At Leaper, we specialise in creating exceptional Custom and Self-Build homes in rural areas across the UK.
Our mission is to create homes and places of the highest quality, while giving buyers the freedom to create a home perfectly suited to their needs.
Leaper was founded by Ben Marten and Dom Palmer-Tomkinson who share a passion for the countryside and rural living. They believe that thoughtful, well-designed development doesn’t just create great homes, but can genuinely strengthen rural communities.
Together, they’ve combined their personal drive and professional experience to build Leaper: a business dedicated to unlocking the potential of smaller parcels of land often overlooked by larger, traditional developers.
We’re selective about where we work, choosing sustainable and deliverable sites that help tackle the UK housing shortage and bring new life to rural settlements.
And we’re proud to work with the very best professionals and consultants, all committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for our clients and the communities we work in.
At Leaper, we work in two main ways:
1. Land promotion
We partner with landowners who want to leave a positive legacy, helping them secure planning permission for their sites. We take on the costs and risks involved in the planning process, working closely with local authorities, communities, and specialist consultants to design schemes that respect their surroundings and genuinely enhance rural areas. If planning permission is granted, we either help sell the land for its new value or develop it ourselves—so landowners benefit from the uplift without the hassle or expense of navigating the planning system alone.
2. Developing our own sites
Alongside our promotion work, we also buy and develop sites ourselves, bringing forward new custom and self-build opportunities.
We’re proud to be delivering projects like Horeham Shaw, Framlingham, and Fordington Farm—each carefully designed to enhance their rural settings while offering buyers the chance to shape their own homes.
Whether we’re working in partnership with landowners or building our own developments, our approach is always the same:
Create great places that belong, by understanding what makes each village or town unique—and weaving those qualities into our developments.
Offer choice and diversity, helping places feel like they’ve grown naturally over time. Our focus on Custom and Self-Build lets people shape homes that truly fit their lives.
Build beautiful, efficient homes that are flexible, sustainable, and simply a joy to live in.
Design people-friendly streets and open spaces, because safe, healthy, and welcoming places start with how they’re laid out.
Meet the team
Ben Marten
Founding director
Since 2005, Ben has specialised in start-up business management, investment, and consultancy. He has a background in residential and commercial property development and investment, including the complete restoration and renovation of Grade II* listed Ingoldisthorpe Hall in Norfolk.
Dom Palmer-Tomkinson
Founding director
Dom spent over a decade in the financial industry, working for Cazenove & Co and Westhouse Securities, before joining a rural planning consultancy in 2014 where he was responsible for developing the client base amongst housebuilders and land promoters.
Adam Towle
Development director
Trained as an architect, Adam is a built environment expert with extensive experience in the public sector, including with the Mayor of London and as a board director of urban regeneration company Be First. He’s an expert advisor to the Design Council and Design South East and a trustee of Papworth Trust.
Board and advisory
Miff Chichester
Chair
Miff qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992 and has worked in the world of property since 1995. He is currently Managing Partner at St Congar Land, one of the UKs leading land promoters.
Harry Lopes
Non-executive advisor
Harry is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in solar development in the UK and more recently in the US. Harry brings financial oversight as well as key contacts with landowners countrywide.
Kim Slowe
Non-executive advisor
Formerly a Royal Navy helicopter pilot and frigate captain Kim has spent the last 20 years delivering design-led, sustainable homes. He founded the housebuilder ZeroC and the Custom and Self-Build brand Design Your Home.
Charles Wilson
Non-executive director
With over 20 years’ experience in financial markets Charles provides invaluable financial insight and experience and sits on the Leaper board as Investment Director.
Some of our partners
