Sell land subject to planning in Whitehaven
We offer a subject-to-planning sale on land across Cumbria, including sites around Whitehaven, Workington and Cockermouth.
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.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- Independent advice encouraged
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Where Whitehaven sits
Whitehaven (CA28) sits in OS grid square NX91, about 35 miles south-west of Carlisle. Sites between here and Workington or Maryport are just as much of interest to us.
Upland farming country. The Lake District National Park covers the central fells, so most growth is focused on Carlisle, Kendal and the west coast towns.
| Town | Whitehaven |
|---|---|
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | CA28 |
| OS grid square | NX91 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Workington (7 mi), Cockermouth (12 mi), Maryport (12 mi) |
| Distance from Carlisle | About 35 miles south-west |
| 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
- Brownfield sites needing a housing permission
- Owners willing to wait for a higher price
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.
Long-stop date
If permission isn't granted by an agreed date, either side can end the contract.
Acceptable permission
The contract defines what counts as an acceptable consent.
Appeals
Contracts say whether we can appeal a refusal and how long that adds.
Land near Whitehaven that a subject-to-planning sale suits
Land without planning permission in Whitehaven
We exchange contracts now and complete once permission is granted.
Paddocks and equestrian land in Whitehaven
We complete once homes are approved on the paddock.
Garden land and backland in Whitehaven
The usual route for garden land: we complete when permission is granted.
Small sites in Whitehaven
The most common route for small unconsented sites.
What happens next
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.
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
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Common questions
What is a subject-to-planning sale?
A sale where contracts are exchanged now, but completion depends on planning permission being granted. If it isn't granted by the long-stop date, the contract can end.
Who pays for the planning application?
We do, along with the surveys and consultants needed to support it.
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 cover the villages around Whitehaven?
Yes. Villages between Whitehaven, Workington and Cockermouth often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.
Also near Whitehaven
Other land types and routes
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- Large strategic sites
- 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 Whitehaven
- Subject-to-planning sale in Cumbria
Ready to talk about your land in Whitehaven?
Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.