Sell land subject to planning in Bedfordshire
Considering a subject-to-planning sale for land in Bedfordshire? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
If your land has a good chance of permission but doesn't have it yet, a subject-to-planning deal usually achieves more than an outright sale.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No pressure to decide
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Bedfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Subject-to-planning sale in Bedfordshire at a glance
Clay-vale farmland rises to the chalk of the Chilterns around Dunstable, and the Metropolitan Green Belt covers much of the south of the county around Luton.
| County | Bedfordshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Luton |
| Example postcode districts | LU1, LU6, LU7, MK40, MK42 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| When you're paid | On completion, after permission is granted |
| Timescale | Planning period, often months |
Who a subject-to-planning sale works best for
- Small sites with a clear planning case
- Land where a previous permission has lapsed
- Brownfield sites needing a housing permission
- Owners willing to wait for a higher price
- Sites where the planning period can be agreed in advance
A conditional contract shares the planning risk fairly. You agree a price today, we fund and run the planning application, and the sale completes if permission comes through.
What to check in a subject-to-planning sale
Long-stop date
If permission isn't granted by an agreed date, either side can end the contract.
Appeals
Contracts say whether we can appeal a refusal and how long that adds.
Deposit
A deposit is usually paid on exchange and held until completion.
Price adjustments
Some contracts adjust the price for the number of homes approved.
Land a subject-to-planning sale works for in Bedfordshire
Large strategic sites in Bedfordshire
A fixed or formula price paid once an acceptable permission is granted.
Green belt and grey belt land in Bedfordshire
Suits brownfield green belt sites where a scheme can be tested quickly.
Land for affordable homes in Bedfordshire
The usual route: we agree a price and complete when permission is granted.
Barns and rural buildings in Bedfordshire
We complete once planning consent is secured.
Building plots in Bedfordshire
We buy once permission is granted for an agreed scheme.
Garage sites in Bedfordshire
The most common route for garage courts.
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.
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.
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
You're worried about being tied up indefinitely
A long-stop date sets the maximum time. If permission isn't granted by then, you're free.
You want to know what 'acceptable' permission means
The contract defines it, such as a minimum number of homes. Your solicitor should check it carefully.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Common questions
Who pays for the planning application?
We do, along with the surveys and consultants needed to support it.
What happens if planning is refused?
We may appeal if the contract allows. If permission isn't secured by the long-stop date, the contract ends and you keep your land.
Can I still use the land before completion?
Usually yes, until we need access for surveys or until completion.
Do you buy land in Bedfordshire?
Yes. We consider land across Bedfordshire, from Luton to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Subject-to-planning sale by town in Bedfordshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Bedfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.