Westbury PLC
We are often asked why we build where we do and why certain decisions are made. A considerable amount of activity takes place before we even acquire the land. We hope the following questions answer your queries, but if not, why not email us and we’ll add it to the list. (Please click on one of the questions below to reveal the answer).
Planning change: The government changed planning policy in March 2000 with the publication of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3). PPG3 sets out the rules for local planning authorities and developers for new residential development. This has now altered the way developers build new homes.
Why are areas of public open space and green land constantly being developed as it appears to be ruining the countryside?
The government is now seeking to ensure that the bulk of new housing takes place on brownfield land in urban areas, a policy with which Westbury complies. It is also seeking to ensure that a sequential approach to new development is adopted i.e. that brownfield sites are developed before greenfield sites. The government target is 60% of new housing on brownfield sites, a target which Westbury has achieved.
Do members of the local community have any say in what happens with new developments as it inevitably affects their current homes?
The government requires local planning authorities to involve the local community in the preparation of local plans which propose new developments. Local planning authorities are also required to involve the local community before making decisions on planning applications which propose new developments.
What is the process between the developer’s signs going up to say the land has been acquired and building work commencing?
The planning process requires all details of the development to be approved by local planning authorities, for example, designs, materials and landscaping. The need for these approvals is often the reason for what could be a lengthy period between the site being bought and building starting.
How are decisions made about which types of houses should be built on a plot of land?
Housing developers work closely with local planning authorities to agree an appropriate mix of house types which meet the requirements of the local community, but are consistent with the character of the wider area.
Why are so many houses built in such a small area? Isn’t this just builders trying to maximise profit?
In order to reduce the land required for new housing, the Government is trying to increase the density of a new development to a range of between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare as set out in PPG3. A hectare is 2.471 acres. This means a range of between 12 and 20 dwellings to the acre. To build at these densities means that there is more emphasis on terraced dwellings and less emphasis on detached dwellings.
Why do new homes never seem to have enough parking spaces for the number of cars residents have?
The Government is seeking to reduce the level of car use on new housing developments. Planning regulations (PPG3) set out a maximum average of 1.5 off-street parking spaces per dwelling. This means that some dwellings will have less than this average e.g. one space, whilst some dwellings will have above the average e.g. two or three spaces.
Why is it that in many new housing schemes the garages are positioned some distance from the related houses?
The need to increase housing densities has also resulted in less emphasis on garages and more emphasis on allocated spaces which can be in courtyards. If garages are provided then they are built behind the houses in order to keep cars on view to a minimum. The garages can therefore be built slightly away from the houses in order to provide a more attractive streetscene.
New homes appear to be overlooked on all sides these days. What happened to all the space that surrounded new homes a few years ago?
New planning regulations have enforced the building of more terraced houses and less emphasis on detached dwellings in order to increase densities because of the shortage of housing and land. This explains why more houses are being built closer to each other on new developments.
Why are there so many three storey homes on new developments? Isn’t this builders being greedy and trying to make more money from smaller plots of land?
The change in densities has also led to a change in scale with more 2.5 and 3 storey development to provide additional floorspace for householders.
Why can’t I choose what the outside of my new home looks like by selecting my chosen materials?
The external finish of new homes has to be agreed with the local planning authority and is carefully selected to fit in with the natural environment and current surroundings of the area. Homes are designed to complement each other and to provide an interesting and pleasant streetscene view.
I have noticed with new homes that the gardens are very small and that many don’t have a front garden. Why is this the case?
This is again to do with the Governments PPG3 directive. Building houses at higher densities means that there is more emphasis on terraced dwellings, together with smaller gardens. For a customer’s point of view this could be of significant benefit as there is less maintenance of what is often an under utilised area.