From construction site to community: the 5 stages in any new development

From finding a plot of land to build on, to getting your plans approved by the local authority, when it comes to creating a new housing development in Britain a lot goes into taking a project from blueprint to building.

As a leading groundworks supplier to the UK's largest residential developers we're familiar with what it takes to transform undeveloped land into a thriving new community. The scope of groundworks services we provide to our clients is an integral part of this process. Which is why Mackoy is engaged to work on so many large-scale house building projects taking place in and around the South of England at any one time.

In fact, once permission to build has been granted, groundworks contractors like ourselves are typically the first to set foot on site. Getting the land primed for excavation and installing the essential infrastructure needed to service each home on our clients' new developments. But before those first foundations can be built there's a lengthy planning process that needs to take place. Involving architects, civil engineers, local authority stakeholders, and even contaminated land tests.

Well no one said building a new development is easy.

Stage 1 - Identifying land & drawing up your plans

Whether you're planning an inner city regeneration project or building on the outskirts of an existing town, the first thing you need is a location for your development to be built. Not all land in Britain is suitable for development so part of this process involves site investigations to determine if the land has any issues with flooding or historic land contamination that could make the site unsuitable for residential use.

Once you've settled on your plot and acquired it, the next step involves drawing up what you plan to build. This is where an architect becomes involved in the process. He or she will take responsibility of mapping out the footprint of the site and creating the blueprints for each individual home on the scheme. These plans will need to adhere to any development guidelines or restrictions imposed by the local council, whose permission you'll need to secure before any building works can begin.

Stage 2 - Engaging a civil engineer and contractors

Once you've received local authority planning permission for your development the next step is to bring in a civil engineer. They'll review the plans your architect has drawn up and essentially do the maths to work out the specifications each building needs to be built to, including which materials can be used in its construction. This step is integral because the finished plans a civil engineer provides include detailed instructions that specify precisely what's required to make each structure mechanically sound and safe. In fact it's these plans that will be used day-to-day on site by the contractors completing the construction work.

Once your plans are finalised you can then begin a tender process of contracting out the different elements of your build to specialised professionals. Each company invited to tender will submit a proposal outlining how they plan to complete the works, which will include a total cost estimate for their labour and any materials or plant required. Together with their relevant experience and credentials, to make a strong case for being granted the contract. It's then a question of who you appoint and formalising the arrangement with a contract.

Stage 3 - Earthworks & groundworks

One of the first things that needs to happen on any new development is for the land to be 'made good' for building works to start. This is known as earthworks and it requires excavating the site to the required levels, removing any topsoil layers, and muckaway of the excavated materials. All key services we provide as part of our groundworks contracts at Mackoy.

Once the earthworks are complete, groundworkers then move in to start creating the foundations for each new home and road on site, together with the other essential infrastructure that needs to sit beneath ground level. This includes laying the pipes that will transport foul water drainage to treatment plants for processing, as well as creating the trenches for utilities companies to come in and connect live services. Once this infrastructure is in place foundations can then be in-filled with concrete oversites and the substructure brickwork laid, ready for beam & block flooring to be fitted.

Stage 4 - Construction & marketing

Depending on the size of the development construction typically takes around a year for a full phase to complete. So once our groundworkers have installed the infrastructure required to service each new residential unit they'll next turn their attentions to the landscaping and surfacing requirements on site. While bricklayers, builders, roofers, plasterers, electricians and plumbers come in to complete their respective works to finish off each new home to specification.

At the same time the developer will begin marketing the properties to prospective buyers too. Securing early reservations for each plot so that shortly after development completes each new homeowner can move in. Our groundworkers will simultaneously undertake the soft and hard landscaping to finish off external areas for communal green spaces. While also helping to construct car parks, block-pave driveways, and add the finishing asphalt surfacing to any new roads we've constructed on site.

Stage 5 - Completions & occupancy

Completions are the final stage to take place in the development process and rather than happen in one go they're generally spread out over stages. The completion process involves cross checking to ensure all contractor works have, not only been carried out, but completed to the exact standards and specs stipulated. It involves a series of on site inspections to effectively sign-off the work and ensure no defects exist that need attention. All of which needs to take place before the homes can be signed over to their new owners in time for their agreed completion date.

Once the completions process is finalised the remaining contractors officially leave the site. Shortly after which the first wave of new homeowners can move in and complete the cycle of a development site becoming a new community.

Having a hand in turning our clients' visions for new communities into the real thing is something our operatives do day in, day out, at Mackoy. Some of the past and present projects we've helped deliver across the South include 120 residential units for Persimmon in Portchester, a £1.8 million development with Redrow in Bracknell and a £7 million groundworks contract with Bellway for 125 new homes in Emsworth.

If you'd like to invite us to tender for a project you're planning, or you'd be interested in joining our groundworks gangs on our next residential build, get in touch via our contact page. Alternatively, take a look at our careers page for the latest groundworks jobs our team is looking to fill.

Categories: Services