As with any large new development idea local residence are concerned about the plans.  If the complex gains planning approval the local area will have to cope with an increase in light, noise and lorry pollution. The locals concerned have started an action group (www.parksideactiongroup.org.uk) to encourage people to lobby against the development plans and sent out the newsletter below.

St Helens Council Determined to Reck Our Community

You may have thought that the fight to stop the building of the largest freight warehousing complex in Europe on our Green Belt was over with the news last year that developer Prologis had pulled out due to economic and viability reasons. But no, despite this and massive local opposition (over 1,500 responses against the scheme in the previous version of  LDF) St Helens Council are still determined to press on with preparing the way for a future developer to build a huge freight terminal in their future planning policy. In the third draft of the the Local Development Framework (LDF) the Council have persisted with a set of criteria that a developer would have to satisfy in order to secure the site of the former Parkside colliery to the West of the M6 and in addition an equivalent area of land to the East of the M6 that was never part of the former colliery, and is today open countryside.

We’ve been sent a copy of the newsletter and we’re concerned that the lobby group is publicising their concerns using the picture above.  The site in question is Brownfield so ideal for development whether industrial or residential.  Sadly we don’t have an actual picture of the area (if you do send it in) but using Google maps we do have an aerial view which you’ll agree isn’t what is represented above.  Also we managed to speak to a local resident who said. 

‘I regularly walk my dogs near the Colliery site and it’s a depressing area to look at.  Something needs to be done with it and if they need to use part of the surrounding area that’s ok with me, especially as it’ll bring much need jobs and money to the local area.’ John, High Street, Newton Le Willows.

How does the bonus scheme work?

For every new home built the local Council will be paid a bonus matching the council tax raised for that property over six years. This works out at more than £9,000 for each Band D home over the full period.  The bonus for affordable housing will be 36% higher, so averaging almost £11,000 for a Band D affordable home.  This is a huge incentive for local Councils who are all feeling the pinch following the spending review.  Over the next 4 years the Government will make £1billion available for the bonus; £196million will be used over 2011-2012. 

The government calculates 326 local authorities will receive a share of the £196million for increasing the housing stock by 150,000 homes this year.

“We need to get the country building again,” said Shapps of the New Homes Bonus.  “But not through a Whitehall knows best arrogance.  To kick start a housebuilding revolution, development needs to be backed by local communities rather than opposed by them.”

Over many decades local people and Councils have begrudgingly accepted new building in their areas but they have never embraced building as a good thing.  The New Homes Bonus is an excellent idea in our opinion as local Councils will have to fully embrace the scheme to financially benefit from it and let’s face it they need the money!  Also over time we hope local people will recognise the benefits too as the money raised from the Bonus will directly benefit them.  

Barratt ceo Mark Clare said the announcement was an important step forward.  “We are already talking to local authorities about what the implications of our planned developments will be in terms of additional funding for them.  However there is still some way to go to define the wider policy framework needed to ensure that the localist agenda can provide the new housing the nation needs.”

The Centre for Cities is an independent, non-partisan research and policy institution. The Centre helps Britain’s cities improve their economic performance by producing practical research and policy advice for city leaders, Whitehall and employers.

Cities best placed for a private sector-led recovery.

‘Five cities to watch: Milton Keynes, Reading, Aberdeen, Leeds and Bristol. These places will be better-insulated from the economic impact of the spending squeeze, and have high potential to create private sector jobs. They have lower vulnerability to public sector job losses and spending cuts, and given the right powers and freedoms could make an even bigger contribution to the national economic recovery.’

This research is extremely significant as more people are likely to move to the Leeds area to take up Private Sector jobs meaning, amongst other things, additional housing will be required. Leeds currently has a major lack of suitable housing available therefore UK house builders will be looking to acquire more land in the area to satisfy this new demand.

Alexandra Jones, Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities, said,

“Buoyant cities like Leeds and Bristol, which have been fast-growing and have lots of private sector jobs, are best placed to lead the UK’s recovery. It’s time these places had new financial freedoms such as full control over the local business rate, and new powers to raise money. They could also benefit from having London-style mayors.”

It’s a brand new year and most of us are now back to work and more of you than ever are looking to buy land. We’ve had a recording breaking 10 days with many enquiries asking for information on self build and the land we have available.

The upturn in self build interest isn’t unexpected as people make decisions and plan what they want to achieve in the coming years and building a dream home for some will be a top priority. We get enquiries from people at all different stages in the process; some with a plot, some without, others are waiting for planning approval but most are just thinking and researching self build. Many of the thinker will eventually decide against building their own home and opt for the easier choice of buying a new ready built house.

The demand for new affordable houses is at an all time high and supply is at an all time low. One of the reasons for this is the lack of planning permission approval. In the third quarter of 2010 planning permission for new homes were at one of the lowest levels in 5 years according to Estate Agent Today (EAT).  The EAT website goes on to say that household number projections show the need for around 232,0000 new homes to be built each year up to 2033. But the total built in 2009/2010 was just about 118,000 – that just over half of what is actually required.

The positive news for self builders and developers is that this year we’ll see some major improvements to planning procedure now that radical action is being taken by the Government.

What if someone gave you the chance to create your dream home? Apply to take part in the BBC’s new property programme!

Have you got a burning ambition to design or build your dream home?

New BBC ONE property Programme

Are you up for a real challenge? Do you have amazing design ideas, but have never had the opportunity to see these through.

Is there a rundown building in your area you believe has the potential to be turned into an incredible house? But it’s out of your reach?

