New Home Construction in St Albans
Land to Homes is part of the S&K Group, a construction and property group, so building homes in St Albans is part of how we plan land from the start. We design schemes that can be built economically, manage the build with contractors and suppliers, and deliver homes for sale, for rent and for councils and housing associations.
St Albans · AL1Free site appraisal
Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- 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
Sites we take on near St Albans
St Albans (AL1) is one of the Hertfordshire towns we cover, about 7 miles north of Watford. Harpenden is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 5 miles, followed by Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead. St Albans is in the East of England region of England.
Projects we can take on around St Albans include in-principle consents that still need detailed approval, land with an expired or ageing consent and land where self-build plots could suit the market. Because St Albans is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
If you have a site near St Albans that is stuck, a short call is the best place to start.
What you get in St Albans
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.
From land to keys
The people who buy or promote the land also plan the build, so the scheme that wins planning is one that can be delivered on site.
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.
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.
Planning and land rules in St Albans
If your land near St Albans lies in the Green Belt, national policy still protects it, but England's planning framework now recognises grey belt: Green Belt land that is previously developed or does not strongly contribute to certain Green Belt purposes. Where there is evidenced unmet need and the location is sustainable, grey belt housing can be acceptable, with major schemes meeting the Golden Rules on affordable housing, infrastructure and green space. Planning is never guaranteed, so we check policy, access and constraints first.
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.
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
|---|---|
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| 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 St Albans
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.
What happens to the roads and sewers on a new development?
On many developments the new roads are built to the highway authority's standards and then adopted, so the council maintains them. Sewers can similarly be adopted by the water company. Where roads or open spaces are not adopted, they are usually looked after by a management company funded by residents, and buyers should check this before reserving.
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 pre-commencement conditions?
They are planning conditions that must be satisfied before any work starts on site, such as approving drainage details, materials or a construction management plan. Starting work without discharging them can put the permission at risk. We deal with them before work begins, together with any planning obligations that apply to the site.
Can you manage a site in St Albans from planning to build?
On land we take forward ourselves in St Albans and elsewhere in Hertfordshire, including Cheshunt, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, we manage planning, design and construction. Tell us about the site and we will explain how we would approach it.
Read more: New Home Construction · Guide: Buying a new-build home: what to expect from reservation to keys