Searls Land

The palatial surroundings of the magnificent Burhill Golf Club in Walton-on-Thames once again provided the backdrop for the annual Searls Land Christmas party. And what a party it was. Food and drink? Check. Fun and games? Oh, yes. Charity fundraising? You bet. Everyone up bright and early the next day? Not so much. A hundred guests filled Burhill’s upstairs function room for an afternoon and evening of good cheer and they didn’t leave disappointed. The highlights included a silent auction that raised over £7,000 in aid of the wonderful Kangaroos charity, which provides young people with learning disabilities the opportunity to access social events, trips and after-school activities. Entertainment was provided courtesy of the Searls Land team minus Mia who was sadly poorly and unable to make it. There was a (welcome?) return for Sam’s perennial favourite ‘What’s that Smell?’ game, Adam displayed all the leniency of a 1930s headmaster in his crushingly difficult music quiz and Ed’s trademark decorum and delicacy were on show as he shushed the crowd so he could explain the rules of his fiendishly complicated picture-based quiz. Dan in fancy dress made a particularly convincing snowman, while Charlie kept us all guessing with his classic ‘how many sweets in the jar?’ parlour game. Tim’s on-stage card trick was either a basic counting job or complete genius, depending on what side of the room you were on. Big shout-outs to all at Burhill golf club for their exceptional support and service. To Ellie and Annabelle for helping to keep the day on track, the spot cash prize winners for putting their winnings back into the Kangaroos pot and to Tim for throwing open the downstairs bar with roughly 85 non-driving business contacts still in the building. The planning for next year has already started. 🎄❤️ #SearlsLand #CharityEvent #KangaroosCharity #Christmas #BurhillGolf Club

We couldn’t be prouder to have been named a finalist for Family Business of the Year 2024 at the SME National Business Awards last night. While we didn’t take home the trophy this time, it’s been a fantastic experience to be recognised alongside so many other amazing businesses and to celebrate the values that have always been at the heart of Searls Land. Founder Tim Searl shared, “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted in the Family Business category. It’s an honour just to be considered, especially in such a competitive field. Our focus has always been on building strong, lasting relationships with our clients and within the team, and that’s something I’m really proud of. “Being named a finalist is a recognition of the commitment to family values, hard work, and community that defines our business. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. This recognition is a tribute to the fantastic Searls Land team, and to our loyal clients and partners. “We look forward to continuing to work together, grow as a business, and make a positive impact in the years to come.” #SMENationalBusinessAwards #FamilyBusiness #MakingADifference #SearlsLand #KangaroosCharity #SupportLocalCommunities

It’s not every day you get to play golf with a backdrop as spectacular as this! The venue pictured is The Wisley Golf Club in Woking, Surrey, designed by legendary golf course designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. Searls Land was ably represented by Sam Dutton, Adam Galbraith and Daniel Acutt who were there at the invitation of James Clewlow and Will Angus from law firm Cripps. It was fantastic to share the experience with clients Ralph Salmon from St Congar and 'Vistry Group’s Matt Finch. Wisley is a breathtaking place to play golf, it was a glorious morning and an absolute pleasure to play on such a prestigious course. Thanks again to James and Will for hosting. #Networking #LandAgent #SearlsLand

