Sell land with planning permission in County Durham
We buy land with planning permission across County Durham, including around Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees. You deal with the buyer directly and there's no commission to pay.
Consented land sells on detail. We read every condition and obligation so our offer is based on the scheme as approved, not on guesswork.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Get an offer for land in County Durham
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Land with planning permission in County Durham at a glance
Former coalfield villages in the east, the North Pennines National Landscape to the west, and green belt around Durham city linking with Tyne and Wear.
| County | County Durham |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 12 |
| Main town | Darlington |
| Example postcode districts | DH1, DH3, DH8, DH9, DL3 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
What makes land with planning permission in County Durham worth an offer
- Full or outline permission for one home or more
- Sites with a signed Section 106 agreement we can read
- Prior approvals for conversions, such as agricultural buildings to homes
- Lapsed or lapsing permissions, which we can look at renewing
- Plots with permission in principle
Consented land sells on detail. We read every condition and obligation so our offer is based on the scheme as approved, not on guesswork.
What decides the value of land with planning permission in County Durham
Pre-commencement conditions
Conditions that must be discharged before building starts can add surveys, cost and delay.
Section 106 and CIL
Affordable housing and financial contributions come straight off what a buyer can pay.
Scheme quality
A scheme that is hard to build or sell may need redesigning, which reduces the land value.
Abnormal costs
Retaining walls, drainage works or contamination add cost beyond a normal build.
Ways to sell this land
A site with a live planning permission is the simplest land to sell. The main questions are whether the permission is still valid, what its conditions require and how much the Section 106 agreement costs to deliver.
Outright purchase
The usual route for consented land: agree a price, then exchange and complete.
Subject-to-planning sale
Useful if you want us to improve or renew the permission before completion.
Option agreements
Rarely needed once consent exists, but can suit phased sites.
Joint ventures
An option if you would like a share of the profit from building the homes.
What happens next
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.
What England's rules mean for your land
Planning framework
Planning decisions in England follow the National Planning Policy Framework, revised in August 2026, and the local plan, prepared by the council or, in a national park, the park authority. Plans are reviewed periodically, which is when new housing sites are usually allocated.
Biodiversity net gain
Under the Environment Act 2021, most developments in England must deliver at least a 10% gain in biodiversity. Since 6 August 2026, sites of 0.2 hectares or less are exempt unless priority habitat is affected.
Agricultural buildings (Class Q)
In England, Class Q permitted development can allow some agricultural buildings to become homes through prior approval, within limits on size and number of homes.
Section 106 and CIL
Larger schemes often need a Section 106 agreement for affordable housing or contributions, and councils that have adopted the Community Infrastructure Levy charge it per square metre of new floorspace.
Common problems, and how we handle them
The permission is about to expire
In England a full permission normally lasts three years and in Wales five. We check whether a lawful start has been made or whether a new application is the better route.
The conditions look onerous
Some conditions are routine and some are expensive. We price each one so you can see what is driving the offer.
Useful to send us
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
Your questions answered
How long does planning permission last?
In England, full planning permission usually requires work to start within three years, and in Wales within five, unless the decision notice says otherwise. Outline permissions have separate time limits for reserved matters. The decision notice sets out the exact dates.
Do you pay more for full permission?
Usually, because there is less risk and less work before building can start. How much more depends on the conditions and obligations attached.
Can I sell a plot with prior approval for a barn conversion?
Yes. Prior approvals are time limited and have their own rules, so we check the approval and the building before making an offer.
Do you buy land in County Durham?
Yes. We consider land across County Durham, from Darlington to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Land with planning permission by town in County Durham
Nearby counties
Find out what we'd pay for your land in County Durham
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.