The new build sector responded to the call from tmgroup who wish to find a collaborative new dawn in the new build sector.
It was refreshing to witness the sector’s stakeholders committed to discussing how vital cogs in the new build process could be oiled in order to transform the sector in the future.
The day kicked off with a fascinating presentation by Punit Tejura of HM Land Registry who discussed the issues involving unregistered land in England and Wales.
Currently, 14% of all land in England and Wales languishes unregistered which could pose a number of problems in the new build sector. There was a feeling that, to a certain extent, developers, local authorities (LA) and planning consultants are scrambling around in the dark because of the data restrictions and limited data held in the current online system.
To combat this, the Government are committed to providing comprehensive registration of titles held in England and Wales by 2030 and are looking to register all public land by the end of next year.
HMLR claim that this is extremely important to the new build planning process. Using the current system, local authorities may be unaware of the land parcels they are able to create and sell on to developers. There may be unregistered and available land that could be added to the total amount which could improve the housing developments that are able to be built.
Collating a comprehensive register should make this process easier and help to improve the total homes being built in the future.
Delegates then discussed the time delays, backlogs and inconsistent timescales continuing to frustrate legal service professionals when it comes to registering land; especially if a requisition request for additional information is lodged.
Inconsistencies in making requests to HMLR was an obvious trend. It was clear that there was no uniform process in sending requests to HMLR. Some were adamant that the responsibility lay with the fee earner, other law firms designated a registrar to submit all requests whilst other firms rotated staff specialisms every three months making it difficult to gain an expert understanding of how to submit requests accurately and successfully.
Greater collaboration between HMLR and those submitting requests was viewed as essential in creating more front-end validation which would significantly reduce the amount of requisitions clogging up the system and slowing down the home buying and selling process.
In the second session, Dominic Woodward of Tri-Core Developments, discussed the difficulties in the planning process from pre application, full application and planning appeals all the way through to the validation received from the planning department, allowing a development to finally start.
A clash between the private and public sector processes were seen as hindering the flow of the planning process. A lack of redress, especially in the early planning process, remained a real pain point for developers and along with the perceived monopoly the Local Authorities have on the planning process can add dangerous time and cost implications on a new build development.
Arguments were made for improving regulation, imposing clear Governmental deadlines during the consultation period and for creating a private challenger to improve competition and efficiency in the sector. Developers in attendance were even happy to increase planning fees in order to create an improved service.
The round table moves on to London next where delegates will offer their key insights on 16 July at the Orega Conference Suites on Chancery Lane.
For more information please contact David Opie.
One Response
” It was clear that there was no uniform process in sending requests to HMLR.” [for first registration
The Government should publish league tables of conveyancers records for
1 submitting applications within the currency of a search and
2 the time between completion and submission