| We
play our part in the development process in a number
of different ways. The most obvious is to sell land
with development potential or to acquire it on behalf
of a developer client. This may sound simple but often
this is a complex process involving the Local Planning
Authority, the Highway Authority and other agencies.
A development site often
comprises more than one parcel of land. Site assembly
can be a very delicate business that has to be handled
carefully. Skilful negotiations are often required
and forming relationships with the parties can be
of great assistance. This is a role that Samantha
Morley has developed by allowing herself time to gain
the trust and respect of landowners.
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Land
and buildings in Leytonstone sold to Tesco |
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Wivenhoe
Water Tower, owned by Lexden Restorations |
A planning application
often requires an economic report particularly where
a change of use is sought. Showing that a property
has reached the end of its economic life in its present
use can often assist in obtaining a change. Local
experience, past and present is the basis of such
a report. An interesting example of this is the advice
we gave to the purchaser of a partially constructed
Motel at Surrex near Coggeshall. To make the case
more complex the property also had permission for
use as a care facility. An application has now been
approved for housing.
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Hill
House, Weeley |
We often work as part
of a team in this process, with an architect or a
planning consultant. A more unusual example of such
a collaborative approach is in the field of Enabling
Development. Hillside House at Weeley has stood derelict
for many years. In order to generate funds for its
development a developer sought consent to build new
houses in its grounds. We were asked by the Planning
Department at Tendring District Council to advise
(in conjunction with Plater Claiborne, architects
and Dudley Smith Partnership, quantity surveyors)
on whether the proposed development would generate
a surplus commensurate with the requirements to redevelop
the house under the Enabling Development regulations.
In High Road, Leytonstone
we sold derelict industrial buildings to Tesco to
enable them to extend their car park. In Wivenhoe
we advised Plater Claiborne on the viability of their
conversion of the Water Tower as part of their submission
to English Heritage for the conversion of a listed
Building.
Often our advice
will be in preparing a Valuation of the site, the
completed scheme or undertaking an appraisal of the
profitability of a development either for the vendor
of the land, the developer or the funding source.
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