Sell land subject to planning in West Sussex
Considering a subject-to-planning sale for land in West Sussex? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
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.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- Independent advice encouraged
Get an offer for land in West Sussex
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Subject-to-planning sale in West Sussex at a glance
The South Downs National Park, Chichester Harbour and High Weald National Landscapes, and water neutrality rules that have affected new homes in the north of the county.
| County | West Sussex |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Crawley |
| Example postcode districts | BN11, BN17, BN43, PO19, PO21 |
| 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 West Sussex
- Building plots and garden land without permission
- Land where a previous permission has lapsed
- Owners willing to wait for a higher price
- Land with a registered title
- Sites where the planning period can be agreed in advance
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
Acceptable permission
The contract defines what counts as an acceptable consent.
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.
Your use meanwhile
You normally keep using the land until completion.
Land a subject-to-planning sale works for in West Sussex
Land without planning permission in West Sussex
We exchange contracts now and complete once permission is granted.
Land for affordable homes in West Sussex
The usual route: we agree a price and complete when permission is granted.
Garden land and backland in West Sussex
The usual route for garden land: we complete when permission is granted.
Infill plots and gap sites in West Sussex
The usual route for unconsented gap sites.
Brownfield land in West Sussex
We complete once permission is granted for a housing scheme.
Redundant commercial and industrial land in West Sussex
We complete once housing is approved, with your business using the site meanwhile.
From first call to completion
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
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.
Planning and legal points for land in West Sussex
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Common questions
Who pays for the planning application?
We do, along with the surveys and consultants needed to support it.
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 West Sussex?
Yes. We consider land across West Sussex, from Crawley 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 West Sussex
Find out what we'd pay for your land in West Sussex
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.