7 key milestones in the planning stage you don’t want to miss
The planning stage in the property development process can take a long time and as a buyer, you might think there is not much you can do at this point. However, there are some key announcements you don’t want to miss if you want to get a head start on other buyers.
London is a tough place to get a foot on the property ladder and various financing products along with set standards make new developments more desirable. For many first-time buyers, there is no other option. The demand for the best-priced quality property will be high so you will have to ‘keep your finger on the pulse’ to make sure you are ready when the registration opens.
Buildington has teamed up with the smallest and largest estate agents, developers and other consultants to get more information for buyers and renters about the progress on site in return for an interactive track record that helps advertise their services.
We have divided the milestones into 4 stages – Planning, Construction, Sales and In Use – with each containing various events reported throughout the development lifecycle helping you make better-informed decisions at the right time.
Key Milestones during the planning phase:
- Design
- New appointment
- Public consultation
- Planning application submitted
- Planning committee meeting
- Plans approved by the committee
- Planning permission granted
1. Design
The architect is in the process of creating a design concept for the scheme.
What does this mean for you? A developer or an architect reveals they are working on designs for the street you belong to. This means you will soon hear about the plans in more detail and your dream of living or working in the area is about to take shape.
2. New appointment
This milestone is reported whenever a new team member is appointed. Be it the architect or the main contractor, this announcement comes whenever a company is instructed to work on the development.
What does this mean for you? The experience of the team will play an important role in delivering the scheme. A structural engineer experienced in complex designs means you can expect a certain level of quality adding years and value to your future home or office.
Top Tip: Make sure to contact the selling agent as soon as you hear they have been appointed to market the development. It might be too late by the time of the official registration opening or sales launch as they always have an off-market applicant list in the drawer.
3. Public consultation
The proposed plans are now ready for public review. The developer holds a public exhibition to present their vision, during which people are invited to give feedback on the scheme. Once the consultation period ends, the team will often go back to the drawing board to make improvements. Depending on the scale of the development another consultation might be held after the plans have been revised.
What does this mean for you? You will now be able to see the proposed plans in detail and decide whether this project suits your needs. If you have an idea on how to improve the development, this is the time to speak up. You can voice your opinion in writing online on the designated page or email your views to the developer. Once the planning application has been submitted, it will be too late, so now is the time to act.
4. Planning application submitted
This milestone confirms the developer has submitted the plans to the local authority. After the submission of the plans is validated by the council, people can view the documents and leave their support, objections and other comments on the planning portal.
What does this mean for you? You can now support the project by leaving a comment on the planning portal.
5. Planning Committee meeting
This is a big day for everyone on the team. The planning committee members vote to decide if the plans should be approved or refused.
What does this mean for you? This is for the true fans who want to be present at the meeting when the announcement is made.
6. Plans approved by the committee
This is the official announcement that the planning committee has approved the plans. The planning permission is set to be issued unless it meets the Mayor of London Order. In this case, the local planning authority is required to refer the application to the Mayor for his final decision. The Mayor has 14 days to make a decision to allow the local planning authority decision to stand, to direct refusal, or to take over the application.
What does this mean for you? You’ll find out how far the planning permission is from being granted.
See all developments with plans approved by the local authority
7. Planning permission granted
The developer now has the green light to start building.
What does this mean for you? Depending on the size and complexity of the project, you can now start planning your finances and be ready for when the registration opens. Some developers will start imminently, some may take more time.
Bookmark the search results you wish to keep an eye on and check back for updates regularly.
Search for all 42 milestones in the new developments (LINK) or existing buildings (LINK) on Buildington.
Do you think we are missing an important milestone? Send us an email at info@buildington.co.uk. If you wish to report a milestone for a development you work with, sign up here.
