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Sell land without planning permission in St Ives

Thinking about whether to sell land without planning permission in St Ives? A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and how we got there, with no obligation to go further.

Land without planning permission is any land that has no current consent for building. You can still sell it: either outright at a price that reflects its present use and the chance of permission (hope value), or on a conditional or option basis that pays more if permission is granted.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • Figures explained, so you can check them

Selling land near St Ives?

We'll check the title and planning, then call you.

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

Where St Ives sits

The land we're most interested in near St Ives sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards Huntingdon (5 miles) and St Neots (11 miles).

Flat arable fenland in the north contrasts with a fast-growing Cambridge area in the south, where the Cambridge green belt surrounds the city.

TownSt Ives
CountyCambridgeshire
CountryEngland
Postcode districtPE27
OS grid squareTL37
Nearest towns we coverHuntingdon (5 mi), St Neots (11 mi), Cambridge (12 mi)
Distance from PeterboroughAbout 18 miles south-east
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sellOutright, subject to planning, option or joint venture
Rolling pasture field seen over a galvanised five-bar gate with an oak tree beyond

What we look for around St Ives

  • Land inside or touching a settlement boundary in the local plan
  • Land with a road frontage or a clear way to create access
  • Former orchards, nurseries and smallholdings
  • Grazing land with no tenancy or with a tenancy that can be ended

Without consent, land is valued on its current use plus whatever hope value its location supports. We will explain how much of our offer is each, so you can see what you are being paid for.

What affects the price

Current use value

Agricultural or amenity value is the floor under any offer.

Planning history

Past refusals and appeal decisions on the site and its neighbours shape the odds.

Constraints

Green belt, flood zones, heritage and landscape designations reduce the chance of consent.

Deal structure

Conditional and option deals can pay more because the price is fixed against value with permission.

What happens next

  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.

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.

Green belt and grey belt

Green belt land is protected from inappropriate development. National policy in England also recognises 'grey belt': green belt land that doesn't strongly contribute to key green belt purposes, where housing can be acceptable if further tests are met.

Farm tenancies

Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and farm business tenancies have their own notice and compensation rules, which affect when land can be developed.

When the land isn't straightforward

The council says the land is outside the settlement

Settlement boundaries change when plans are reviewed. We look at the plan timetable and whether the site could be promoted at the next review.

You don't want to wait years

Then an outright sale at a lower, risk-adjusted price may suit you better, and we will say so.

Useful to send us

  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • Photos of the land and its access

Common questions

What is hope value?

Hope value is the premium a buyer pays above the current use value because there is a realistic prospect of planning permission. It is higher the more likely and closer that permission is.

Who pays for the planning application?

On subject-to-planning and option deals we normally fund the planning work. On an outright purchase it is our risk and our cost after completion.

Do you buy land in the green belt?

Sometimes. Green belt land is hard to develop, though England's planning policy now recognises 'grey belt' land. We will tell you frankly whether your site has a realistic prospect.

Can you visit land near St Ives?

Yes. Once we've looked at the title and planning position, we arrange a site visit if the land looks suitable. Send the address or postcode to start.

Find out what we'd pay for your land near St Ives

Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.