Sell land subject to planning in Hertfordshire
For landowners in Hertfordshire, a subject-to-planning sale is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
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.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No pressure to decide
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Hertfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Subject-to-planning sale in Hertfordshire at a glance
Most of the county is Metropolitan Green Belt, which makes land with genuine development prospects scarce and keenly contested.
| County | Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 19 |
| Main town | Watford |
| Example postcode districts | AL1, AL5, AL8, AL10, CM23 |
| 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
- Owners willing to wait for a higher price
- Sites where the planning period can be agreed in advance
This route suits most building plots, garden land and small sites, where the planning process can be measured in months rather than years.
How the money works
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.
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.
Land a subject-to-planning sale works for in Hertfordshire
Green belt and grey belt land in Hertfordshire
Suits brownfield green belt sites where a scheme can be tested quickly.
Land for affordable homes in Hertfordshire
The usual route: we agree a price and complete when permission is granted.
Paddocks and equestrian land in Hertfordshire
We complete once homes are approved on the paddock.
Small sites in Hertfordshire
The most common route for small unconsented sites.
Garage sites in Hertfordshire
The most common route for garage courts.
Brownfield land in Hertfordshire
We complete once permission is granted for a housing scheme.
How a sale works
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
We check it properly
Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.
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.
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
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
What people ask us about a subject-to-planning sale
Who pays for the planning application?
We do, along with the surveys and consultants needed to support it.
Can I still use the land before completion?
Usually yes, until we need access for surveys or until completion.
Do I get a deposit?
A deposit is usually paid on exchange, with terms set out in the contract.
Do you buy land in Hertfordshire?
Yes. We consider land across Hertfordshire, from Watford 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 Hertfordshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Hertfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.