From Feasibility to Delivery: Supporting a 50-Home Residential Development in West Sussex

The Challenge

A residential developer in West Sussex approached Premier Energy at the early stages of considering a potential development of approximately 50 new homes.

Before committing significant resources to the project, the developer needed to establish whether the site was technically viable from a utilities perspective.

Key questions needed answering:

• What existing utility infrastructure was available around the site?
• Where were the existing electricity networks located?
• Was sufficient electricity capacity available to support the proposed development?
• Where was the most appropriate point of connection?
• Were there any significant utility constraints, diversions or infrastructure requirements that could affect the viability or cost of the development?

The developer needed this information early, before progressing too far with the project.

The Initial Investigation

Premier Energy was instructed to undertake an initial utility and electricity capacity investigation.

This included:

Utility Search

We investigated the existing utility infrastructure serving and surrounding the proposed development site, identifying the known location of existing services and potential constraints.

Electricity Capacity Investigation

Premier Energy investigated the available electricity capacity in the area and assessed the likely ability of the local network to accommodate the proposed development.

Point of Connection Investigation

We also investigated the potential point of connection for the development, helping the developer understand how the proposed 50-home scheme could potentially connect to the electricity network.

This early-stage investigation provided the developer with the information required to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the site.

The Result

The initial investigation demonstrated that the site was viable from a utilities perspective, giving the developer the confidence to progress the development.

Rather than simply completing the initial investigation and stepping away, Premier Energy was subsequently appointed to provide full utility consultancy and project support throughout the development.

This enabled the developer to retain one specialist utility consultant from the initial feasibility stage through to the delivery of the project.

Full Utility Consultancy

Following confirmation that the development could proceed, Premier Energy became involved in the wider utility requirements for the site.

Our involvement included:

• New utility connections
• Electricity connection coordination
• Utility drawings and plans
• Utility diversion requirements
• Coordination with utility providers
• Review and management of utility proposals
• Technical utility advice
• Identification and management of utility issues
• Project support throughout the development
• On-site visits and inspections
• Liaison between the developer, contractors and utility providers

By remaining involved throughout the project, Premier Energy was able to provide continuity between the original feasibility investigation and the subsequent delivery phase.

One Consultant. From Feasibility to Delivery.

The key benefit to the developer was that the utility strategy was established before significant development expenditure was committed.

Premier Energy’s involvement meant that potential utility constraints could be identified at an early stage, allowing the developer to make informed decisions and plan the project’s utility requirements accordingly.

The relationship also continued beyond the initial investigation, with Premier Energy providing ongoing technical expertise, coordination and project support as the development progressed.

The Outcome

Premier Energy supported the developer through the complete utility lifecycle of the proposed 50-home development:

Initial Site Investigation → Utility Search → Electricity Capacity → Point of Connection → Feasibility Confirmation → New Connections → Utility Drawings → Diversions → Project Support → On-Site Assistance

The project demonstrated the value of involving a specialist utility consultant at the very beginning of a development, rather than waiting until the detailed design or construction phase.

The Premier Energy Difference

For developers, utility issues can become expensive and disruptive when they are discovered late in the development process.

By engaging Premier Energy at the feasibility stage, developers can gain a much clearer understanding of the utility position before committing to the next stage of their project.

We don’t just provide utility searches. We help developers understand, plan and deliver their utility infrastructure from the earliest stages of a development through to construction.

Premier Energy — From feasibility to delivery.