Partner Article

28 homes coming to Wiltshire town after deal more than three decades in the making secured

A land sale more than three decades in the making has been secured for a site in Wiltshire by a leading property consultancy.

Fisher German has completed the sale of the land, off Chilvester Hill in Calne, to developer Bewley Homes which is set to build 28 homes on the site.

The consultancy has advised the landowner Shane O’Neill for more than 35 years, with Fisher German Partner Robin Eyles being directly involved for 26 years.

Over that time, Fisher German has helped Shane improve the site’s suitability for development, achieve planning permission, and finally secure the sale of the land.

During the last 30 years, Fisher German has provided advice on maximising the likelihood of securing planning permission for the site – thus increasing land value significantly – as well as recommending Shane undertake strategic landscape planting to improve its suitability for new homes.

After a number of years of self-promotion, Rainier Developments & Strategic Land (RDSL) was appointed as land promoter on the advice of Fisher German Partner Luke Brafield, and in 2020 RDSL applied for planning permission for 32 homes to be built.

This was initially refused by the local authority, but RDSL’s subsequent appeal meant permission was granted for 28 homes the following year.

With planning permission secured, Fisher German’s development agency team worked with RDSL to market and sell the land. Bewley Homes agreed to purchase the site, and the deal was completed in mid-May.

Shane said: “Fisher German’s service over such a long period of time has been invaluable in terms of the advice and also achieving the best possible outcome.

“Its teams in various departments have pointed me in the right direction every step of the way, from advising me on landscape planting years in advance, right through to bringing RDSL on board to help secure planning permission and market the land. “It’s a wonderful feeling to see 35 years of preparation finally come off – it has been a real team effort.”

Matthew Handford, Senior Development Surveyor at Fisher German who led the sale to Bewley Homes, added: “Although we have only just completed the sale, it really has been a joint effort over many years and demonstrates just how important it is to have a property consultancy with expertise across rural matters, planning, development, and sales, to get a deal like this over the line.

“Our advice from various Fisher German departments over the years and our close work with RDSL meant we were able to secure that all-important planning permission and maximise the site’s value, attracting a number of bids from interested housebuilders.”

Josh Sinnett, Managing Director of Rainier Developments & Strategic Land, said: “It has been a really good partnership between all the parties involved and it is great to deliver such a positive result for all concerned. Our relationship with Fisher German does not stretch back three decades, but hopefully this will be the first of many projects of this type we collaborate on.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .