Sell strategic land and large sites in St Ives
For owners of strategic land in and around St Ives, we offer four ways to sell, from a clean outright purchase to deals that pay more once planning is granted.
If you own a large block of land next to a town, the right partner and the right agreement matter more than a fast headline price. We explain each structure and what it means for you.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Selling land near St Ives?
Free, no-obligation appraisal.
Where St Ives sits
St Ives lies in Cambridgeshire, some 18 miles south-east of Peterborough. Nearby, we also look at land around Huntingdon (5 miles), St Neots (11 miles) and Cambridge (12 miles).
| Town | St Ives |
|---|---|
| County | Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | PE27 |
| OS grid square | TL37 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Huntingdon (5 mi), St Neots (11 mi), Cambridge (12 mi) |
| Distance from Peterborough | About 18 miles south-east |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |
What we look for around St Ives
- Sites that can be reached from a main road or a new junction
- Holdings in a single ownership, or neighbours willing to work together
- Land without major heritage, ecology or flood constraints
- Sites close to schools, shops and public transport
Large sites on the edge of towns are where much of the country's new housing ends up. Getting there takes local plan promotion, technical studies and patience, and the deal needs to reflect that.
What affects the price
Infrastructure
New roads, schools or drainage on a large scheme are paid for out of land value.
Landowner collaboration
Neighbouring owners agreeing to work together can unlock access and better layouts.
Price mechanism
Options and conditional contracts usually pay a share of market value at the time permission is granted.
Term length
Longer agreements give more time for planning but tie up your land for longer.
Ways to sell this land
Outright purchase
Rare on unallocated strategic land, but possible at a risk-adjusted price.
Subject-to-planning sale
A fixed or formula price paid once an acceptable permission is granted.
Option agreements
The usual route: an option fee now and a price based on market value later.
Joint ventures
Lets you share in the development value if you can wait for it.
What happens next
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
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
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.
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.
Farm tenancies
Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and farm business tenancies have their own notice and compensation rules, which affect when land can be developed.
Awkward details we deal with
The land is farmed by a tenant
Tenancies need managing before building can start. We look at notice periods and compensation early.
You are worried about being tied up for years
We agree a term with clear milestones, so the agreement can end if planning stalls.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Your title number, if you know it
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
Common questions
How long do strategic land deals last?
Terms vary with the site and the plan timetable. Several years is common, with options to extend if planning is progressing.
Do I pay for planning on strategic land?
Normally not. Under an option or conditional contract the buyer funds planning and technical work, and recovers those costs from the land price only if the agreement allows it.
Can I farm the land while planning is pursued?
Usually, yes. Agreements normally let you keep using the land until the buyer needs it.
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.
Other land in St Ives
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- Green belt and grey belt land
- Land for affordable homes
- 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 St Ives
- Large strategic sites in Cambridgeshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land near St Ives
A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.