Our expert development consultants are here to guide you through every stage of your land journey. From inception, identifying the right development opportunity, to supporting price negotiations, collaboration agreements and marketing the land for sale, we offer tailored advice backed by deep market insight and extensive practical experience. Whether you’re exploring sustainability strategies or need high-level planning appraisals, we’re here to help.
We support our clients with everything from early-stage site searches through to complex land assembly and promotion, option and hybrid agreements - ensuring clear strategies are in place to see the development through to disposal.
Contact us today to learn more about our development consultancy services.
What is development consulting?
Development consulting is all about helping landowners, investors and developers reach the full potential and best value for their land. Whether it’s a single plot or a large site, we're here to offer expert advice on how best to use your land and maximise its potential
If you’re looking to sell, build or promote land for future use, we can make the process smoother, more profitable and better informed from start to finish.
Our development consultancy services
At the heart of our consultancy is a commitment to helping landowners, developers and stakeholders unlock the full potential of their land. Our services include:
Site identification & mapping
Finding the right site is the first step toward a successful development. Using our advanced site search software and deep market knowledge, we help identify opportunities with the greatest potential. Whether advising landowners on development options or supporting developers in their search for the right site, we bring land and opportunity together.
Land assembly
Large-scale developments often require land from multiple owners. We manage this complex process by coordinating negotiations and ensuring all agreements are aligned. By creating structured, fair terms for collaboration, we help avoid disputes and delays down the line, ensuring the project can move forward smoothly.
Collaboration & equalisation agreements
When landowners join together to bring forward a site, we help structure collaboration agreements that define roles, responsibilities and eventual distribution of sale proceeds. Our equalisation strategies ensure that land value and development costs are shared fairly among all parties, promoting trust and efficiency throughout the development journey.
Joint ventures, investment
& finance
In some cases, we support landowners in forming joint ventures with developers, creating opportunities for shared investment and development returns. We also work with investors looking to acquire strategic land, offering guidance on market trends, viability and long-term value to ensure sound investment decisions.
Brownfield land development & regeneration
We specialise in bringing previously developed land back into productive use. From underused industrial sites to derelict urban plots, we help open the possibilities for brownfield land through smart planning, regeneration strategies and stakeholder engagement. Our goal is to deliver value while supporting sustainable urban growth.
Renewable energy
As the demand for clean energy grows, we support landowners looking to use their land for solar farms and other renewable developments. Similar to our approach with strategic land, we focus on securing planning permission and maximising value through development partnerships. It’s a smart way to diversify income while supporting a greener future.
Promotion strategy
Promoting land through the local plan process can be a lengthy process, but one that can bring major rewards. We support this by submitting timely representations to the local authority and carefully monitoring the planning landscape to ensure promotion aligns with emerging policy and land supply demands.
Timing and strategy are key, and we work closely with clients to get both right. It is important to be in a position to be reactive, as if there is the opportunity to submit a shorter term, speculative application it should be taken.
Marketing of strategic land opportunities
We support landowners by appraising and marketing strategic land to secure the right development partner. This involves preparing detailed planning briefs and site plans that highlight development potential, before distributing marketing materials to a curated network of housebuilders, land promoters and developers.
Our focus is not on direct land sales, but on forming long-term development agreements.
Promotion, option & hybrid agreements
We advise on the most suitable development agreements to bring your land forward. The majority of agreements follow the Option or Promotion Agreement structure, whereby the selected partner takes on the entire risk of securing planning on your behalf, covering your costs and paying you an upfront fee for entering the agreement. When planning is obtained, under an Option Agreement we negotiate the purchase price with the promotion partner, and under a Promotion Agreement the land is sold on the open market to the highest bidder. On larger sites, often a Hybrid Agreement is appropriate, which as the name suggests, adopts both a valuation approach as well as a market tested sale.
Planning
We provide high-level planning insight to help landowners and developers understand their site’s value and potential. While we don’t manage full planning applications or appeals, we regularly submit formal representations and offer strategic advice on how to position land for development. Our input helps shape planning direction and supports wider land promotion strategies.
Option negotiations & price determination
When a developer comes to exercise an option on your land, we’re here to make sure the price is fair and accurate. We carefully review valuation notices and, in all cases, challenge the figures and assumptions made to ensure you're receiving the right return. With our insight and market knowledge, landowners can be assured that we are achieving the best possible price for their asset.
Strategic land agreement monitoring
Our role doesn’t end once an agreement is signed. We offer ongoing oversight and support to ensure development partners are meeting their obligations. From coordinating meetings to monitoring planning progress, we act as a liaison between all parties. We charge an annual monitoring fee to reflect our continued involvement and commitment to delivering results over the long term.
Valuation & development appraisal
Our team can provide you with land valuations to support decision-making at every stage of the development process. These appraisals take into account planning consent, construction costs and current market conditions to estimate site value. Whether you're negotiating with a developer or considering a sale, our valuations provide the clarity you need.
Development consultancy done the Newton way
We always take the time to get to know you and your project to fully understand your circumstances. We recognise that every land project is different, so we pride ourselves on being able to offer a bespoke and flexible approach to your exact needs.
Our development consultants
Our development consultancy team is led by experienced professionals dedicated to delivering the best development consulting services to all clients. The team are all members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the key contacts for this service are:
Richard Foxon

As managing director and co-founder of Newton, Richard specialises in land development and has played a crucial role in many high-profile development schemes across the UK.
Piers Beeton

Co-founder and director of development, Piers has been involved in providing expert development consultancy advice to a wide range of clients across the country.
George Fox

George is a director in the development team and is an experienced planning and development surveyor. In his time as a chartered surveyor he has advised on many significant development projects.
Contact us
For more information about how Newton LDP can support your development consultancy needs, contact us today.