Open Space Archives

If it looks too good to be true…

by Paul Addison on January 21, 2021 No comments

Happy New Year, we just wish it was under happier circumstances than from within the depths of our third national lockdown!

You know how the saying goes, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. We’ve become aware of many buyers falling victim to false advertising for land sales, and want to help you and your clients avoid suffering the same disappointment and wasted investment.

Running for the hills

The rotation of restrictions, lockdowns, homeschooling, home working and a craving for outside space, combined with the changes to stamp duty led many buyers to the property market in 2020. Whether ditching the city, the suburbs or a home that just didn’t feel fit for purpose anymore, buyers were keen to change things up and bag themselves a slice of the countryside.

Many of those buyers were and still are looking for a more rural outlook, and have been seduced by tantalising offers of land with development potential. It’s easy to see why. What a wonderful idea, swap the flat in Streatham and embark on your own seemingly affordable Grand Design. Unfortunately, some landowners seeing the demand for rural locations and the urgency to escape the cities wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation.

Wildlife Is to Be Better Protected by Developers

by Paul Addison on August 9, 2019 No comments

Developers have been informed by James Brokenshire, the Housing Secretary, that they need to be doing more to protect the British wildlife.

Using systems like hedgehog highways, hollow swift bricks, and creating drainage areas to create wetlands for bird and amphibians, the government has set out new guidelines explaining how developers should be protecting certain British species.

Developers should be taking into consideration the long-term impact their developments will have on ecosystems, both throughout and post construction, says the government.

Mammoth Newport Solar Farm

by Paul Addison on November 29, 2018 No comments

Near Newport, a huge solar farm has been approved.

This is the first green energy scheme to receive planning permission as a ‘Development of National Significance’ under the Planning (Wales) Act 2015.

Included in the project is the previous Llanwern steelworks in Newport.

Funds To Expose Spare Public Land

by Paul Addison on November 13, 2018 No comments

To permit the public sector to build homes, a £15 million fund has been opened to bidders.

The latest funding round of One Public Estate will see the programme place a specific importance on unlocking surplus public land for housing supply, a partnership between;

the Local Government Association (LGA),
the Office of Government Property within the Cabinet Office,
the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Construction On 2,700 Hectares of London Land

by Paul Addison on November 8, 2018 No comments

A think tank has said that construction has not yet begun on 2,700 hectares of land in London that has planning permission.

Additionally, the report “Meanwhile, In London: Making Use of London’s Empty Spaces by the Centre for London” stated that in London there are currently 24,400 empty commercial properties, 22,500 of which have been empty for minimum of 6 months.

This is enough empty space to accommodate 160,000 to 200,000 workers.

Yorkshire Dales Homes Approved

by Paul Addison on May 29, 2018 No comments

In West Witton, Richmondshire, 17 homes have been granted full planning permission by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee.

Since 2014, this is the largest development to gain permission in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The dwellings will be next to the Old School Close at the west side of the village.

Investment Doubles for English Cities Regeneration

by Paul Addison on March 19, 2018 No comments

To produce five schemes, worth a total of £1.6 billion, it has been revealed by The English Cities Fund that it will be doubling its investment in English towns and cities, to £200 million.

The fund, established in 2001, is a development company by;

Homes England,
Legal & General,
Muse Developments.

3,000 Homes in Nottinghamshire have Outline Approval

by Paul Addison on February 26, 2018 No comments

Around 3,000 homes at Fairham Pastures have granted outline planning permission by councilors on Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning committee.

The site, situated south of Clifton, has been acknowledged in Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Local Plan, in which it outlines that over the coming decade, a requirement of 13,500 homes are to be delivered in the borough.

100,000 square meters of employment land are additionally included in the application, which could;

The Importance of a 5 Year Housing Supply

by Paul Addison on January 11, 2018 No comments

A surprisingly high amount of councils does not have a 5-year housing supply in the South East and East.

If a local authority cannot provide a 5-year housing supply, the presumption is in favour of any development applications, regardless if the land is green belt, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or even a National Park.

Put simply the benefit outweighs the harm caused by an under supply.

Khan Allegedly Ignoring Land For 27,000 homes

by Paul Addison on January 5, 2018 No comments

Per Andrew Boff, London Assembly member, new guidelines in Sadiq Khan’s London Plan has led to Hundreds of hectares of land designated in Housing Zones being disregarded for housing.

Stricter regulation on Strategic Industrial Land are included in the draft London Plan that was published in November.

Due to this, if the sites are to be used for housing, councils will now have to offer “like-for-like” replacements.