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Sell land subject to planning in Braintree

If you own land in or around Braintree, subject-to-planning sale is one of four ways you can sell it to us. Here's how it works and when it makes sense.

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.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • We fund the planning work

Selling land near Braintree?

Free, no-obligation appraisal.

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

Land around Braintree

Our appraisals for Braintree start with the CM7 postcode district and the OS grid square TL72, then widen out to Witham, Chelmsford and Maldon, all within about 11 miles.

Metropolitan Green Belt covers the south and west of the county, while mid and north Essex have larger areas of farmland around growing towns.

TownBraintree
CountyEssex
CountryEngland
Postcode districtCM7
OS grid squareTL72
Nearest towns we coverWitham (7 mi), Chelmsford (10 mi), Maldon (11 mi)
Distance from Southend-on-SeaAbout 25 miles north
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
  • Small sites with a clear planning case
  • Brownfield sites needing a housing permission
  • Owners willing to wait for a higher price

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.

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.

How a sale works

  1. Tell us about your land

    Send the postcode or address and a rough size.

  2. We do the homework

    We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.

  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.

Planning and legal points for land in Essex

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 rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Any planning applications or letters

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.

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 Braintree?

Yes. We consider land in and around Braintree and across Essex. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.

Get a straight answer about your land

Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.