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Planning, design and build · Tyne and Wear

Architecture and Masterplanning in Felling

How are new homes designed and masterplanned in Felling?

Architecture and masterplanning in Felling 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.

Architect’s desk with a printed residential masterplan, scale ruler and pencilFelling · NE10

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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

Sites we take on near Felling

About 2 miles south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne, Felling is part of our Tyne and Wear coverage, centred on postcode district NE10. Gateshead is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 1 mile, followed by Newcastle upon Tyne and Hebburn. Felling is in the North East region of England.

Typical work around Felling: sites where the layout needs to change, land where self-build plots could suit the market and plots where access or drainage is the sticking point. As Felling is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Tell us about the site near Felling and we will explain how we would take it forward.

Why work with Land to Homes in Felling

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.

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.

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.

The English system, as it applies in Felling

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 Felling 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.

Key rules in Felling
Local planning documentLocal Plan
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingA land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry.

Questions about Architecture and Masterplanning in Felling

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 I need an architect for a planning application?

Not by law, but a well-designed scheme with clear drawings stands a much better chance. Larger schemes also need specialist input from landscape architects, highways engineers, drainage engineers and ecologists. Where Land to Homes promotes land, we appoint and fund the design team as part of the planning work, so the landowner does not need to.

What is a design code?

A design code is a set of simple, measurable design rules for an area or a site, covering matters such as building heights, materials, street widths and green space. In England, councils are encouraged to produce design codes, guided by the National Model Design Code. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland use design guides and placemaking policies to similar effect.

What is a design and access statement?

It is a short report submitted with certain planning applications that explains the design principles behind a scheme and how people will get to and move around it. In England and Wales it is usually needed for major development and for some smaller schemes in sensitive areas. Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own requirements for design statements.

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

On land we take forward ourselves in Felling and elsewhere in Tyne and Wear, including Wallsend, South Shields and Whitley Bay, 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

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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