Sell land subject to planning in Somerset
Considering a subject-to-planning sale for land in Somerset? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
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.
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Somerset
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Subject-to-planning sale in Somerset at a glance
The Levels and Moors, where flooding and nutrient rules are major planning issues, plus Exmoor, the Mendip Hills, and green belt around Bath.
| County | Somerset |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Bath |
| Example postcode districts | BA1, BA11, BA20, BS20, BS21 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| When you're paid | On completion, after permission is granted |
| Timescale | Planning period, often months |
When a subject-to-planning sale suits land in Somerset
- Small sites with a clear planning case
- Land where a previous permission has lapsed
- Brownfield sites needing a housing permission
- Owners willing to wait for a higher price
- Land with a registered title
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.
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 a subject-to-planning sale works for in Somerset
Development land in Somerset
Lets you lock in a price now that is paid once we secure permission.
Farmland and agricultural land in Somerset
Higher price paid when permission is granted on the field.
Small sites in Somerset
The most common route for small unconsented sites.
Garage sites in Somerset
The most common route for garage courts.
Brownfield land in Somerset
We complete once permission is granted for a housing scheme.
Redundant commercial and industrial land in Somerset
We complete once housing is approved, with your business using the site meanwhile.
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.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
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
- 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 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.
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 you buy land in Somerset?
Yes. We consider land across Somerset, from Bath 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 Somerset
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Somerset
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.