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Planning, design and build · Scottish Borders

Architecture and Masterplanning in Hawick

How are new homes designed and masterplanned in Hawick?

Architecture and masterplanning in Hawick is the design work that turns a parcel of land into a layout of homes, streets and open space that a council can approve and a builder can deliver. Land to Homes prepares capacity studies, site layouts, house types and design statements, testing each one against planning policy, access, drainage and the character of the area.

Aerial view of a housing site with plots at different build stages and a site compoundHawick · TD9

Free site appraisal

Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.

Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.

  • 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

Sites we take on near Hawick

We cover Hawick as part of Scottish Borders. It is about 13 miles south of Galashiels, around postcode district TD9. Nearby, we also cover Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles, all within 22 miles.

Projects we can take on around Hawick include schemes that need redesigning to work, sites that need a fresh planning strategy and sites where the layout needs to change. Because Hawick is in Scotland, land titles are registered with Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) and transfers attract Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

Send us the site address near Hawick and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.

How we work in Hawick

Funded on promotion

Where we promote your land, the design work is part of the planning work we fund, recovered from the sale proceeds only if the land sells with planning.

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.

Rules that apply in Hawick

Planning obligations in Scotland are made under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and can cover affordable housing and infrastructure. Once registered against the title, they can bind future owners. Under NPF4, national and major developments must also leave biodiversity in a demonstrably better state. These costs shape what development land near Hawick is worth, which is why our free appraisal explains them before any offer or promotion terms are agreed.

In Scotland, National Planning Framework 4 sets out the qualities of successful places, and Designing Streets guides how residential streets are laid out. Building standards are approved through a building warrant from the council, and the New Build Heat Standard means new homes generally need zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps.

Key rules in Hawick
Local planning documentLocal Development Plan (LDP)
In-principle consentPlanning permission in principle (PPP), followed by approval of matters specified in conditions
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
Developer contributionsSection 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments

Architecture and Masterplanning in Hawick: questions

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.

Can a layout keep part of my land free from development?

Yes. A layout can be drawn to leave a paddock, a garden or a buffer next to your own home outside the development, and the boundary can be fixed in any agreement. We will explain how that choice affects the number of homes, the access and the value of the land being sold.

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.

Can you manage a site in Hawick from planning to build?

On land we take forward ourselves in Hawick and elsewhere in Scottish Borders, including Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles, we manage planning, design and construction. Tell us about the site and we will explain how we would approach it.

Read more: Architecture and Masterplanning · Guide: Planning permission explained for landowners

Architecture and Masterplanning elsewhere in Scottish Borders

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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