New Home Construction in Plymouth

Planning and building around Plymouth

Plymouth is the main town we cover in Devon, centred on postcode district PL2. Close by, our coverage also takes in Plymstock, Launceston and Paignton. Plymouth is part of England’s South West region.

Projects we can take on around Plymouth include in-principle consents that still need detailed approval, fields that need a masterplan before an application and sites where the layout needs to change. In England, where Plymouth sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

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

What you get in Plymouth

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.

Mixed tenures on one site

Homes for sale, homes for rent and affordable homes can be built together, designed so that the tenures are hard to tell apart from the street.

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.

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.

Planning in Plymouth: the English rules

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 Plymouth 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, homes are built to the Building Regulations and signed off by council building control or a registered building control approver. Higher-risk residential buildings go through the Building Safety Regulator. Energy standards are being raised through the Future Homes Standard, and most developments must also deliver the biodiversity net gain agreed at planning.

Key rules in Plymouth
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)
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)	Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registration	HM Land Registry

Your questions answered for Plymouth

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.

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 are building regulations?

Building regulations set minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings, including structure, fire safety, energy efficiency, drainage and accessibility. England, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own regulations, approved through building control. Scotland has building standards, and work needs a building warrant from the council before it starts and a completion certificate at the end.

How are neighbours affected during construction?

Building work brings deliveries, noise and some disruption. Councils often require a construction management plan setting out working hours, delivery routes, parking and controls on dust and noise. We follow those requirements, keep the site tidy and secure, and make sure neighbours know who to contact if something goes wrong.

Do you take on planning and building work in Plymouth?

Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership in Plymouth and elsewhere in Devon, including Bideford, Newton Abbot and Plymstock. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.