The planned NPPF changes and the reintroduction of ambitious housing targets have triggered an avalanche of enquiries from developers in the last 48 hours. After a fairly stale period for the sector and endless planning changes that have stalled many sites for too long, housebuilders need to be ready as opportunities may be closer than we all expected just a few weeks (or even days!) ago.

Because the proposed policy changes don’t require new legislation, they are likely be rapid and wide-reaching.  This means, for example, that if the new housing targets cannot be met by an existing local plan’s level of supply, there will be an immediate emphasis on approving more homes and local plan reviews.

This presents a realistic opportunity for a call for sites, conflict between local/national policies, local plan updates – and even chances to submit new planning applications sooner in some locations.  Getting the best local advice is critical.

We know that you will want to be responsive to new opportunities, and we can help achieve that.  Our services include:

• Preparing site promotion packs – One of our most in-demand services to ensure that you are ready to submit your land at the first opportunity when there is a call for sites or local plan review. We have successfully secured allocated status for numerous client’s land but for major sites these take time to prepare, and the window of opportunity is always narrow so this work should be started well in advance.  For many of our clients we are now expanding this to include much of what is needed for an outline planning application too, so that they can react faster.
• Planning Appraisals - Scoping new sites or your existing land options and providing you with a detailed planning appraisal to assess its potential and consider timing for delivery or planning application submission. This also avoids abortive work on ‘non-starters’ and focuses time and effort (and your expenditure) on realistic opportunities. 
• Site Masterplans – we can work with you to consider capacity and indicative layout arrangements, plus advise you what constraints or policy requirements will affect the developable area.
• Estate Planning – if you own multiple sites or land that has not previously been considered, talk to us about your options.
• Outline Planning Applications – for your existing sites, we can initiate the planning application work now, and get site surveys and reports underway. Future demand is expected to be high.
• Reserved Matters – We can prepare Reserved Matters applications for any sites that already benefit from outline planning permission to ensure you are ready to start on site sooner, well ahead of new sites coming forward.
• Architectural Design – for all sites, house types and buildings.
• Single Point of Contact – from start to finish we handle everything needed for your site promotion or planning applications, including appointing and managing any third-party consultants.
• Building Surveys, Conversions and Class Q – other recent changes offer new and extended opportunities to bring forward housing in rural areas – now is the time to take advantage of these changes and speak to us about conversion or agricultural diversification.