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Sell land subject to planning in Durham

For owners in Durham and the DH1 area, a subject-to-planning sale is worth understanding before you talk to any buyer, including us.

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.

  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • No pressure to decide
  • Independent advice encouraged

Tell us about your land

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.

Durham at a glance

The land we're most interested in near Durham sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards Chester-le-Street (6 miles) and Houghton-le-Spring (6 miles).

TownDurham
CountyCounty Durham
CountryEngland
Postcode districtDH1
OS grid squareNZ24
Nearest towns we coverChester-le-Street (6 mi), Houghton-le-Spring (6 mi), Stanley (8 mi)
Distance from DarlingtonAbout 17 miles north
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
When you're paidOn completion, after permission is granted
Planning costsOurs
Land surveyor with a GNSS survey pole in a grass field next to a hedgerow

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
  • Land with a registered title

This route suits most building plots, garden land and small sites, where the planning process can be measured in months rather than years.

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.

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.

Land near Durham that a subject-to-planning sale suits

Land with planning permission in Durham

Useful if you want us to improve or renew the permission before completion.

Paddocks and equestrian land in Durham

We complete once homes are approved on the paddock.

Brownfield land in Durham

We complete once permission is granted for a housing scheme.

Inherited and probate land in Durham

Possible if beneficiaries are happy to wait for a higher price.

From first call to completion

  1. Send us the address

    A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.

  2. We check it properly

    Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.

  3. We put an offer in writing

    It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.

  4. 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.

When the land isn't straightforward

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

  • The address or postcode
  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Your questions answered

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.

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.

Do you buy land in Durham?

Yes. We consider land in and around Durham and across County Durham. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.

Also near Durham

Other land types and routes

Ready to talk about your land in Durham?

A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248