Strategic land and site promotion

“Chelgate gives a real insight into political thinking at all levels and all political persuasions, and invaluable support on explaining often difficult concepts to experts and laypeople alike.” Neil Osborn, Senior Professional Director, DLP Planning

We work with strategic land developers, housebuilders, promoters and landowners to promote sites for development through the local plan process. We work closely with the consultant team to advise on the strategic approach to a project, the tactics to be used and communications and engagement to be implemented. Our bespoke programmes emphasise working with politicians and local communities to create plans which maximise community benefit and minimise local impacts.

We are experienced in collaborative/community planning and neighbourhood planning. We facilitate workshops and consultation to support masterplan development, working with local communities to define and refine how a new site will integrate into the existing area.

Some current and recent projects include:

Billericay, Basildon, Essex

Chelgate Local has been helping promote this greenbelt site for 580 homes west of Billericay for Redrow Eastern for almost a decade. We have been building and maintaining relationships with politicians, residents, stakeholders and residents’ groups, through several iterations of the local plan, including five changes of council administration in as many years. The site was allocated in the local plan which was withdrawn by the council in 2022. An application was submitted in 2019, which was revised in 2023 and will come to committee in 2025.

Harpenden, St Albans, Hertfordshire

The Crest Nicholson site north east of Harpenden has been allocated in the St Albans local plan submitted in December 2024. The allocation is for 900 homes, with the Crest site around 490 homes plus a primary school, local centre and sports facilities. Chelgate Local has assisted with political and community engagement including events and workshops, liasing with local groups to ensure their voices have been heard. Depending upon the local plan, a planning application is likely to be submitted during 2025.

High Halstow, Medway, Kent 

We have been assisting Redrow South East in High Halstow for over a decade. Having initially successfully assisted with a 65-home site in the village, we had the relationships to assist with this larger 750-home project. The site is included within the emerging local plan, together with a school and local centre.  A hybrid application was submitted in 2023 and likely to come to committee during 2025.

Northfield, South Oxfordshire

Chelgate supported Catesby (formerly L&Q Estates) and Brasenose College of Oxford University in the proposals for this development of around 2,000 new homes with a new primary school, local centre and open green spaces. Located on green belt on the edge of Oxford city, the development was not originally included in South Oxfordshire’s draft local plan despite its locational advantages and deliverability. Following Chelgate’s political and community engagement for the scheme the site was included. The partners, which includes Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, are working towards a master plan, which is expected to be completed in 2025, and then planning applications submitted to develop the site. The promotion has included a successful stakeholder forum which has helped with finalising proposals and ensuring all parts of the community have been properly engaged.

Rochford Park, Essex

Rochford Park, a 130-hectare site located north of Rochford, will offer 2,000 climate-positive homes with significant energy savings for residents. This development aims to set a benchmark for how housing can actively contribute to mitigating climate change. The project will utilise the innovative BIOHAUS® building system, which incorporates sustainable and locally sourced hemp alongside timber as the primary building material. The project will be a low-density “forest living” development designed to offer a wide range of benefits, including community, education, health, sports, and leisure facilities, along with the planting of 100,000 trees. This project will feature significant infrastructure and amenities accessible to both new residents and the wider community, fostering a well-integrated community that harmonises with the existing environment. The development will be community-focused, with ongoing stewardship managed by a community trust. The existing community is actively involved from the outset, contributing to the plans and proposals through a stakeholder forum and extensive local engagement.

Rayleigh, Rochford, Essex

We are assisting Crest Nicholson promote a site for 500 homes into the Rochford local plan review. The site includes significant new facilities for the local youth football club and other local groups, homes for older people and a local centre. The Rochford local plan is expected to be submitted by July 2026.

Little Paxton, Huntingdonshire

This 400-home site next to the Great North Road is being promoted through the Huntingdonshire Local Plan. Engagement is at an early stage but the community will have an active role in formulating the proposals for this site via a local stakeholder forum and via the parish council.

Brentwood, Essex

Chegate has been assisting Tesco promote its Hopefield site for 450+ new homes into the Brentwood local plan review. The proposals include complete new facilities for the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary and a school drop-off facility for the UK’s busiest school Road, Sawyer Hall lane. The local plan review gets under way during 2023.

Shapley Heath Garden Community, Hampshire

Chelgate assisted Hart District Council in the initial stages of the conception of a new garden community in Hampshire. Shapley Heath Garden Community would consist of 5,000 new homes plus associated infrastructure. Work included an extensive place survey and establishing a stakeholder forum to guide the concept and master planning.

Wisley Airfield, Guildford, Surrey

With Guildford house prices running at more than 14 times average incomes, Wisley Airfield provides an obvious opportunity for development. Under the proposals, the derelict airfield would be transformed into a new community of 2,000+ homes, sports, social and health facilities and parkland.

Fairoaks Garden Community, Surrey

Chelgate assisted in strategy development and the promotion of this existing airfield in Surrey through the local plan. Initial plans were for 2,500 new homes, employment and associated infrastructure.

Birchall Garden Suburb, Hertfordshire

A proposed garden suburb to provide for the housing and social needs of the local community. The site neatly straddles East Herts and Welwyn Hatfield councils, providing a total of more than 2,556 homes, three schools, shops and other facilities. Whilst it is in the green belt it has been allocated in both emerging local plans. East Herts DC local plan was adopted in 2018 whereas the Welwyn Hatfield local plan was adopted in 2023.

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) 

Chelgate assisted WNDC in managing relationships across Northampton, Towcester and Daventry. Our role was to engage with partners, potential investors and developers. This included strategy development and crisis management, developers’ forums, newsletters and other briefings, councillor events, media launches, media relations (local, trade and national), corporate entertainment and public affairs. The assignment involved a secondment to the WNDC offices in Northampton.

“Sometimes it is difficult to see the value of political and community engagement being carried out by a specialist consultancy, however with Chelgate that value is clear, measurable and has proved vital to gaining consent.” David Banfield, Planning Director, Redrow Homes South East