Funding and Investment Partners in Newtownards

Working together in Newtownards

In County Down, Newtownards lies about 5 miles south of Bangor (County Down); its central postcode district is BT23. Nearby, we also cover Bangor (County Down), Castlereagh and Belfast, all within 9 miles.

Partnerships we can discuss around Newtownards include design and build for a registered provider, council land brought forward for homes and social rent homes. Because Newtownards is in Northern Ireland, land titles are registered with Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

If you are considering a partnership around Newtownards, we are happy to talk privately.

What you get in Newtownards

Landowner co-investment

A landowner can keep an interest in their land through a joint venture rather than selling outright, with the terms set out in a written agreement.

No money from the public

We do not take deposits, loans or investment from members of the public. Funding is discussed privately with lenders, institutions and landowners only.

Part of the S&K Group

Land to Homes is part of the S&K Group, a Birmingham-based construction and property group whose businesses include glazing, building supplies and property improvement.

Development lenders

We discuss senior and mezzanine development finance with lenders on a site-by-site basis, with security and terms agreed through each party's solicitors.

Planning and land rules in Newtownards

Land to Homes works with landowners across Northern Ireland, including in and around Newtownards. We start with a free appraisal of planning policy, access and constraints, then set out a direct offer or option or promotion terms in writing. Each council's Local Development Plan is prepared in two stages, a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan, so the stage your council has reached affects how a site is assessed. Planning permission is never guaranteed.

In Northern Ireland, Stamp Duty Land Tax applies, and title and charges are registered with Land & Property Services. Planning agreements are made under Section 76, and most applications are decided by the 11 district councils. Northern Ireland property law and procedure differ from the rest of the UK, so partners need local legal advice.

Key rules in Newtownards
National planning policy	Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy
In-principle consent	Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
How a sale becomes binding	A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services.
Developer contributions	Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy)

Your questions answered for Newtownards

Can I invest in Land to Homes?

Nothing on this site is an offer or invitation to invest, and we do not take investment, loans or deposits from members of the public. We discuss funding privately with development lenders and institutional partners on specific schemes. If you are a professional party with an interest in residential development, you can contact us to start a conversation.

How is forward purchase different from forward funding?

With forward funding, the investor pays for the land and construction as the scheme is built. With forward purchase, the investor commits to buy the completed homes, but the developer arranges construction finance in the meantime. The choice affects risk, cost and timing for both parties, so each takes its own advice before agreeing terms.

Do public bodies fund housing development?

Public bodies support housing delivery in each nation, for example Homes England, the government's housing and regeneration agency in England, and the Development Bank of Wales, which offers property development lending. Grant for affordable housing usually goes to councils and registered providers rather than developers. We describe these bodies for context; each has its own criteria.

What information do funding partners usually review?

Partners usually review the site title, the planning position, the scheme appraisal, the build programme, the construction approach, the plan for selling or letting the homes and the developer's background. Each carries out its own due diligence, often with valuers, monitoring surveyors and solicitors. We share site-specific information under confidentiality where appropriate.

Can we discuss a partnership in Newtownards?

We are happy to talk about specific opportunities in Newtownards and elsewhere in County Down, including Downpatrick, Bangor (County Down) and Banbridge. Conversations are private and every arrangement is documented by each party’s own advisers. Nothing here is an invitation to invest.