Sell land subject to planning in Luton
If you own land in or around Luton, subject-to-planning sale is one of four ways you can sell it to us. Here's how it works and when it makes sense.
A subject-to-planning sale, or conditional contract, is a sale where contracts are exchanged now but completion only happens once an acceptable planning permission is granted. It lets you agree a price based on the land's value with permission, while the buyer pays for and manages the application.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Luton at a glance
Luton lies in Bedfordshire, where it is the main town we cover. Nearby, we also look at land around Dunstable (5 miles), Harpenden (5 miles) and Hitchin (7 miles).
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.
| Town | Luton |
|---|---|
| County | Bedfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | LU1 |
| OS grid square | TL02 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Dunstable (5 mi), Harpenden (5 mi), Hitchin (7 mi) |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| When you're paid | On completion, after permission is granted |
| Planning costs | Ours |
Who a subject-to-planning sale works best for
- Small sites with a clear planning case
- Land where a previous permission has lapsed
- Owners willing to wait for a higher price
- Sites where the planning period can be agreed in advance
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.
The terms that matter
Price basis
The price is set against the land's value with permission, so it's usually higher than an unconditional offer.
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 near Luton that a subject-to-planning sale suits
Farmland and agricultural land in Luton
Higher price paid when permission is granted on the field.
Infill plots and gap sites in Luton
The usual route for unconsented gap sites.
Garage sites in Luton
The most common route for garage courts.
Landlocked land and access problems in Luton
We complete once access and permission are secured.
How a sale works
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We check it properly
Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.
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.
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 want to know what 'acceptable' permission means
The contract defines it, such as a minimum number of homes. Your solicitor should check it carefully.
You're worried we'll get permission for something you don't like
The contract can set out the scheme or limits on what we apply for.
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
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
What people ask us about a subject-to-planning sale
Who pays for the planning application?
We do, along with the surveys and consultants needed to support it.
Can I still use the land before completion?
Usually yes, until we need access for surveys or until completion.
How long does the planning stage take?
In England the statutory period is eight weeks for most applications and thirteen for major ones; in Wales it's eight weeks. Both extend to sixteen weeks where an environmental impact assessment is needed, and surveys, validation and negotiation often add time.
Can you visit land near Luton?
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 Luton
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- Large strategic sites
- 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
- Option agreements
- Joint ventures
- All land in Luton
- Subject-to-planning sale in Bedfordshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land near Luton
Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.