Architecture and Masterplanning in Ashford (Kent)
Before land in Ashford (Kent) can go for planning, someone has to show how many homes fit and how they will look. We start with a capacity study, then develop a masterplan that respects neighbours, trees, levels and drainage. The design is tested for cost and buildability at every stage, so what gets approved is something that can actually be built.
Ashford (Kent) · TN24Free site appraisal
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- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Planning and building around Ashford (Kent)
About 18 miles south-east of Maidstone, Ashford (Kent) is part of our Kent coverage, centred on postcode district TN24. Close by, our coverage also takes in Faversham, Canterbury and Folkestone. Ashford (Kent) is part of England’s South East region.
Projects we can take on around Ashford (Kent) include fields that need a masterplan before an application, sites where the layout needs to change and schemes that need redesigning to work. In England, where Ashford (Kent) sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
If you have a site near Ashford (Kent) that is stuck, a short call is the best place to start.
What we offer in Ashford (Kent)
Masterplans for larger sites
Streets, open space, landscaping, play areas and phasing set out in one coherent plan, with room for homes for sale, rent and affordable tenures.
Drainage and ecology built in
Sustainable drainage, biodiversity and tree retention shape the layout from the first sketch, rather than being squeezed in after the homes are placed.
Capacity studies
We test several layouts to show what a site could realistically take, allowing for access, open space, drainage and the separation distances councils expect between homes.
Buildability checked
We test every scheme for construction cost and practicality, so the consent we seek is for homes that can actually be built and then sold or let.
Planning in Ashford (Kent): the English rules
Whether a field or large garden could take homes depends mostly on the council's Local Plan and national policy. Under the National Planning Policy Framework, plans define settlement boundaries, and land just outside Ashford (Kent) may still come forward if it is allocated, previously developed or meets evidenced unmet housing need. Smaller housing schemes can also use Permission in Principle, an England-only route that settles location, use and amount first. Our free appraisal explains which route suits your land.
In England, the National Planning Policy Framework places strong weight on well-designed places, and the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code shape what councils expect. Many councils have adopted local design codes. Most applications must also deliver biodiversity net gain, which affects how much of a site is set aside for habitat.
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
|---|---|
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
Your questions answered for Ashford (Kent)
What is a masterplan?
A masterplan is a drawing and supporting document that shows how a larger site will be laid out: where the homes, roads, footpaths, open space and drainage go, and how the site will be built in phases. It gives the council and the community a clear picture of the scheme before detailed designs are prepared for each phase.
How do you make new homes fit in with existing streets?
We study the scale, materials, building lines and spaces of the surrounding area and design homes and streets that respond to them. On a village edge that might mean lower density and more landscaping; in a town, homes that follow the existing street pattern. Early talks with planning officers and neighbours help shape the design.
How many homes could my land take?
It depends on the size and shape of the site, the access, the character of the area, the open space and drainage the scheme needs, and local planning policy on density. Sites of the same size can have very different capacities. A capacity study is the reliable way to answer the question, and our free site appraisal gives an indicative figure.
Do new housing schemes need sustainable drainage?
In most cases, yes. National and local policy usually expects new developments to manage rainwater sustainably, for example with swales, ponds and permeable paving. In Wales, most new developments need separate approval from the local SuDS approving body. We design drainage into the layout from the start, because it can take up a real share of the site.
Do you take on planning and building work in Ashford (Kent)?
Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership in Ashford (Kent) and elsewhere in Kent, including Sittingbourne, Faversham and Maidstone. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.
Read more: Architecture and Masterplanning · Guide: Planning permission explained for landowners