Maybe you’ve got your eye on a plot of land and want to build a property from scratch?

If this sounds familiar, then we want to hear from you.

The BBC are currently developing a unique new property programme for BBC One and they are looking for people who would be interested in taking part and UK Land Agent has been specially approached by the BBC to help them find applicants.

We’d love to see some of our customers’ competing to win such an amazing prize!

The programme is offering people a once in a lifetime opportunity to build or restore their dream home, with the help of a top property guru, who is prepared to fully back six people’s dream property projects.  He is prepared to fund six projects from beginning to end and at the end of it all; one person will walk away with the home of their dreams.

 

You could build and win a house like this!!

You might even find the ideal plot of land to build this dream home on with UK Land Agent’s help!

This is a unique property contest and the BBC are keen to find people who want to take part from all over the country. They would really like to find someone who has a property dream that they would love to realise, but have never had the chance.

So, if you would like to be on the show, which is being made by those responsible for the success of Raymond Blanc’s The Restaurant, Dragon’s Den and Wildest Dreams please get in touch.

GET INFO ON HOW APPLY HERE NOW - just fill out the contact us form adding BBC to the enquiry box and we’ll email you details on how to apply.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

The decision – prompted by a legal challenge by Cala Homes – effectively reinstates the regional strategies and housing targets.

The House Builders Federation has argued that the government should put in place clear transitional arrangements for the move from the old planning system towards localism, and it is hoped that this decision will prompt it to do so while local authorities continue to plan for housing delivery as before.

Pickles says Cala ruling “changes very little”

In a statement following Cala Homes’ victory Pickles said: “Later this month the coalition government will be introducing the Localism Bill to parliament which will sweep away the last government’s controversial regional strategies.”

He said that the advice given to local authorities in May to take into account the government’s intention to scrap regional strategies as a material planning consideration “still stands”.

Pickles said: “Top down targets do not build homes – they have just led to the lowest peacetime house building rates since 1924.” He said he is introducing “powerful incentives” to build and the “most important” of these, the New Homes Bonus, will come into effect from April.

We agree with Eric that this ruling will make very little difference long term.  What will have a positive impact are the planning changes the Government will be implementing next year to encourage local authorities to build new homes. As local authorities no longer have the budget for building new homes ultimately they will have to start working closely with the Private Sector to fill the major housing gap we have in the UK.

Across the UK first time buyers have to save 45% of their take home pay every month for 5 years to afford a deposit.

Even with absolutely no outgoings they would have to save their entire take home pay for more than 2 years to afford a deposit.

The average deposit across the UK is 230% that of average salaries – almost 300% in London.

The average age of the first time buyer has now gone up to 37.

In 2009 there were fewer homes built than in any peacetime year since 1924.

However a white paper released today (Local Growth) has promised a new streamlined planning system.

Local Growth sets out plans for sustainable development in local areas backed by 24 local enterprise partnerships (LEPs).

This new system is a complete pendulum shift in favour of a presumption for development.  Until today our planning system had been based on the 1955 Town & Country planning act favouring a presumption against development.  

Unlocking land, building more houses is not just a matter of need and necessity it is now a matter of certainty. 

The land market is becoming increasingly polarised – Gabriel Roscrow, UK Land Advisor

 Summary

1. As the residential property market begins ‘second slip’, the land market is becoming increasingly polarised.

2. The opportunity now lies in taking advantage of bulk land in the best locations to deliver service land product.

3. Green field land values increased by 25% over the last year, along with urban land values increasing by 13%.

4. Residential land values continue to perform well. A shortage of housing supply and a steady influx of overseas cash into the housing market had led to competition for residential development sites.

5. Expect the value of serviced plots and serviceable land to grow over the next few years. The supply of this type of land is likely to become increasingly constrained following uncertainty and some hiatus in the planning system, in time driving up prices.

As the residential market begins to show signs of a second slip, the land market is becoming increasingly polarised for the second consecutive quarter. It was up 2.4% in the third quarter of 2010, values have increased while urban lands grew by just 0.2%.

This reflects not just the underlying weakness in the housing market, but also the dearth of debt funding, uncertainty around the localism agenda and shortage of long term equity. With public sector austerity measures now taking effect house builders and developers remain selective in their land purchasing activity.

A permanent rift

The national picture disguises some key trends, not only in terms of location, but also by type of site. A permanent rift is opening up between the value of small, serviced sites for which demand is strong, and large, strategic regeneration sites and bulk land, which is seeing little trading activity. The opportunity lies in taking the larger, longer term sites and converting them into a de-risked, serviced product appealing to the new, cautious market.

Green field land values increased by 25% over the last year, along with urban land values increasing by 13%.

Residential land values continue to perform well. A shortage of housing supply and a steady influx of overseas cash into the housing market had led to competition for residential development sites.

The opportunity lies in taking the larger, long term site and converting into de-risk, serviced product.

We expect the value of serviced plots and serviceable land to grow over the next few years. The supply of this type of land is likely to become increasingly constrained following uncertainty and some hiatus in the planning system, in time driving up prices.

Location is key. Funding will only be forthcoming for the best sites where local housing demand will sustain targeted new delivery. Difficult sites in lower value areas requiring any kind of major remediation will remain off the development radar for some time to come.

In the short to medium term, opportunity lies in adding value to bulk land by converting into serviceable land, or fully serviced plots. Players will need to actively invest in land to maximise values, delivering an easy-to-develop, de-risk serviced product to the market. 

Check out our investment land available in the UK Land Agent land directory.