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Land Owners and Agents

Westbuild Homes take pride in the fact that they have created numerous examples of attractive country and cottage style communities that lie in harmony with their surroundings. Being a regional developer, the Company has excellent knowledge of local housing markets and the varying requirements of the different Local Planning Authorities. Combining this with experience, patience, tenacity and good communication, they have a proven track record of achieving planning permissions.

It is a common misconception that the company only builds large detached housing sites and from a small portfolio of "house types". Since the Government's "Planning Policy Paper 3" was introduced in 2000, the company has gradually evolved and widened its design criteria to architects. Indeed, whilst the "Shire Cottage" is arguably the company's flagship house design, only a small handful of its Hampshire, Wiltshire or Berkshire cottages have been built in recent years. Whilst the company has over 35 house types, it now purposefully and deliberately designs its sites and houses to make the most efficient use of the land in order to build in a sustainable manner. Notwithstanding this, certain characterisitics are often incorporated into many of our designs including brick plinth, steep sloping roofs, chimneys, arched windows, internal structure timber beams, and traditional detailing. In sensitive locations we are often required to adapt or modify such design principles.

Since 1985, the company has built over 500 units, on over 65 sites, most of which
are detached houses. In recent years it has consistently produced some
35, 000 to 40, 000 sq.ft. (GIA) per annum.

To achieve such consistency the company requires a constant flow of sites and so is always looking for new opportunities. The following are examples of the general background to, or characteristics of, the developments it has built in the last 10 years:

  • Demolition of farm buildings and replacement with housing in village
    Conservation area.
  • Re-development of builder's yard into river side executive housing development.
  • Decontamination of brownfield site and replacement with housing.
  • Unconditional purchase of large detached house, without planning permission, for consideration of 10% in excess of existing use value.
  • Parcelling together of 10 rear gardens of existing housing and replacement
    with 18 houses.
  • Parcelling together of 7 landowners and "sight-line" owners,
    to facilitate 11 house scheme.
  • Development during a 10 year period, in three, 2 year phases.
  • Development of brownfield site in rural location.
  • Complex hill-side development with extensive abnormal construction works.
  • Unconditional purchase of two 1960s built houses without planning permission, and replacement with 8 detached houses in Conservation Area.
  • Redevelopment of commercial unit and adjacent land into housing scheme.
  • Small scale (>14 units) apartment schemes in low density areas.
  • Construction and upgrading of 350m of unmade road through S278 Highways Act in order to facilitate housing scheme.
  • Unconditional purchase and investment in property with long term
    (3 year +) potential.
  • Enhancement of planning permission achieved by competitor builder.
  • Demolition of former Nursing Home and replacement with housing.
  • Site acquired when previous competitor builder was unable to gain
    planning permission.
  • And, finally of course, the most basic of developments, the replacement of existing houses with multiple housing schemes including basic "two-for-one" sites, or multiple unit schemes.

Whilst the majority of undeveloped sites are within existing and built-up areas, the pressure to find new and deliverable sites has to necessarily scope to areas beyond. Therefore, the company has interests in an increasing number of long term strategic "out of settlement" or greenfield sites which it is promoting via local authorities' LDF systems. Joint ventures with other developers (or landowners) and more flexible purchase agreements, are more applicable in such circumstances.

A fine example of such a forward thinking joint venture is seen in WestScape which combines the strength of LivSCAPE's sustainable community design with the strength of Westbuild Homes' construction expertise and excellent local reputation, to prove that a higher standard of sustainable housing can actually be delivered. For further information go to: www.westscape.co.uk.

Regardless of the nature and size of the site, the company is particularly keen to work on projects which are complicated and require a great deal of attention to detail and persistence. Certain developers can be inexperienced in tackling sites which have technical difficulties that require construction expertise to solve; our experience and expertise allows us to assess potential difficulties at an early stage, which invariably translates to a very high success ratio of sites secured under option or contract, which then go onto being built by the company.

Many of the company’s sites have been sourced directly, however, it is indebited to the introductions it receives from its wide network of estate agents, land agents, Chartered Surveyors and "land traders". Where an estate agent has introduced the opportunity, and has a residential sales department, it will guarantee to provide continuity through to the house sales.

The company believes it is able to offer higher prices for building land because it has confidence it can achieve higher than average prices for the intended new houses, a direct consequence of the superior design and quality product constructed.

As owners of the Company, the Directors are able to make prompt unhindered decisions to expedite purchase agreements and to contribute ideas using the expertise and business acumen gained from years of personal experience within the industry since the 1960s.