Sell land for affordable homes in Skelmersdale
Our interest in land for affordable housing around Skelmersdale is simple: we're buying land to build homes on, so we look for sites where homes are realistic and price them on that basis.
A rural exception site is a small site on the edge of a village, where housing would not normally be allowed, that can be granted permission for affordable homes to meet a local need. Land sold for this purpose usually achieves more than farmland value, though less than open-market housing land.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
Get an offer for land in Skelmersdale
We'll check the title and planning, then call you.
Where Skelmersdale sits
Land around Skelmersdale falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Ormskirk, 5 miles away, and Wigan, 6 miles away, and Preston is 15 miles away.
| Town | Skelmersdale |
|---|---|
| County | Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | WN8 |
| OS grid square | SD40 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Ormskirk (5 mi), Wigan (6 mi), Kirkby (7 mi) |
| Distance from Preston | About 15 miles south |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |
Is your land near Skelmersdale a good fit?
- Villages with evidence of local housing need
- Land suitable for a handful of homes up to a small scheme
- Parish councils open to a community-led scheme
- Sites where a small share of market homes could help viability, where policy allows it
Many landowners like the idea of land helping local families. We explain how exception sites work, what the price is based on and how local need is shown.
What decides the value of land for affordable housing near Skelmersdale
Local policy
Each council sets its own rules for exception sites, including whether any market homes are allowed.
Land price norms
Exception site land is typically priced well above farmland but below open-market housing land.
Tenure mix
Social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership homes produce different values.
Access and services
Costs of roads and drainage come out of a smaller budget than market housing.
Four routes to a sale
Outright purchase
Possible once an exception scheme has permission.
Subject-to-planning sale
The usual route: we agree a price and complete when permission is granted.
Option agreements
Useful while housing need is evidenced and a scheme is prepared.
Joint ventures
Can suit estates and charities that want an ongoing say in the homes.
How a sale works
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.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
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.
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.
Rural exception sites
The National Planning Policy Framework supports small rural exception sites for affordable homes that meet a local need.
Awkward details we deal with
You're worried about the price
Exception site land sells for less than market housing land by design. We'll show you the basis so you can compare it with farmland value.
The village has no recent housing survey
Need can be evidenced through a new survey with the parish council and the council's housing team.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Common questions
What is a rural exception site?
It is a small site, usually next to a village, where planning permission can be granted for affordable homes as an exception to normal policy, to meet a proven local need.
Do rural exception sites exist in Wales?
Yes. Welsh planning policy also supports rural exception sites for affordable housing that meets local need.
Can some homes be sold on the open market?
Some councils allow a small number of market homes to make a scheme viable. It depends on local policy.
Can you visit land near Skelmersdale?
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.
Other land types and routes
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- Large strategic sites
- Green belt and grey belt land
- Farmland and agricultural land
- Paddocks and equestrian land
- Barns and rural buildings
- Building plots
- Garden land and backland
- Infill plots and gap sites
- Small sites
- Garage sites
- Brownfield land
- Redundant commercial and industrial land
- Inherited and probate land
- Landlocked land and access problems
- Outright purchase
- Subject-to-planning sale
- Option agreements
- Joint ventures
- All land in Skelmersdale
- Land for affordable homes in Lancashire
Get a straight answer about your land
Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.