Project
A 12.95-acre greenbelt site on Harpenden Road, St Albans, had outline planning permission for up to 150 new homes, but realising its full value in a subdued market required specialist expertise, careful positioning, and the right buyer.
BTG Eddisons was instructed by the Sewell Trust to manage the disposal of the site. Our land, planning, and development team had been involved from the early stages of the site's progression, working to ensure the client's objectives were met throughout.
Approach
We brought the site to market with a comprehensive technical information pack, designed to give prospective purchasers everything they needed to bid with confidence. The quality of that preparation showed in the response. We received competitive bids from more than 15 prospective purchasers, an exceptional level of interest at a time when rising borrowing costs and inflation had significantly slowed residential land transactions nationally.
St Albans proved a clear exception to the general market trend. The city's acute housing shortage, with a five-year land supply assessed at just 1.93 years as of March 2023, combined with the site's excellent location and proximity to local amenities, made it one of the most sought-after residential land opportunities in the region.
National housebuilder Cala Homes was selected as the preferred purchaser. Their bid was well prepared, their terms were strong, and they were straightforward to deal with through both pre- and post-contract negotiations. The site was sold for an undisclosed sum.
Results
The Sewell Trust achieved an outstanding result on the disposal of a landmark site, with competitive tension from over 15 bidders driving a strong outcome. Cala Homes will now deliver up to 150 new homes on a site that had previously been subject to a legal challenge to its planning permission, which was successfully defeated in 2022.
The deal demonstrates the value of early involvement, thorough preparation, and deep local market knowledge in achieving the best possible result for landowners – even when wider market conditions are working against them.
"St Albans proved to be the exception to the general trend — we received unprecedented levels of interest and competitive bids from more than 15 prospective purchasers. The offers we received were of a very high standard, which is testament to the standout quality of the site and the technical information we provided. We were very pleased to deliver an outstanding result for our client at a challenging time in the market."
Why choose BTG Eddisons for residential land sales?
Our land, planning, and development team has the expertise and network to deliver the right result for your specific requirements. When you work with us, you benefit from:
- Over 180 years of industry experience in commercial and residential property advisory
- An extensive network of national and regional housebuilders and developers
- Deep local market knowledge across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond, backed by national coverage across 35 offices
- RICS-certified specialists working to the highest professional standards
- A proven track record of completing deals, with glowing client reviews to back up our dedication to high quality work
Get expert land, planning, and development support now
If you are looking to sell development land or need advice on planning and promotion, our specialists are here to help. Simply email [email protected], call 0800 051 2593, or complete the form below to arrange a no-obligation consultation.
