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Planning, design and build · England

New Home Construction in Somerset

How are new homes built on land in Somerset?

Once a site in Somerset 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 siteSomerset

Free 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

Our work around Somerset

Our Somerset coverage takes in 10 towns and cities, centred on Bath and including Taunton, Bridgwater and Portishead. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Projects we can take on around Somerset include fields that need a masterplan before an application, sites that need a fresh planning strategy and land with an expired or ageing consent. As Somerset is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Send us the site address near Somerset and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.

How we work in Somerset

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.

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.

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.

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 Somerset

Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around Somerset, the usual routes in England are a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement, where the planning work is funded for you and the land is sold once consent is granted. Outline planning permission settles the principle, with reserved matters approved later. Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged and biodiversity net gain all affect what a site is worth, so independent advice matters.

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 Somerset
National planning policyNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingA 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 contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Questions about New Home Construction in Somerset

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.

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.

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 manage a site in Somerset from planning to build?

On land we take forward ourselves across Somerset, including Bath, Frome and Portishead, 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

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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