As we approach our 15th birthday, it’s always rewarding to look back on the early deals that set us on the path to success. Our first ever deal centred around a substantial detached Edwardian property called CUC House in Pease Pottage. It was lying empty and in dire need of renovation. Recognising its potential, our founder Tim Searl reached out to clients from his previous roles in the land sector to understand their site requirements. Tim learned that a former colleague was already involved with CUC House and, with a keen eye for opportunity, he seized the chance to facilitate the acquisition, believing it could fulfil the needs of one of his clients. On January 4, 2010, Mid Sussex District Council granted planning consent to revert the main house to residential use, alongside approvals for the demolition of the rear addition and the construction of seven new houses in the grounds. But the real turning point for this site came two months later. Hillreed Homes, represented by Tim, submitted an unconditional offer for the property which allowed them to purchase the site with planning permission in hand. Instead of proceeding with the initial plan to convert the main house and build seven new homes, Hillreed submitted a revised application to demolish the existing house and replace it with six new homes. This strategic pivot meant the overall project would now include 13 new homes, significantly increasing the profit margin. The speed at which this project progressed was remarkable. Within just four months, the initial planning was granted, and by the end of the year, the new application for 13 homes was approved. CUC House remains a cherished memory for our team, symbolising the beginning of our journey. Not only did it serve as our first project, but it also marked the moment Tim hired his first employee, Dan Acutt, who now serves as our Director of Operations. If you’re looking to explore land opportunities or need expert guidance on your next project, contact Searls Land today > https://buff.ly/3m3X4WI #SearlsLand #LandAgents #LandManager #LandDevelopment #LandSale #LandDisposition #LandAcquisition #PropertyDevelopment #LandInvestment #LandOwnership #LandForSale #VacantLand #LandInvestor #LandDeals #BuyLand #SellLand #LandPurchase

At Searls Land, we’re used to overcoming significant obstacles on the path to land development. Turner Court in Godalming provided plenty of these hurdles. The land was plagued by issues including an apparent flood risk and the presence of Japanese knotweed. Firstly, the flood risk. Building on functional floodplains can be a huge turn-off for potential buyers, as mortgage lenders are often reluctant to finance such projects. After two years of work, we successfully had the site removed from the floodplain, utilising sequential testing to demonstrate compliance with regulations. Next, the Japanese knotweed. The responsibility of managing this invasive species falls to the landowner and we worked diligently to implement a mitigation strategy that would ensure the site remained compliant and ready for development. And did we mention the water voles that lived on the site. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, any disruption to their habitat can lead to severe penalties. We co-ordinated with expert consultants to either relocate the voles or prove that their habitats would not be harmed during the development process. Having cleared all these hurdles, Waverley Borough Council still turned down a planning application on the site, citing noise and disturbance to nearby residents. However, our team’s persistence paid off when Reside Developments successfully appealed the decision. Reside employed us to market the site and, after careful vetting and selection, we identified Kidbrook Homes as the ideal buyer and facilitated a successful sale. Today, the site is poised to welcome three new detached homes, a testament to our team’s dedication and expertise in navigating complex land development projects. If you’re facing similar obstacles in your land journey, reach out to Searls Land for support. ☎️ 01372 386250 #SearlsLand #LandAgents #LandManager #LandDevelopment #LandSale #LandDisposition #LandAcquisition #PropertyDevelopment #LandInvestment #LandOwnership #LandSale #LandForSale #VacantLand #LandInvestor #LandDeals #BuyLand #SellLand #LandPurchase

Tim's been on holiday and only got back at the weekend. Brain not engaged !!!

We need your support in the 2024 Surrey Property Awards Matt Wilson is Land Manager at Sigma Homes, a niche developer which creates stunning individual properties in the South East. Before that, he worked for Searls Land, starting out at the firm in January 2016. Matt said: “(Managing Partner) Tim Searl employed me for five-and-a-half years and I can’t fault any element of my experience there. From working for and now with Searls Land, it’s always a pleasure dealing with the whole team. How the company has grown since my time starting out in the industry is very impressive. It is now undoubtedly the leading agent in the area. And Tim being an ‘oak tree’ of the industry and teaching me everything I know is something I am forever grateful for.” This type of support and endorsement of our work is part of the reason we are in the running for the Best Professional Property Services Company/Consultancy gong at this year’s Surrey Property Awards. But to bag this coveted prize, we need your nominations. We’re up against some incredible companies from across the county, all of whom will be making the same plea to their client base. Therefore, every nomination is crucial. You can nominate Searls Land by clicking here: https://buff.ly/4cTZmwk This year’s awards take place at G Live in Guildford on Thursday, November 28. Thanks in advance for your support – your nomination could make all the difference. #SurreyPropertyAwards #SurreyLandAgents #BestPropertyServicesCompany #LandSales

