Success in property development relies on many factors; first, you must find and acquire a good site, including a financial package that is commercially viable. Then you must design and build a product your customers want to buy. Finally, you have to sell it. Sounds simple, right? It is far from it.

Property development is a tough business. Risky and expensive when it goes wrong, but enormously profitable when it goes right. You must manage your risk exposure at every stage. One of the most significant risk factors in development is achieving permission from the local authority to build a commercially viable product.

This article outlines some of the strategies we use to manage the risk involved in gaining planning consent for our schemes at Silverleaf Group and for our clients at Granit.  

Step 1: Research the land
When evaluating a new site, ensure you consider why the land has not been developed already. There may be several reasons why another developer hasn't brought forward the land, or it might be that you have spotted a genuinely overlooked opportunity.

In thoroughly researching the land or site, you may uncover hidden reasons that could impede your progress through the planning system. For example, there may be below-ground services, easements, or ground conditions that are not immediately obvious.

Consider that there may also be previously unsuccessful planning applications for the site you are looking at, which the vendor is unlikely to advertise. Always check on the planning portal to build your understanding of the site's potential.

There may also be legal reasons why you cannot develop the land, such as restrictive covenants. It is vital to engage a lawyer early on to check the title documents to ensure you have the necessary rights to develop the site as intended.