New Home Construction in County Antrim

Our work around County Antrim

Our County Antrim coverage takes in 7 towns and cities, centred on Belfast and including Antrim, Newtownabbey and Lisburn. Neighbouring areas we also cover include County Down, County Armagh and County Londonderry.

Projects we can take on around County Antrim include schemes that need redesigning to work, in-principle consents that still need detailed approval and fields that need a masterplan before an application. As County Antrim is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

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

Our approach in County Antrim

Groundworks and infrastructure

Roads, sewers, drainage and services are planned and built to the standards needed for adoption by the highway authority and water company where that applies.

Conditions cleared first

Pre-commencement conditions, legal agreements and utility connections are dealt with before work begins, so the build starts on a sound footing.

Built to the right regulations

Each home is built to the building regulations or building standards of its nation, with inspections at key stages of the build.

Respect for neighbours

Site traffic, working hours, noise and dust are managed under a construction management plan where the council requires one, and neighbours know who to contact.

Rules that apply in County Antrim

Selling land near County Antrim follows a familiar pattern in Northern Ireland: heads of terms, then an exchange of contracts signed by both sides, which makes the sale binding, and completion. The buyer pays Stamp Duty Land Tax, as in England, and the title is registered with Land Registry, part of Land & Property Services, although older titles may first need moving from the Registry of Deeds. Infrastructure and affordable housing are usually secured through a Section 76 planning agreement.

In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations are made by the Department of Finance and enforced by council building control. New roads are usually built to Department for Infrastructure standards for adoption, and sewers to NI Water's requirements. Planning conditions set by the council or the Department for Infrastructure must be discharged before the relevant work starts.

Key rules in County Antrim
National planning policy	Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy
Local planning document	Local Development Plan (LDP), made up of a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan
Who decides applications	The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications
In-principle consent	Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)	Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registration	Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds)
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)

New Home Construction in County Antrim: questions

Does Land to Homes build the homes itself?

Land to Homes manages planning, design and construction on the sites it brings forward, and is part of the S&K Group, a construction and property group. Construction is carried out with contractors and suppliers under our management. Because we plan land with building in mind, the schemes we take to planning are designed to be delivered.

What is a new-build warranty?

A new-build warranty is an insurance-backed policy that covers certain defects in a newly built home for a set period after completion. In the early part of the cover the builder is usually responsible for putting defects right, with the warranty provider covering major structural problems later on. Most mortgage lenders require a recognised warranty or a professional consultant's certificate.

Can you build out a site that already has planning permission?

Yes, where the scheme suits us. We can buy a site with planning permission directly, subject to survey, title and contract, or discuss a joint venture where the landowner keeps an interest. We review the permission, its conditions and any legal agreement first, because they affect what can be built and when.

Do new homes have to be energy efficient?

Yes. Each nation's building regulations or building standards set energy efficiency requirements for new homes, and these have been tightened over recent years. In Scotland, new homes generally need zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps. England and Wales are moving to higher standards through updates to their own regulations.

Do you take on planning and building work in County Antrim?

Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership across County Antrim, including Newtownabbey, Larne and Carrickfergus. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.