Strategic land

We have an uncomplicated, commercially driven approach to the delivery of both strategic and immediately developable land, ensuring the value of your land is maximised at the point of obtaining planning permission.

Why Story Homes?

Almost 35 years of experience in the construction industry
First-class reputation for delivering high quality schemes
Dedicated in-house team of chartered planners and project managers

What we can offer you:

A management structure that enables us to structure deals to suit the requirements of each individual landowner. Story Homes will finance all aspects of land promotion and minimise risk to the landowner
A professional approach – we are often the preferred partner for landowners and agents due to our straightforward approach to securing sites and high regard for the design and the external appearance of our developments
Focus on added value – working in partnership with Story Homes, you can be assured that we will seek to add value to the project at every stage, whether this is negotiating the best and most valuable planning permission or finding the most innovative technical and engineering solutions

What are we looking for?

Story Homes is privately owned by our Chairman, Fred Story. This means you can expect fast and flexible decision-making, maximum value, and an honest and straightforward approach.
We are always seeking new sites, land for sale and opportunities, and we welcome approaches from landowners and agents.
We are particularly interested in:

Long-term green field strategic land
Conditional/Unconditional purchase
Joint venture

Where are we looking for land?

We are particularly interested in the following geographical areas, however we are happy to discuss other land options out with these areas:

Cumbria
North West
North East
Southern Scotland
North Yorkshire

Introduction fees will be recognised on sites offered on a one-to-one basis.

Meet our Strategic Land Team

John is the Managing Director for Strategic Land at Story Homes. As MD for the department, he brings a wealth of skills and knowledge to this role, accumulated during his 15 years’ experience working in private housing and land promotion. John oversees the Strategic Land business unit to deliver exciting new land opportunities for Story Homes for the next 5-15 years. He works closely with other senior team members to facilitate a strategy for Story homes’ long-term business plans and ultimately helps to shape the future of Story Homes.

John Winstanley

Andy is Head of Strategic Land and Planning (North West) at Story Homes. He is a Chartered Town Planner with over 30 years’ experience in both public and private sectors, having started his career in Local Government before moving into the housebuilding industry. Andy is responsible for managing the North West strategic land bank, progressing sites through the planning system for delivery to the regional team. He is also focussed on growing the North West portfolio by identifying and securing new strategic land opportunities.

Andy Pepper

John is the Head of Strategic Land and Planning (Cumbria & Scotland) at Story Homes. He has worked in the housebuilding industry for over 15 years and has a breadth of experience in land acquisition and planning promotion. His focus is on identifying and securing strategic land opportunities for the Cumbria and SW Scotland business to meet its business plan requirements, safeguarding its future, and supporting its growth plans. John works closely with the Regional Management Team

John Jackson

David is a Strategic Land Manager based in the North East. He has circa 7 years of experience in the property sector and is a RICS Chartered Surveyor having qualified in spring 2016 whilst working in London; soon after qualifying he moved back to Newcastle upon Tyne working as a Development Agent before joining Story Homes in November 2019. David’s role is to help manage the day to day running of strategic land portfolio as well as to deliver new exciting opportunities for the business.

David Robinson

Tom is the Technical Manager for Strategic Land at Story Homes. He has 15 years’ experience in the construction industry, the past seven of which have been within the private housebuilding sector. Tom works across all three regions of the Story Homes business and advises on all technical matters to support the delivery of strategic assets across the business.

Tom Foster

Hannah is the Strategic Planning Manager for the Strategic Land team at Story Homes. Hannah joined the business in 2017 as a Graduate in the company’s first Graduate Scheme, through which Hannah not only refined her planning knowledge but also worked collaboratively with the other functions within the business. Hannah now works across all three Regions of Story Homes and acts as a lead on all Strategic Planning matters from Local Plan Promotion to Planning Applications. Hannah works closely with Local Planning Authorities and our landowners to ensure all our future schemes are fully supported and deliverable.

Hannah Richins

Our success stories

Strawberry Grange, Cockermouth

We will soon be submitting an aapplication for 214 units at East House Farm in Washington having successfully removed the site from the Greenbelt in the Sunderland Local Plan (Adopted 2020). This was one of only a few greenbelt releases in the Sunderland Local Plan and we believe this was due to the Council acknowledging the quality of the Story Homes product alongside a well thought out promotion strategy.

East House Farm, Washington, Sunderland

Strawberry Grange, Cockermouth

We strategically promoted this site through the Local Plan, gaining planning permission in May 2015. The Application was submitted in June 2014 as the Allerdale Local Plan Part 1 was moving towards adoption in July 2014. Having an application running concurrently with the progress of the emerging Local Plan helped demonstrate deliverability to meet housing requirements.