Solihull-based Terra Strategic has made a key promotion in recognition of the company’s recent rapid growth. Jordan Langdon-Bates has been promoted to the position of Land and Development Director.

Having joined the residential land specialist in 2018, Jordan has been responsible for taking a large number of sites through the land promotion and planning process. Prior to joining Terra, Jordan was a Development Surveyor for Brackley Investments Ltd. He had previously worked at Lioncourt Strategic Land as a Planner, and as a Planning Policy Officer for Cheltenham Borough Council, where he commenced his career having graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2012. Mr Langdon-Bates is an active Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

James O’Shea, Managing Director of Terra said: “Terra currently controls 24 sites, with circa 460 acres of residential land that is capable of delivering 2,200 new homes. Jordan has been instrumental to driving the growth of the business ever since he joined almost four years ago. He has been able to use his past experience of working within a Local Authority planning department – and for the land arm of a regional housebuilder – to his advantage. He is an asset to the business and we are delighted to recognise his commitment and achievements by promoting him to a Director role.”

Jordan Langdon-Bates, Land and Development Director for Terra said: “It is really pleasing to reflect on Terra’s growth over recent years. The expansion of the in-house team and Terra’s national profile has grown considerably over the past 18 months. While we are still very interested in promoting sites with the potential for around 50 homes or more, we have recently made significant headway in securing much larger strategic land opportunities that could each accommodate up to 1,000 plots.

“Terra’s knowledge of the residential land market, and our ability to work had-in-hand with our sister companies Hayfield and Living Space on both luxury and affordable housing opportunities, is what is setting us apart in this competitive marketplace. We work collaboratively to secure viable planning permissions, which are immediately deliverable. In the process, we also listen to the needs and wishes of landowners, by structuring deals accordingly. I am really excited about the opportunities we are currently working on and what this year has in store.”

Terra is currently promoting circa 96-acres of the proposed Banwell Garden Village development – close to Weston-super-Mare – through the Local Plan process. The team has been working on the opportunity with North Somerset Council and local stakeholders for several years. In 2020, a £97m Housing Infrastructure Fund grant was designated by Homes England for the construction of the new Banwell bypass, a secondary school, and additional local infrastructure and amenity improvements. Terra’s site could accommodate a minimum of 600 homes, associated infrastructure and community uses.

In Wiltshire, Terra has entered into a hybrid agreement to promote and part-purchase a 49-acre land parcel to the east of Swindon, which forms part of the New Eastern Villages (NEV) allocation. The site could accommodate up to 280 high quality new homes. Positioned north of Redlands Farm, the land forms part of the wider context of the NEV Local Plan allocation for 8,000 homes, 40 Ha of employment space, a secondary school and primary schools, together with health, retail and leisure facilities, across a total area of 724 Ha. Significant new transport infrastructure is also planned as part of the NEV strategic development, with the Southern Connector Road under construction to establish a new 1.5-mile-long link to the existing Commonhead Roundabout and Pack Hill.

Terra has also recently agreed terms with a private landowner to promote a 98-acre site in the Norfolk town and Civil Parish of Costessey. The emerging policy for the area indicates that the land could deliver in the region of 800 new homes, education and other community facilities, together with environmental benefits. Over 50% of the site will be designated to green infrastructure and high quality Public Open Space. The large land parcel has already been identified by Norwich Council as a contingency site, which is ‘well-related to the existing edge of the Norwich urban area, neighbouring the built-up areas of Bowthorpe and Costessey’.

Terra Strategic is an experienced residential land specialist, which enters into agreements with landowners and then pursues, funds and secures an agreeable planning permission. It also has the financial resources to secure land with or without residential planning consent to assist landowners looking for a quick sale process. The company has a national reach, having recently secured residential land in Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, The West Midlands, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.