Sell land subject to planning in Exmouth
Before you agree a subject-to-planning sale on land near Exmouth, it helps to know exactly when you'd be paid, who carries the planning risk and how the price is set.
A subject-to-planning sale, or conditional contract, is a sale where contracts are exchanged now but completion only happens once an acceptable planning permission is granted. It lets you agree a price based on the land's value with permission, while the buyer pays for and manages the application.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- We fund the planning work
Selling land near Exmouth?
Free, no-obligation appraisal.
Exmouth at a glance
Exmouth lies in Devon, some 37 miles north-east of Plymouth. Nearby, we also look at land around Heavitree (8 miles), Exeter (9 miles) and Newton Abbot (11 miles).
A large rural county with Dartmoor and part of Exmoor, several national landscapes, and growth centred on Exeter, Plymouth and the market towns.
| Town | Exmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Devon |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | EX8 |
| OS grid square | SY08 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Heavitree (8 mi), Exeter (9 mi), Newton Abbot (11 mi) |
| Distance from Plymouth | About 37 miles north-east |
| 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
- Building plots and garden land without permission
- Small sites with a clear planning case
- Land where a previous permission has lapsed
- Brownfield sites needing a housing permission
This route suits most building plots, garden land and small sites, where the planning process can be measured in months rather than years.
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.
Acceptable permission
The contract defines what counts as an acceptable consent.
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.
Land near Exmouth that a subject-to-planning sale suits
Development land in Exmouth
Lets you lock in a price now that is paid once we secure permission.
Garage sites in Exmouth
The most common route for garage courts.
Redundant commercial and industrial land in Exmouth
We complete once housing is approved, with your business using the site meanwhile.
Inherited and probate land in Exmouth
Possible if beneficiaries are happy to wait for a higher price.
What happens next
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.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
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 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
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
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.
Do you buy land in Exmouth?
Yes. We consider land in and around Exmouth and across Devon. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.
Other land in Exmouth
- 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 Exmouth
- Subject-to-planning sale in Devon
Get a straight answer about your land
A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.