Funding and Investment Partners in Highbury

Partnerships around Highbury

In Greater London, Highbury lies about 3 miles north of London; its central postcode district is N5. The nearest other places we cover are Islington (1 mile), Holloway (1 mile) and Stamford Hill (2 miles). Highbury is part of England’s London region.

Typical partnership structures for Highbury: forward-funded build to rent, joint ventures with landowners and council land brought forward for homes. In England, where Highbury 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 are considering a partnership around Highbury, we are happy to talk privately.

How we work in Highbury

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.

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.

Forward funding and purchase

For build to rent and affordable homes, we discuss forward funding and forward purchase structures with institutional and registered provider partners.

Rules that apply in Highbury

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 Highbury 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, land purchases usually attract Stamp Duty Land Tax, and lenders take a legal charge registered at HM Land Registry. Scheme appraisals must allow for Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged, and biodiversity net gain. Homes England is the government's housing and regeneration agency and runs public funding programmes for housing.

Key rules in Highbury
Local planning document	Local Plan
Who decides applications	The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
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.
Developer contributions	Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Your questions answered for Highbury

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.

What types of funding do residential developments use?

Typically a mix of senior development debt, sometimes mezzanine debt, and equity from the developer and its partners. Build to rent and affordable homes may use forward funding or forward purchase by an institution or registered provider. Landowners can also contribute land through a joint venture. The right structure depends on the scheme, and each party takes independent advice.

How can a landowner co-invest in a development?

Instead of selling outright, a landowner can put land into a joint venture with a developer, agreeing how costs, decisions and proceeds are shared. This can suit landowners who want a longer-term involvement. It carries more risk than a sale, so independent legal, tax and financial advice is essential before agreeing any terms.

What is forward funding?

Forward funding is where an investor, often an institution, buys a site and funds the construction of homes on it, taking ownership of the completed scheme. The developer builds the homes under a development agreement. It is used in build to rent and some affordable housing schemes. The legal and tax structure needs specialist advice for each party.

Can we discuss a partnership in Highbury?

We are happy to talk about specific opportunities in Highbury and elsewhere in Greater London, including Croydon, Southall and Battersea. Conversations are private and every arrangement is documented by each party’s own advisers. Nothing here is an invitation to invest.