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Sell land subject to planning in Derby

Before you agree a subject-to-planning sale on land near Derby, it helps to know exactly when you'd be paid, who carries the planning risk and how the price is set.

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
  • Independent advice encouraged
  • We fund the planning work

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Free and no obligation. We're the buyer, so there's no commission.

Derby at a glance

Land around Derby falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Belper, 7 miles away, and Ilkeston, 8 miles away.

Ranges from the Peak District National Park in the north-west to lowland farmland and former coalfield towns in the east, with green belt between Derby and Nottingham.

TownDerby
CountyDerbyshire
CountryEngland
Postcode districtDE1
OS grid squareSK33
Nearest towns we coverBelper (7 mi), Ilkeston (8 mi), Heanor (8 mi)
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

  • Building plots and garden land without permission
  • Owners willing to wait for a higher price
  • Land with a registered title
  • 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.

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.

Price adjustments

Some contracts adjust the price for the number of homes approved.

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. You get a written offer

    With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.

  4. Solicitors complete the sale

    Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.

Planning and legal points for land in Derbyshire

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.

Awkward details we deal with

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'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 plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

What people ask us about a subject-to-planning sale

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 Derby?

Yes. Villages between Derby, Belper and Ilkeston often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.

Ready to talk about your land in Derby?

Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.