Oxbottom Lane, Newick – 21 New Homes

Searls Land was approached by a group of seven landowners who jointly owned land off Oxbottom Lane in Newick. 

The land had already been through a difficult period. The owners had been let down by a previous agent and housebuilder, a planning application had been refused, and there was uncertainty over what the best route forward should be. 

With seven landowners involved, reaching a collective decision over the future of the site was also proving challenging. 

Searls Land was appointed to bring the parties together, provide clear and independent advice and establish a strategy that everyone could support. 

Finding the Right Way Forward 

Our first job wasn’t simply to find another developer. It was to understand what had gone wrong previously and to determine the most appropriate strategy for giving the site the best chance of success. 

We worked closely with all seven landowners to agree a way forward before taking the opportunity to the market. 

Following a competitive bidding process, Searls Land successfully placed the land with an experienced promoter who had a detailed understanding of the local planning authority and, importantly, understood the type and scale of development most likely to secure planning permission. 

For the landowners, this provided a clear route forward and a development partner with a strategy specifically suited to the site and its location. 

Overcoming the Planning History 

The previous planning refusal meant that simply revisiting the same approach was unlikely to deliver the outcome the landowners wanted. 

The promoter used their knowledge of the local authority and the site’s planning history to develop a more appropriate scheme and successfully navigate the land through the planning process. 

This ultimately resulted in planning permission being secured for 21 new homes, transforming a site with an uncertain future into a consented residential development opportunity. 

Knowing When – and Who – to Sell To 

Once planning permission had been achieved, Searls Land was instructed to market the site on behalf of the landowners. 

Achieving the best price for development land isn’t simply about putting a site on the market and accepting the highest initial offer. Understanding which housebuilders are actively looking for land, where they need new sites and how strongly they are likely to compete for a particular opportunity can have a significant impact on the eventual value achieved. 

Using our knowledge of the local development land market and current buyer requirements, we identified where the strongest demand was likely to come from and created competition for the site. 

The result was a successful sale at a record price per plot, maximising the value achieved for all seven landowners. 

The Result 

7 landowners | Previous planning refusal overcome | Planning permission for 21 homes | Record price per plot achieved 

Oxbottom Lane demonstrates that a previous planning refusal – or a bad experience with an agent or developer – doesn’t necessarily mean the opportunity has been lost. 

Sometimes what is needed is a different strategy, the right development partner and someone capable of bringing multiple landowners together behind a common objective. 

Searls Land managed the process from agreeing a strategy between the seven owners and selecting the right promoter, through to the eventual sale of the consented site. 

If you own land with development potential but aren’t sure what to do next – particularly if a previous approach hasn’t worked – speak to Searls Land before making your next move. The right strategy can make a significant difference to both the chances of success and the value ultimately achieved.