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Sell land subject to planning in Exeter

We offer a subject-to-planning sale on land across Devon, including sites around Exeter, Heavitree and Exmouth.

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
  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • Independent advice encouraged

Selling land near Exeter?

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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

Land around Exeter

From Exeter, it's 1 mile to Heavitree and 9 miles to Exmouth. We buy land across that whole stretch of Devon, not only within the town.

A large rural county with Dartmoor and part of Exmoor, several national landscapes, and growth centred on Exeter, Plymouth and the market towns.

TownExeter
CountyDevon
CountryEngland
Postcode districtEX2
OS grid squareSX99
Nearest towns we coverHeavitree (1 mi), Exmouth (9 mi), Tiverton (12 mi)
Distance from PlymouthAbout 36 miles north-east
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

  • Land where a previous permission has lapsed
  • Brownfield sites needing a housing permission
  • Land with a registered title
  • Sites where the planning period can be agreed in advance

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.

What to check in a subject-to-planning sale

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.

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.

What happens next

  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. 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'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 rough size, in acres or hectares
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Photos of the land and its access

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

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.

How do I get an offer for land in Exeter?

Use the form on this page or call 0800 088 6248. Tell us the postcode, the rough size and anything you know about planning, and we'll come back to you.

Ready to talk about your land in Exeter?

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