Meanwhile, UK farmers are bristling under government recommendations regarding solar planning. As energy costs rise, farmers are installing solar panels on both agricultural structures and unused land. The government is poised to crack down on this practice by recommending that local planning councils deny the use of Grade 3b agricultural land, preventing farmers from harvesting energy from low-quality farmland. With the increasing demand for new housing and the rising profitability of solar farms on suitable land, it’s a brilliant time to begin the process of finding the right land to develop on.
Identifying Suitable Land for Development
Depending on the scope of your project, you’ll want to begin your search in one of several ways. If you know where you want to build, try starting your journey by walking (or driving) around town. Even if you don’t find any immediate leads, this is a great way to get a feel for an area that can help you avoid potential pitfalls and challenges in the future.
If you’re less sure about exactly where you want to develop land, try turning to technology. Websites like the Brownfield Land Registry, PlotFinder, and the Land Bank Partnership offer databases that can help you find exactly what you’re looking for. You can combine these sites with tools like drones which can be used to do topographic drone surveys to quickly identify areas that already have planning permission that are prime for future development.
Finally, don’t forget about public land. Neither the UK government nor the local council are allowed to sell properties directly. Instead, any public land that’s being sold off must be fully public, meaning it’s a great opportunity to network with top-tier development agents and potentially snag some very nice land for yourself.
Vetting Potential Properties
When you find a property that looks ideal, don’t forget to do a thorough check of the planning history. While you’re doing this investigation, take a look at other pending applications. Landowners wait until their applications have gone through before they put their land on the market, so take careful notes on any plots that look like they might be up your alley. Pay particular attention to applications with “outline approval.” These properties have no discrete plans to build, so they’re usually destined for the open market.
Even if you think you’ve identified the perfect property, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion. Involving a development agent, an estate agent, or a local architecture firm in your process can help you spot potential red flags and guide you to the best decision. Look for a firm with experience with land development in the area and keep them clued into your plan. With any luck, they’ll be able to help you refine and perfect things so your project goes perfectly.
Developing Land for an Evolving Future
Between Parliament’s initiative for future housing, the growing trend of solar farms, and the ever-shifting land planning landscape, it’s clear that land use will shift in the future. This creates a unique opportunity for land developers. With some research, careful planning, and plenty of patience, today’s land developers have the opportunity to harness the future.
Modern databases and advanced tools like topographic drone surveys make the initial research easier than ever, while local experts can fine-tune a plan and ensure that your development stays profitable. When you put everything together, you get an incredible conflux of conditions that give today’s land developers a massive lever with which to move the world.
