CASE STUDIES

Our Planning and Development team are dedicated to providing the best advice and outcomes for our clients. Here are a range of some of the successful projects that our team have been involved with.

DEVELOPMENT SITE: PRICE NEGOTIATION

• GSC Grays engaged in price negotiations with a developer for a residential development site in County Durham and successfully increased the land offer on behalf of the landowner.

• The GSC Grays team undertook significant research to assess the validity of the price notice including a full review of the revenue (GDV) of the site, a review of standard build costs as well as the abnormal costs. This had the effect of substantially increasing the price which was submitted within a counter notice.

• We negotiated with the developer to increase the price supported by forensic evidence to support our conclusion.

• We also provided our assessment on the costs for roads and sewers, contingency costs, professional and marketing fees as well as finance costs and house builder margin together with a full review of the abnormal costs.

• We then reviewed the contract to determine how our assessment of the revenue and the above costs should be applied.

• We negotiated with the developer and reached a satisfactory conclusion with the price being settled at over 40% more than the original offer.

Land In Northumberland

BACKGROUND:

• Our client owned a significant amount of land which had been subject to historic open cast coal mining.

• The land was situated on the edge of a settlement, and we made the approach to the landowner when the Local Authority were about to begin their local plan process.

• Two parcels of land were also owned by the Local Authority and let to the same landowner.

• The minerals were owned separately.

THE WORK TO DATE:

• Negotiated an option to purchase the minerals.

• Negotiated with the Landowner and Local Authority to jointly promote the site.

• Representations to the LPA Local Plan process, at various stages identifying the land to be developed for housing.

• Stakeholder engagement with the Neighbourhood Plan together with potential for playing fields and a relief road for the town centre to facilitate the development.

• Preparation and coordination of Pre-application advice in respect of the various phases of the development.

• Successfully obtained outline planning permission.

• Safeguarded land for future development by providing the infrastructure, or the ability to upgrade infrastructure to service additional housing.

ADDING VALUE:

• Pre- planning work provided sufficient information for developers to submit realistic bids resulting in a higher capital receipt for the landowner.

• Safeguarded landowners retained land for future development as part of the master planning process.

• Enabled the development of over 500 new homes including affordable homes.

• Significant S106 contributions to support the local community together with education contributions to support special educational needs.

Agricultural Workers Dwelling

• GSC Grays submitted an outline planning application for a new farm workers dwelling on the edge of York.

• We developed a strong business case to demonstrate that a new dwelling would be viable through a detailed planning appraisal.

• We demonstrated that there was a clear functional need for the dwelling due to a lack of affordable accommodation within the area and the working demands of the farm, particularly with the livestock enterprises.

• We submitted an outline planning application supported by a robust business appraisal that was approved by the LPA.

• The principles of the development were established to enable the farm business to be sustainable in the long term.

• GSC Grays have submitted a number of other successful agricultural and general workers dwelling applications and can provide professional advice for these uses.

A Class Q Permitted Development Application

• GSC Grays submitted a Class Q permitted development application for the conversion of a steel-portal framed agricultural building to a single residential dwelling.

• The application fell within a catchment covered by the nutrient neutrality legislation.

• We had to prove that the development would not increase the nitrogen effluent within catchment by designing a mitigation strategy that involved the planting of trees on the client’s farm which would off-set the nutrient load expected from the residential dwelling which aligned with the existing objectives of the farm.

• The proposed mitigation and permitted development application was approved by Natural England and the LPA to enable the works to progress.