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New homes and housing · Bedfordshire

Council and Housing Partnerships in Leighton Buzzard

How can councils and housing associations partner with us in Leighton Buzzard?

If you are a council or housing association looking for new homes in Leighton Buzzard, there are several ways to work with Land to Homes. We can sell you completed homes on a site we control, bring forward land for a scheme you will own, build on your land under a design and build contract, or deliver the affordable homes a planning agreement requires.

Newly completed terrace of two-storey affordable homes with small front gardensLeighton Buzzard · LU7

Talk to us about a partnership

Tell us about your organisation and the homes you need.

Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.

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Registering for homes in Leighton Buzzard

Leighton Buzzard (LU7) is one of the Bedfordshire towns we cover, about 11 miles west of Luton. Close by, our coverage also takes in Dunstable, Bletchley and Milton Keynes. Leighton Buzzard is part of England’s East of England region.

Registrations for Leighton Buzzard cover one- and two-bedroom apartments, accessible and adaptable homes and homes for shared ownership. As Leighton Buzzard 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 what you need in Leighton Buzzard and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.

What you get in Leighton Buzzard

Funding conditions in mind

We plan schemes around the conditions of the relevant funding programme, although grant is applied for and held by the council or provider.

Land-led schemes

We bring forward land for a scheme the provider will own, which can be fully affordable where planning policy and funding allow.

Planning obligation homes

The affordable homes required by a Section 106, Section 75 or Section 76 agreement, designed with a provider and transferred on completion.

Design and build

We design and build homes on land owned by a council or provider, to its specification and within its procurement rules.

Planning in Leighton Buzzard: the English rules

Councils and housing associations around Leighton Buzzard can bid for grant through Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which funds Social Rent, Affordable Rent at up to 80% of market rent, and shared ownership. Landlords of the rented homes must be registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. National policy also expects local plans to set a minimum Social Rent proportion for major development. Land to Homes is ready to discuss sites, partnership and delivery.

In England, registered providers, including housing associations and for-profit providers, are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. Affordable homes are usually secured through Section 106 agreements, and grant is channelled through Homes England, or the Greater London Authority in London. Councils follow procurement rules and their legal duties on value when disposing of land or appointing partners.

Key rules in Leighton Buzzard
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
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.
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Council and Housing Partnerships in Leighton Buzzard: questions

What is a package deal for affordable housing?

A package deal is where a developer sells completed affordable homes on a site it controls to a housing association or other registered provider. The mix, design, specification and price are agreed before the homes are built, and the provider takes ownership on completion. Package deals are often how affordable homes required by a planning permission are delivered.

Do you talk to for-profit registered providers?

Yes. In England, both not-for-profit housing associations and for-profit registered providers can own affordable homes, and both are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. We discuss affordable homes with any appropriately registered provider, subject to the council's requirements on who can take on the homes.

Can you build on land a council or housing association already owns?

Yes. Under a design and build arrangement, we design and construct homes on land the council or provider owns, to its specification and standards. Contracts follow the client's procurement rules, which may mean a framework, a tender or another compliant route. We discuss the approach early so the scheme fits the client's governance.

Who applies for grant funding for affordable homes?

Usually the housing association or council, because public grant for affordable housing is normally paid to them under programmes run by Homes England, the Greater London Authority, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or, in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive's Social Housing Development Programme. We plan schemes with the relevant funding conditions in mind.

Are there new homes available in Leighton Buzzard now?

Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Leighton Buzzard at the moment. You can register your interest for Leighton Buzzard, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.

Read more: Council and Housing Association Partnerships · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK

Council and Housing Partnerships elsewhere in Bedfordshire

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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