A multi-million pound land sale in Chesterfield has provided a huge funding boost for a small local charity and will bring hundreds of new homes to the area.
Property consultancy Fisher German has sold a site in Staveley, Chesterfield with planning permission for 400 dwellings to Barratt David Wilson Homes.
Fisher German acted on behalf of a private landowner, which owned the majority of the site, as well as the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton Educational Trust, which was gifted a portion of the land in the 1950s.
The charity offers small grants to residents of the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton area who are undertaking further education, and the funding boost will ensure it can continue its positive work.
Fisher German was appointed by the landowners, and the firm then appointed Hollins Strategic Land as promoter.
Hollins Strategic Land secured the 55-acre site’s allocation for housing in the Chesterfield Borough Local Plan and outline planning permission for 400 dwellings on the site in 2020, just two years after their appointment.
Fisher German then marketed the site, receiving a strong level of interest from housebuilders, and the sale has now completed to Barratt David Wilson Homes.
Barratt David Wilson Homes is now progressing a reserved matters planning application – finalising the layout and features of the development as well as the exact number of houses – and is expecting to start work on the site in March 2022, with the first show home expected to be open in March 2023.
A spokesperson for the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton Educational Foundation said: “We are a small charity of six volunteers which supports people over the age of 18 from the Parish who are going on to further education with small grants for books and other educational supplies.
“We are very pleased to have worked with Fisher German and Hollins Strategic Land on the sale of the site. It will provide a considerable financial uplift for the Foundation, and although we don’t have any specific plans for the funds as yet, it will ensure the aims of the charity can continue into the future.”
Amy Bowden, of Fisher German, said: “We are pleased to have completed a deal with Barratt David Wilson Homes.
“We received a good level of interest in the site which reflects the positive market conditions for development land at the current time, underpinned by strong sale rates and house price growth.
“The sale of the site will bring much-needed new homes to the area and has provided the charity with a huge funding boost which will support the trustees to continue their excellent work going forward.”
Christian Orr, land & planning director of Hollins Strategic Land, said: “Having an in-house planning and commercially-minded team means we were able to drive the strategy forward, not only by gaining planning permission, but structuring the deal to meet the objectives of both Barratt David Wilson Homes and the landowners.
“With a bespoke team of professionals, we created a landscape-led masterplan in a sustainable location with views of the Derbyshire countryside which, after proactive engagement with the council, we were able to secure a planning consent in advance of the local plan being adopted, and subsequently complete on the sale of the site more quickly.
“It’s a fantastic bonus that the sale provides significant income to the charity to put back into the community over many years to come.”
Mark Cotes, Managing Director at Barratt David Wilson Homes North Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to deliver high-quality properties to Derbyshire homebuyers and invest in this growing community in Chesterfield.
“Exciting plans are in place for the development and we’re looking forward to seeing this community progress. It’s also fantastic to hear that the deal with Fisher German has greatly supported the Sutton-cum-Duckmanton Educational Trust which carries out vital work in the local area.”
