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Sell land with planning permission in Bishop Auckland

If you own land around Bishop Auckland and want a straight answer about it, we'll tell you whether we can buy it, on what terms, and what the offer is based on.

Land with planning permission has consent from the local planning authority to build a specific development, either in outline (the principle) or in full (the detailed design). We buy consented sites directly, check the permission and its conditions, and make an offer you can accept without marketing the land.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • No pressure to decide

Tell us about your land

Free, no-obligation appraisal.

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Free and no obligation. We're the buyer, so there's no commission.

Where Bishop Auckland sits

From Bishop Auckland, it's 5 miles to Newton Aycliffe and 9 miles to Durham. We buy land across that whole stretch of County Durham, not only within the town.

TownBishop Auckland
CountyCounty Durham
CountryEngland
Postcode districtDL14
OS grid squareNZ22
Nearest towns we coverNewton Aycliffe (5 mi), Durham (9 mi), Darlington (10 mi)
Distance from DarlingtonAbout 10 miles north-west
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sellOutright, subject to planning, option or joint venture
Greenfield site with timber setting-out pegs and orange tape beside a temporary mesh fence

What we look for around Bishop Auckland

  • Full or outline permission for one home or more
  • 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.

How we arrive at a figure for land in County Durham

Time left on the permission

A permission close to expiry may need a quick start or a fresh application, and that affects price.

Pre-commencement conditions

Conditions that must be discharged before building starts can add surveys, cost and delay.

Abnormal costs

Retaining walls, drainage works or contamination add cost beyond a normal build.

Sale values nearby

What similar new homes sell for locally sets the ceiling on value.

Choosing how to sell

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.

From first call to completion

  1. Tell us about your land

    Send the postcode or address and a rough size.

  2. We check it properly

    Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.

  3. You get a written offer

    With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.

  4. The legal work

    Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.

Rules that apply in England

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.

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.

When the land isn't straightforward

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

  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • Photos of the land and its access
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

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.

How do I get an offer for land in Bishop Auckland?

Use the form on this page or call 0800 088 6248. Tell us the postcode, the rough size and anything you know about planning, and we'll come back to you.

Nearby towns

More land we buy in Bishop Auckland

Get a straight answer about your land

A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.

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