Housing developers face tight margins and demanding timelines. When landscaping goes wrong, the financial impact can be devastating – from costly redesigns to delayed handovers and buyer complaints.
After working with major developers like Bovis Homes on projects spanning over five years, we’ve seen the same costly mistakes repeated across the industry. The good news? They’re all preventable.
Here are the five most expensive landscaping mistakes housing developers make, and how to avoid them.
1. Underestimating Site-Specific Safety Requirements
The mistake: Many developers assume standard landscaping approaches will work across all sites, regardless of terrain challenges.
The reality: Complex terrain requires bespoke safety solutions that aren’t always obvious in initial planning stages.
At our Wellingborough Development project with Bovis Homes, the natural slopes and level changes created significant fall hazards at plot entrances. What seemed like a straightforward landscaping job revealed serious safety compliance issues that required immediate attention.
The hidden costs:
- Retrofitting safety measures after construction
- Delays while solutions are designed and fabricated
- Potential liability issues if safety hazards aren’t addressed
- Additional contractor call-outs when problems are discovered late
How we solved it: Land Structure designed and installed over 100 bespoke handrails, each uniquely fabricated for individual plots. Using high-quality steel painted to match the development’s aesthetic, we provided essential safety while maintaining visual appeal.
The prevention strategy: Engage experienced landscaping contractors during the planning phase to identify potential safety requirements early. A site assessment can reveal terrain challenges before they become expensive problems.
Ready to avoid costly safety retrofits? Contact our team for early-stage site assessments that identify potential challenges before construction begins.
2. Choosing Contractors Based Solely on Price
The mistake: Awarding contracts to the lowest bidder without considering expertise, quality standards, or long-term value.
The reality: Cheap contractors often lack the knowledge to handle complex site requirements, leading to costly corrections later.
During the Wellingborough project, Bovis Homes discovered that lower-cost contractors hadn’t accounted for essential handrail installations in their bids. When safety issues became apparent, these contractors couldn’t deliver the required solutions.
The hidden costs:
- Bringing in specialist contractors to fix substandard work
- Project delays while problems are resolved
- Additional management time coordinating multiple contractors
- Reputation damage from safety or quality issues
What happened next: Bovis Homes turned to Land Structure to design, fabricate, and install the safety solutions their original contractors couldn’t provide. This led to a five-year partnership across multiple development phases.
The prevention strategy: Evaluate contractors based on relevant experience, not just price. Look for proven track records with similar projects and evidence of problem-solving capabilities.
3. Poor Planning for Seasonal Timing
The mistake: Not accounting for optimal planting seasons in project timelines, leading to increased costs and reduced success rates.
The reality: Timing affects both cost and long-term landscape success significantly.
At our Centre Parcs Woburn Forest project, construction delays pushed planting into warmer months, forcing us to switch from more economical bare-root plants to expensive container-grown specimens.
The financial impact:
- Higher plant costs when forced to use container-grown instead of bare-root
- Increased watering and maintenance requirements
- Higher failure rates requiring replacement plants
- Extended establishment periods affecting project completion
The seasonal challenge:
- Optimal planting: November to March (bare-root season)
- Suboptimal timing: April to October (container-grown required)
- Cost difference: Container plants can cost 2-3 times more than bare-root equivalents
The prevention strategy: Build realistic planting timelines into project schedules, allowing buffer time for potential construction delays. Consider phased planting approaches that can adapt to timeline changes.
4. Inadequate Budget Allocation for Complex Projects
The mistake: Underestimating the true scope and complexity of landscaping requirements, leading to budget shortfalls.
The reality: Complex sites with unique requirements often exceed initial cost estimates significantly.
The Bicester Village project demonstrated this perfectly. What started as a standard retail park landscape evolved into a highly customised “English cottage garden” theme with dramatically increased scope.
Budget expansion factors:
- Design changes during construction
- Increased plant density and variety requirements
- Imported specialist plants from Europe
- Complex tree installation requiring advanced structural support
- Unplanned decorative elements added for immediate visual impact
The cost reality: Tree pit installation alone consumed nearly half the project budget, requiring advanced soil systems and close coordination with specialist suppliers like Green Blue Urban.
Project management impact: Land Structure deployed their largest site team (up to 25 workers) to maintain schedules despite scope increases, demonstrating the resource flexibility needed for complex projects.
The prevention strategy: Build contingency allowances into landscaping budgets for design evolution and unforeseen complexities. Engage contractors early to identify potential scope expansion areas.
5. Failing to Consider Long-Term Maintenance Requirements
The mistake: Designing landscapes for immediate visual impact without considering ongoing maintenance costs and requirements.
The reality: High-maintenance landscapes become expensive burdens for management companies and residents.
Common maintenance oversights:
- High-density planting requiring frequent intervention
- Species selection unsuited to local conditions
- Complex water features needing specialist maintenance
- Decorative elements requiring regular replacement
The long-term cost impact:
- Higher service charges for residents
- Management company complaints about maintenance costs
- Landscape deterioration affecting property values
- Resident dissatisfaction with communal areas
Our sustainable approach: At projects like HMP Five Wells, we focus on resilient, low-maintenance solutions that provide long-term value. Plant selection prioritises durability and local adaptation over short-term visual impact.
The prevention strategy: Design with maintenance in mind from day one. Choose hardy, locally-adapted species and design layouts that minimise ongoing intervention requirements.
Want to ensure your landscapes remain attractive and affordable long-term? Explore our sustainable landscaping approaches that balance visual appeal with practical maintenance requirements.
The Cost of Getting It Right
Quality landscaping isn’t just about avoiding mistakes – it’s about creating value. Well-executed landscapes enhance property values, speed sales, and reduce long-term costs.
Our experience with Bovis Homes demonstrates the value of partnership approach:
- Five-year relationship across multiple development phases
- Proven problem-solving capabilities when challenges arise
- Consistent quality that supports developer reputation
- Reliable delivery that keeps projects on schedule
Key success factors:
- Early contractor engagement during planning phases
- Realistic budget allocation with contingency planning
- Seasonal timing consideration in project schedules
- Quality-based contractor selection rather than price alone
- Long-term maintenance planning from design stage
Avoiding Costly Mistakes
The most expensive landscaping mistakes are the ones that could have been prevented with proper planning and experienced contractor involvement.
At Land Structure, we’ve learned these lessons through decades of experience across housing, commercial, and government sectors. Our approach combines practical problem-solving with quality delivery that stands the test of time.
Don’t let landscaping mistakes derail your next development project. Early engagement with experienced contractors can identify potential challenges, provide realistic cost estimates, and ensure your landscapes enhance rather than hinder your project success.
Ready to discuss your development project requirements? Get in touch with our experienced team at 01908 560360 or explore our comprehensive range of services designed specifically for housing developers.