🏌️ We had a terrific day at our annual golf event at the Mid Sussex Golf Club in aid of the magnificent Kangaroos Sussex charity. As ever, the event attracted the cream of top golfing talent from across the South of England’s land development fraternity, with 76 players representing 19 teams teeing off in the late summer sunshine. The worthy winners were Riverdale Developments with Hestia Homes Limited running them close all day but settling for second place. The day as a whole raised the tremendous sum of £7,935 for Kangaroos, with raffle ticket sales alone contributing £1,000 to the total. It’s not too late to donate! Simply go to the link here: https://lnkd.in/e7jC93ZR Massive thanks to Kangaroos members Katie and Annie for giving out prizes on the day and a big shout-out to staff at Mid Sussex Golf Club for looking after us – particularly Lee and Mike who really got into the spirit of the day by dressing up as kangaroos and for organising a series of entertaining on-course pranks. The photos were taken by Gibson Blanc Photography, who excelled themselves in preserving some wonderful memories of a great day. ⛳ We’ll be doing it all again on Friday June 6 2025. Get in touch if you would like to take part. As well as Riverdale and Hestia, the companies taking part were: Devine Homes Sigma Homes Group Vistry Group Wates Group Elivia Homes Barratt Homes Reside Searls Land STRAT Searls Land Macar Homes Earlswood Homes Taylor Wimpey plc CALA HOMES (CULTS) LIMITED Thakeham Gleeson Land Motion Transport Pyxis

Care to help us get over the line at the Surrey Property Awards? The Surrey Property Awards (SPAs) have become a staple part of the calendar for everyone involved in housebuilding, land agency and delivering property services across the Southeast This year is a big one as the organisers are celebrating their 15th birthday and the ceremony at G Live in Guildford on November 28 promises to be the biggest, most spectacular one to date. Searls Land have had our share of success at the SPAs down the years – but we’re always hungry for more. This year, we’re in the running for Best Professional Property Services Company/Consultancy, which, from our perspective, is the most prestigious award of the evening. The best thing about this award is it recognises the people behind the scenes, the ones who don’t necessarily make the headlines but without whom, a great number of houses would not get built. That includes consultants, accountants, engineers, designers and, of course, land agents. We’re there right at the start of the process – and have been since 2010. We have a combined industry experience of 100+ years across our team and our specialist land experts are highly skilled in land acquisition. We’ve got a comprehensive network of trusted buyers covering all aspects of residential and mixed-use development – all of whom can be relied upon to deliver what is agreed. That’s why we’re asking for nominations from our loyal customer base. You can nominate Searls Land by clicking here: https://buff.ly/4cTZmwk The closing date for nominations is Friday October 18. #SurreyPropertyAwards #SurreyLandAgents #BestPropertyServicesCompany #LandSales

At Searls Land, we love to hear how former team members are doing elsewhere – and their fond memories of working with us. Matt Wilson is now Land Manager at Sigma Homes, a niche developer who creates stunning individual properties in the South East. Before that, he worked for Searls Land, starting out at the firm in January 2016. Matt said: “(Managing Partner) Tim Searl employed me for five-and-a-half years and I can’t fault any element of my experience there. From working for and now with Searls Land, it’s always a pleasure dealing with the whole team. How the company has grown since my time starting out in the industry is very impressive. It is now undoubtedly the leading agent in the area. (Director of Operations) Dan Acutt knits the whole team together perfectly. He is always available to chew that fat on anything. And Tim being an ‘oak tree’ of the industry and teaching me everything I know of course is something I am forever grateful for.” Thanks for the kind words Matt and drop in for a cuppa anytime! #LandAgents #LandManager #LandDevelopment #LandSale