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Planning, design and build · Wales

New Home Construction in Gwent

How are new homes built on land in Gwent?

Once a site in Gwent has planning permission and the pre-commencement conditions are cleared, building can start. We organise the groundworks, utilities and roads first, then build the homes in phases, with building control inspections at key stages. Every home is built to the building regulations or building standards that apply in the nation where the site sits.

Site manager in a safety helmet checking drawings on a housebuilding siteGwent

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Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.

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  • Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
  • Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
  • Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
  • Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
  • UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI

Planning and building around Gwent

Our Gwent coverage takes in 6 towns and cities, centred on Newport and including Risca, Cwmbran and Pontypool. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and West Glamorgan.

Typical work around Gwent: sites that need a fresh planning strategy, schemes that need redesigning to work and fields that need a masterplan before an application. In Wales, where Gwent sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the county or county borough council (or a national park authority).

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

Our approach in Gwent

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.

Warranty considered early

Most mortgage lenders expect a new home to carry a recognised structural warranty, so warranty provider requirements are considered from the design stage.

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.

Energy-efficient homes

Homes are designed to meet current energy standards in each nation, which increasingly means low-carbon heating, high insulation and good airtightness.

How the rules work in Gwent

Selling land in Gwent follows the same legal steps as in England: heads of terms, then exchange of contracts, which makes the deal binding, and completion. Titles are registered with HM Land Registry, but the buyer pays Land Transaction Tax to the Welsh Revenue Authority rather than Stamp Duty Land Tax. Planning obligations are usually secured through a Section 106 agreement, with the Community Infrastructure Levy charged only where the council has adopted it.

In Wales, the Building Regulations are set by the Welsh Government and differ from England's, including on energy efficiency. Sustainable drainage must be approved by the SuDS approving body before construction starts on most sites, and affordable homes funded by Welsh Government grant are usually built to the Welsh Development Quality Requirements.

Key rules in Gwent
National planning policyPlanning Policy Wales (Edition 12) and Future Wales: the National Plan 2040, supported by Technical Advice Notes
Local planning documentLocal Development Plan (LDP)
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the county or county borough council (or a national park authority)
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Land Transaction Tax (LTT)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingAs in England, a land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title registered at HM Land Registry.
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council has adopted it

New Home Construction in Gwent: questions

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.

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.

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.

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 Gwent?

Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership across Gwent, including Pontypool, Newport and Ebbw Vale. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.

Read more: New Home Construction · Guide: Buying a new-build home: what to expect from reservation to keys

New Home Construction in neighbouring areas

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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