New Home Construction in Gravesend
Once a site in Gravesend 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.
Gravesend · DA12Free site appraisal
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
Sites we take on near Gravesend
We cover Gravesend as part of Kent. It is about 14 miles north-west of Maidstone, around postcode district DA12. The nearest other places we cover are Grays (3 miles), Strood (6 miles) and South Ockendon (6 miles). Gravesend is part of England’s South East region.
Projects we can take on around Gravesend include schemes that need redesigning to work, sites that need a fresh planning strategy and land with an expired or ageing consent. Because Gravesend is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us about the site near Gravesend and we will explain how we would take it forward.
Our approach in Gravesend
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rules that apply in Gravesend
In England, most planning applications for new homes in Gravesend are decided by the local planning authority, usually the council, using its Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Many landowners sell without planning, either outright or through an option or promotion agreement that funds the application first. Land to Homes offers a free site appraisal, pays your reasonable legal fees on option and promotion agreements, and can buy suitable sites directly, subject to survey, title and contract.
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.
| 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) |
| 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 |
Questions about New Home Construction in Gravesend
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 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.
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 Gravesend?
Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership in Gravesend and elsewhere in Kent, including Rochester, Ashford (Kent) and Maidstone. 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