New Home Construction in Cardiff
Once a site in Cardiff 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.
Cardiff · CF5Free 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 Cardiff
Our South Glamorgan coverage is centred on Cardiff, postcode district CF5, and reaches 2 other places. The nearest other places we cover are Penarth (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles) and Barry (7 miles).
Typical work around Cardiff: land with an expired or ageing consent, in-principle consents that still need detailed approval and sites where the layout needs to change. In Wales, where Cardiff sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the county or county borough council (or a national park authority).
Send us the site address near Cardiff and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.
How we work in Cardiff
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.
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.
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.
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.
Planning in Cardiff: the Welsh rules
Selling land in Cardiff 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.
| National planning policy | Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12) and Future Wales: the National Plan 2040, supported by Technical Advice Notes |
|---|---|
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the county or county borough council (or a national park authority) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | As in England, a land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title registered at HM Land Registry. |
New Home Construction in Cardiff: questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can you manage a site in Cardiff from planning to build?
On land we take forward ourselves in Cardiff and elsewhere in South Glamorgan, including Penarth and Barry, 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