Sell land subject to planning in Devon
Considering a subject-to-planning sale for land in Devon? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
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.
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Devon
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Subject-to-planning sale in Devon at a glance
A large rural county with Dartmoor and part of Exmoor, several national landscapes, and growth centred on Exeter, Plymouth and the market towns.
| County | Devon |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 11 |
| Main town | Plymouth |
| Example postcode districts | EX2, EX8, EX16, EX31, EX39 |
| 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
- Land with a registered title
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.
How the money works
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.
Deposit
A deposit is usually paid on exchange and held until completion.
Your use meanwhile
You normally keep using the land until completion.
Land a subject-to-planning sale works for in Devon
Large strategic sites in Devon
A fixed or formula price paid once an acceptable permission is granted.
Farmland and agricultural land in Devon
Higher price paid when permission is granted on the field.
Paddocks and equestrian land in Devon
We complete once homes are approved on the paddock.
Garage sites in Devon
The most common route for garage courts.
Inherited and probate land in Devon
Possible if beneficiaries are happy to wait for a higher price.
Landlocked land and access problems in Devon
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 do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.
Planning and legal points for land in Devon
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'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
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Your title number, if you know it
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Your questions answered
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.
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.
Do you buy land in Devon?
Yes. We consider land across Devon, from Plymouth 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 Devon
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Devon
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.