site, Bristol
Alder King’s planning team secured planning consent for this 365 acre (147.7 hectare) strategic site for 2,675 homes, new schools, 59.3 acres (24 hectares) of employment land and other facilities. Alder King subsequently sold the site to YTL Developments on behalf of BAE Systems. Read more about this here.
Frome, Somerset
Alder King was instructed to dispose of this 9.2 acre (3.72 hectare) brownfield site on behalf of the landowners. Read more about this here.
Wellington, Somerset
We facilitated a partnership between the landowner and a specialist promoter on this 25.8 acre (10 hectare) site which was subsequently sold to Bovis Homes. Read more about this here.
Would you like an informal discussion about your land?
Contact Simon Smith or Chris Haworth in our strategic land team in Bristol on 0117 317 1000 for an informal chat about the development potential of your land.
Or click here to email us and we’ll come back to you as soon as we can.
