Sell Land and New Homes in County Durham

Land and homes across County Durham

Across County Durham, we cover Darlington and 11 other towns, among them Seaham, Peterlee and Hartlepool. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and North Yorkshire.

Around County Durham we look at paddocks on the edge of Darlington, small holdings and pony paddocks and land behind street frontages. Planning in County Durham follows England’s rules: the National Planning Policy Framework sets national policy and the council’s Local Plan sets local policy.

Send us a postcode in or near DL3 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.

Services in County Durham

For landowners

Planning, design and build

New homes and housing

Funders and partners

The English system, as it applies in County Durham

Selling development land in County Durham usually starts with heads of terms, a short written summary of price, conditions and fees, before solicitors draft the contract. In England the sale becomes binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title then registered at HM Land Registry. The buyer normally pays Stamp Duty Land Tax. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes, your reasonable legal fees are covered, with the amount agreed in the heads of terms.

Affordable homes in County Durham are usually funded through a mix of Section 106 contributions from market schemes and grant from Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036, or from the Greater London Authority in London. Registered providers, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, own and manage most of them. Land to Homes can bring forward land and build homes for councils and housing associations, including homes for Social Rent.

Key rules in County Durham
National planning policy	National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance
Local planning document	Local Plan
Who decides applications	The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
In-principle consent	Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)	Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registration	HM Land Registry
How a sale becomes binding	A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry.
Developer contributions	Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Your questions answered for County Durham

What is a land promotion agreement?

Under a promotion agreement, a promoter funds and manages the planning process, then markets the land for sale with the landowner once permission is granted. The proceeds are shared under an agreed formula after the promoter's costs. With Land to Homes there is nothing to pay upfront: planning costs are only recovered from the sale proceeds if the land sells with planning.

Do I need my own solicitor to sell land?

Yes. Every landowner should have their own solicitor on a land sale or agreement, and many also use a land agent or chartered surveyor. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes, we pay your reasonable legal fees, with the amount agreed up front in the heads of terms before you instruct anyone.

What are the New Homes Quality Code and New Homes Ombudsman?

The New Homes Quality Code is a code of practice for developers registered with the New Homes Quality Board, covering how homes are marketed, reserved, sold and handed over, and after-sales care. Buyers of homes from registered developers can usually take unresolved complaints to the New Homes Ombudsman Service. The framework currently covers England, Scotland and Wales.

How do I sell land for development?

Start with an appraisal of what the land could take and the routes open to you: a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement. Then take independent advice from a solicitor and, ideally, a land agent before agreeing heads of terms. Land to Homes offers a free, no-obligation site appraisal and explains each route in writing.

Do you buy land in County Durham?

Yes. Land to Homes looks at land across County Durham, including Peterlee, Newton Aycliffe and Darlington. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.

Land and new homes in County Durham

Free site appraisal