Sell land subject to planning in Dorset
For landowners in Dorset, a subject-to-planning sale is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
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 Dorset
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Subject-to-planning sale in Dorset at a glance
Chalk downland and coast, much of it inside the Dorset National Landscape, with the South East Dorset green belt around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
| County | Dorset |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Bournemouth |
| Example postcode districts | BH1, BH15, BH17, BH21, BH22 |
| 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
- 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
- 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.
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.
Your use meanwhile
You normally keep using the land until completion.
Land a subject-to-planning sale works for in Dorset
Large strategic sites in Dorset
A fixed or formula price paid once an acceptable permission is granted.
Farmland and agricultural land in Dorset
Higher price paid when permission is granted on the field.
Building plots in Dorset
We buy once permission is granted for an agreed scheme.
Infill plots and gap sites in Dorset
The usual route for unconsented gap sites.
Inherited and probate land in Dorset
Possible if beneficiaries are happy to wait for a higher price.
Landlocked land and access problems in Dorset
We complete once access and permission are secured.
From first call to completion
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
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.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.
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.
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 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
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- 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.
Do I get a deposit?
A deposit is usually paid on exchange, with terms set out in the contract.
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 Dorset?
Yes. We consider land across Dorset, from Bournemouth 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 Dorset
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Dorset
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.