Privately built new build development?

scottishgirl87

I currently live with my parents, however, my boyfriend and I have been looking at buying somewhere since the beginning of the year and have yet to find something. I spotted a construction site near my parents house recently and intrigued I had a look on the local councils planning section and found work started in February for a new build housing development.

Further digging has found that the "developer" is a local wealthy businessman who has owned that area of land for 20+ years, rather than a big name developer (eg. Miller Homes, Taylor Wimpey, etc.). As such, there doesn't seem to be any form of advertising of the site at the moment.

I'm extremely interested in the location, and can see it proving popular, so I really don't want to miss the boat on this. There's another new development in the next town (although by Miller Homes) which construction has began on and they are already advertising and selling plots, so I find it odd that this development has virtually nothing online other than their planning permission application with the council.

It's a development of 25 so I really don't see the developer building them all for himself/relatives. What happens when a development is being privately built (not sure if that's the best description of it)? And as building work began in February, when would you expect they would start being advertised/on sale to the general public?

I know this is probably a how long is a piece of string question but any hints or tips would be great!

fluffymuffy

Why not contact the developer via their planning agent to express an interest. Most small developers need to sell a few units as they build.

scottishgirl87

fluffymuffy wrote: »

Why not contact the developer via their planning agent to express an interest. Most small developers need to sell a few units as they build.

When you say planning agent, who do you mean? There's the Planning Officer from the Council and an architecture as part of the planning applications?

There is an address for the "developer" but they don't seem to have a web presence and I'd feel a bit weird writing a letter out of the blue.

googler

scottishgirl87 wrote: »

When you say planning agent, who do you mean? There's the Planning Officer from the Council and an architecture as part of the planning applications?

There is an address for the "developer" but they don't seem to have a web presence and I'd feel a bit weird writing a letter out of the blue.

If the developer has an agent acting for them, this is usually stated on the application form, which will be on the council's website

If the developer has submitted the app themselves, and their name/address is on the app, you may be reduced to writing them a letter.

phill99

The architect is the planning agent.

Just write to him with an expression of interest. The architect will be used to receiving such letters. Strangely not everyone had to have a website. It's not the law.

You may find however that the land owner is applying planning permission to increase the value of he land in order to sell it on at a profit.

scottishgirl87

Thanks for the replies, will give the architect a shot.

mark5

In my area the smaller developers usually use various local estate agents to market the properties built.