Working with Planning Consultants

WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION AND AVOID CONFLICT BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

The lack of consistency in the sector creates a number of challenges for local authorities and developers alike. The former fear losing valuable on-site delivery (particularly given the lack of interest from the ‘traditional’ Registered Providers on small allocations) whereas the latter seek certainty at acquisition and delivery stage.

Landspeed have demonstrated that small schemes of Intermediate units can be delivered (from single plots upwards) and that this can deliver far more value to a council than accepting unreasonably low commuted sums whilst presenting solutions to developers who are faced with stalemate negotiations at planning stage.

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Ensuring Section 106 Deeds are worded in such a way to deliver policy compliant schemes in the first instance is a key driver, but the ability to vary tenures and ensure on-site delivery – when faced with Providers unwilling to deliver small schemes and/or rented products – should also be addressed therein. Landspeed can demonstrate that this approach works and that there should be no need to revisit planning consents seeking variations to the principal terms.

Landspeed have:

Delivered single plots through to large scale schemes;
Delivered Intermediate units alongside a local authority directly delivering Affordable Rent;
Secured planning consent for – and is delivering – Exception Policy affordable accommodation;
Undertaken specific housing needs surveys by working with parish councils;
Acquired mixed tenure schemes where RP’s failed;
Resolved issues created by developers seeking ‘Starter Homes’ or ‘Discounted Market Sale (DMS)’;
Created a comprehensive ‘standard’ form of Section 106 Deed;
Assisted a local authority in delivering its own Intermediate sale products.
Worked with Community Land Trusts;
Undertaken viability assessments demonstrating the ability to successfully deliver affordable accommodation.

Landspeed have successfully delivered over 200 affordable units – all of which have been sold to qualifying local purchasers ranging from 18 years old through to retired individuals. Unlike other private providers we qualify and market our units directly in accordance with the appropriate consented planning obligations and every scheme is summarised after completion and reported back to the local authority concerned (examples can be provided upon request). Our ‘Shared Purchase’ models deliver both shared ownership and shared equity schemes at discounted levels (usually no more than 75% of market value) without rent on the balancing share. We can demonstrate our products to be more affordable than the ‘conventional’ shared ownership products offered by the RP sector.

Our current and most recent schemes can be found on www.landspeedhomes.uk

Our diverse range of services – encompassing all aspects of the affordable housing sector – make Landspeed a unique organisation and we are happy to discuss any opportunity to work with professional advisors to both landowners and developers.