Dev Assist

Removing stamp duty land tax could bring hundreds of thousands of homes back onto the market, according to new research from Jackson-Stops. Its Housing Mobility Report suggests that scrapping the tax could unlock more than 300,000 owner-occupied homes in England within a year.

The survey of 3,000 owner-occupiers, carried out in June 2026, found that stamp duty is now the third biggest barrier to moving, cited by 28% of respondents. Jackson-Stops estimates that removing the cost could bring up to 750,000 homes to the market within three years.

To find out more, check out this recent article by Today's Conveyancer: https://todaysconveyancer.co.uk/scrapping-stamp-duty-bring-300000-homes-market-year/

Green belt does not always mean development is off the table.

Two proposed housing schemes in Uttlesford, totalling up to 480 homes, were refused by the local planning committee despite being recommended for approval by officers. The applications have now been called in for a national decision.

The case shows how green belt policy, grey belt arguments, housing land supply and national planning policy can combine to create a much more complex development picture than buyers may expect.

Our latest article explains why a refusal may not end the risk, and why nearby land needs to be properly assessed before exchange.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4f0BMCG

DevAssist is not another search provider.

We are specialist planning experts producing detailed development risk reports for residential and commercial property transactions.

Our reports investigate the surrounding location, helping identify current and future development risk that standard conveyancing searches may not fully interpret.

- For conveyancers, it supports client protection and professional risk management.
- For buyers, this means a clearer picture before they commit.
- For lenders, it provides greater insight into valuation risk.

DevAssist gives people the information they need before exchange, when there is still time to make an informed decision.

To learn more, visit our website today.

Paul Addison, Managing Director of DevAssist, has been featured by Today’s Conveyancer.

In the profile, Paul discusses his career in land, planning and housebuilding, the reason he founded DevAssist, and why development risk remains one of the biggest missing pieces in the conveyancing process.

The feature also explores the importance of giving buyers a clearer picture before exchange, and why conveyancers should not have to rely on standard searches alone when advising clients on property risk.

Thank you to Today’s Conveyancer for the feature.

Read the full profile her: https://bit.ly/4wnwln2

We are pleased to announce that Paul Addison, Founder of DevAssist, has recently become a specialist member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association.

The PNLA brings together solicitors, barristers, experts and other specialists with a shared interest in improving the resolution of professional negligence and liability disputes.

Paul’s membership reflects the specialist nature of DevAssist’s work and the important role that expert planning interpretation plays in property transactions.

Development risk can be complex. When planning information is not properly understood, it can create serious issues for buyers, conveyancers and lenders.

At DevAssist, our reports help provide a clearer picture before exchange, supporting informed decisions, client protection and professional risk management.

You can view Paul’s PNLA profile here: https://bit.ly/4eUpMkS

A great afternoon at the Best of British Gatwick event for Paul Addison last Friday.

The event brought together business leaders and guests for a sporting lunch with England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst, while raising over £12,000 for the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

Thank you to Best of British for hosting such a brilliant afternoon, and congratulations to everyone involved in supporting the Sussex Cricket Foundation!

DevAssist is NOT a search.

It is a comprehensive development risk report, produced by planning experts to help buyers, conveyancers and lenders understand what could happen around a property before exchange.

Standard conveyancing searches provide important information, but they do not fully investigate development risk in the surrounding location.

DevAssist looks beyond the property boundary, analysing planning history, nearby land, local policy and future development potential.

A structural survey looks at the building.

DevAssist looks at the location.

To find out more, visit our website today.

How confident is your property team in explaining development risk to clients?

Understanding development risk is becoming an increasingly important part of the conveyancing process. Yet many lawyers receive little formal training in what to look for and why it matters.

That is why DevAssist offers free training sessions for residential and commercial property teams, helping lawyers better understand the risks that can affect value, saleability and client expectations.
As development risk continues to increase, it is crucial to understand the potential costs involved and address them from the outset.

Book your free session today. Contact [email protected] to find out more.