One of the key elements of the Chancellor’s Spring statement at the beginning of the year included the controversial expansion to Permitted Development Rights. This change will come into effect on 25^th May and be exceptionally beneficial for developers.

Permitted Development Rights allow alterations to be made to certain types of buildings without the need for further planning permission. Over the course of the years, several changes have occurred. In May 2013 changes came into force to allow residential home extensions under permitted development. This temporary permitted development right is in place until May 2019. In 2015, click and collect services by shops was permitted and in 2016, taller mobile masts were allowed in order to boost mobile connectivity.

Come May 2019, Parliament has now expanded permitted development rights to include the right to turn takeaways into residential units, and the right to turn shops into offices. These changes were introduced as part of the Town & Country Planning (Permitted Development, Advertisements and Compensation Amendments) (England) Regulations 2019.

In some situations, you are still required to notify the relevant local authority of the intention to implement under PDR and this known as the Prior Approval process. Examples of where Prior Approval is required include residential extensions, changes of use from retail to eateries and retail to dwelling houses; where issues such as noise, traffic, contamination and neighbour objection may all be of significance.

By Iram Munawar, Senior Surveyor at BLG

Part of my role here at BLG is to ensure that all the necessary reports including ecological are conducted on a site. As today is #nationalbatday in the US, I was reminded of the recent fine to a developer that didn’t appropriately consider the ecological impact of his works and take the necessary steps for mitigation.

Every development has its challenges and with appropriate pre-emptive reporting, we can work with developers to plan for the costs involved of any mitigation/remediation. Cutting corners does not pay in the long run.

We’re here to help you build: 0845 465 6500

Blog by Lexie Phillips – a member of BLG’s Credit Team and supporter of doing things the right way to help property developers achieve their goals. April 2019

Let’s talk about Birmingham…
Now, I know that conversations rarely start well with when someone says ‘lets talk’ but rather like today’s subject, I want to move away from the archetype.

Birmingham once from a stigma of undesirability: dirty, industrial, physically scarred by WW2, the infamous pasta styled road junction and in more recent years, thanks to one academic paper, known for having a regional accent that saw locals perceived as more intelligent when they didn’t speak! I think it is fair to say that Brummies, like my grandfather, took this all rather phlegmatically and stoically strode on with an innate conviction of their own worth.

And it seems that they are having the last laugh, with Birmingham now ranked in the top 50 cities worldwide for its quality of living (Mercer: Quality of Living Rankings)

On a practical level, the ever continuing need for houses within the UK, and the desire to reclaim brownfield sites, has spurred on a number of urban regeneration plans.  Being no exception, Birmingham City Council has published the ‘Big City Plan’ an ambitious 20-year visionary framework that seeks to embrace this change. Regardless of my familial bias, working in development finance for BLG, I can say that Birmingham really does have a lot to offer by way of infrastructure and is looking to improve further with extension of the HS2 and existing tram networks. The iconic Bullring provides a plethora of shopping options, but you are by no means limited to this area. On my personal to-do list (and this is unabashedly shoe focussed) is an appointment at the Rachel Simpson showroom, which slightly further afield. Overall, Birmingham overs the same amenities and distractions that you would expect of any major city.

When pondering this blog, my grandfather’s saying ‘not an architectural gem but functional’ sprang to mind. He had a habit of saying this, along with ‘better to be underestimated’. I can’t help but feel that even as he moved south for my grandmother and lost his accent, he still channelled those Brummie roots. I also think he might have used that first phrase about my grandmother when he wanted to be provoking!

Blog by Alexandra Phillips, Credit Operations Manager for BLG. March 2019

Safeguarding our environment is a major concern for millions of people around the globe; in fact, many people are trying to do their bit for the planet, however big or small it may be.

From 2040, the UK government has said the sale of all petrol and diesel fuelled cars will be banned – with strong calls for that date to be brought forward by a decade. But the UK has already made great strides forward in becoming a more energy-efficient place to live with a crackdown on heavy pollution vehicles, charging shoppers for single-use carrier bags and phasing out incandescent light bulbs in favour of energy-saving ones.

There are now plans to reward people who return their plastic bottles in a bid to tackle the alarming amount of plastic that is clogging up our oceans.

Professional property developers and self-homebuilders are also doing their bit for the environment with more looking at incorporating new technology into their designs to lower energy consumption and costs. From installing extra thick loft insulation or triple glazing to reduce heat loss or taking advantages of a south facing roof by using solar panels, there are numerous ways of benefiting from an energy-efficient property through effective property development finance.

Given the continuing housing shortage in the UK, there will always be a large demand for modern-day properties with rising awareness of the benefits of eco-homes. When property developers truly plan for the future, building with environmentally friendly materials, making sure their buildings are energy efficient and reducing consumers’ energy costs in the long run – everyone reaps the rewards.

Although the “Zero carbon policy” was scrapped by the Government in 2017, the bigger picture is that many housebuilders have adopted the eco-home ethos with the aim of being carbon neutral.  Recently, London joined 18 international cities, committing that, by 2030, all new buildings will be rated net zero carbon.

Developing environmentally friendly housing is greatly assisted by huge advances in technology which can ultimately make a property self-sufficient. Today homes are being built that can harvest rainwater, filter and recycle waste water, clean and pump used air (extracting and recycling heat as they do so), and utilise anti-heat loss window glazing. There are also intelligent systems for smart lighting and heating, monitors and meters that provide the homeowner more control of the resources they need, when they need them, ultimately minimising wastage.

Some systems have been designed to create energy, not only to power the individual property but also to sell any excess back to the power firms.

If you are looking for a professional development finance lender, BLG Development Finance (Business Lending Group) can help you finance your eco-friendly development sites and projects. With a range of funding available for residential developments, give us a call today on 0845 465 6500 and let us help you turn your housing development dreams into reality.