Warnham Exception Site

Case Study

Was: A green field in a rural location.

Now:  A site delivering 6 privately funded affordable homes to local qualified households unable to purchase in the open marketplace.

Landspeed, along with a number of Registered Providers, were approached in 2016 by a consortium of local people who had joined together to purchase a piece of land owned by the traveling community.

The local authority (Horsham District Council) acknowledged the unique circumstances behind the consortium’s purchase as well as recognising Landspeed’s ability to deliver Intermediate homes within the Council’s area. The Council recommended that the landowners’ agent approach the Company as part of the marketing process.

Landspeed were the only party who submitted an offer and demonstrated, to the landowners’ satisfaction, that we were capable of designing and delivering a scheme of affordable accommodation targeted specifically, in the first instance, to local households connected to the Parish.  The land value equated to under £35,000 per plot (less than 50% of the prevailing open market value) and was accepted by the local authority as being an adequate recompense to the consortium given the price they paid to secure the land and their professional costs thereafter.

The scheme was designed to maximise the range of affordability by introducing four specific unit types – from 1 and 2 bedroom maisonettes to 2 and 3 bedroom houses – targeted at specific household income levels and at no more than 75% of market value (with no rent charged on the remaining share). Landspeed liaised with the local parish council and prepared a ‘flyer’ for distribution to all of the members therein.

The resultant planning application received substantial local support and planning consent was secured in September 2017. The land purchase was completed (using Landspeed’s own funds) in February 2018 with site works commencing immediately thereafter.