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Sell land subject to planning in Rochester

If you own land in or around Rochester, 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.

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

Selling land near Rochester?

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

Land around Rochester

Our appraisals for Rochester start with the ME1 postcode district and the OS grid square TQ76, then widen out to Chatham, Strood and Gillingham, all within about 2 miles.

Metropolitan Green Belt in the west, the Kent Downs and High Weald National Landscapes, and growth around Ashford, Maidstone and the Medway towns.

TownRochester
CountyKent
CountryEngland
Postcode districtME1
OS grid squareTQ76
Nearest towns we coverChatham (1 mi), Strood (1 mi), Gillingham (2 mi)
Distance from MaidstoneAbout 8 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.

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.

Price adjustments

Some contracts adjust the price for the number of homes approved.

Land near Rochester that a subject-to-planning sale suits

Land for affordable homes in Rochester

The usual route: we agree a price and complete when permission is granted.

Barns and rural buildings in Rochester

We complete once planning consent is secured.

Building plots in Rochester

We buy once permission is granted for an agreed scheme.

Garage sites in Rochester

The most common route for garage courts.

How a sale works

  1. Send us the address

    A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.

  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.

What England's rules mean for your land

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
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Photos of the land and its access
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Your questions answered

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 cover the villages around Rochester?

Yes. Villages between Rochester, Chatham and Strood often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.

Also near Rochester

More land we buy in Rochester

Ready to talk about your land in Rochester?

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248