Land and new homes in Derry/Londonderry
Land to Homes buys land and partners with landowners in Derry/Londonderry, then takes suitable sites through planning, design and construction to new homes for sale, for rent and for affordable housing. Landowners start with a free site appraisal; home seekers can register their interest.
Derry/Londonderry · BT48Free site appraisal
Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Where Derry/Londonderry fits
Derry/Londonderry (BT48) is the hub of our County Londonderry coverage, with 3 further towns covered. The nearest other places we cover are Strabane (13 miles), Limavady (15 miles) and Coleraine (27 miles).
Around Derry/Londonderry we look at infill gaps along existing streets, small holdings and pony paddocks and large and long rear gardens. Planning in Derry/Londonderry follows Northern Ireland’s rules: the Strategic Planning Policy Statement sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Send us a postcode in or near BT48 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
Services in Derry/Londonderry
For landowners
- Sell Land for Development in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell Land with Planning Permission in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell Land Without Planning in Derry/Londonderry
- Land Option Agreements in Derry/Londonderry
- Land Promotion Agreements in Derry/Londonderry
- Landowner Joint Ventures in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell Garden Land and Backland in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell Brownfield Land in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell an Infill Plot in Derry/Londonderry
- Land Assembly and Access in Derry/Londonderry
- Free Site Appraisal in Derry/Londonderry
- Sell a Building for Conversion in Derry/Londonderry
Planning, design and build
- Planning Permission and Strategy in Derry/Londonderry
- Architecture and Masterplanning in Derry/Londonderry
- New Home Construction in Derry/Londonderry
- Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Derry/Londonderry
New homes and housing
- New-Build Homes for Sale in Derry/Londonderry
- New Homes to Rent in Derry/Londonderry
- Affordable Housing in Derry/Londonderry
- Social Housing in Derry/Londonderry
- Council and Housing Partnerships in Derry/Londonderry
Funders and partners
Planning and land rules in Derry/Londonderry
Selling land near Derry/Londonderry follows a familiar pattern in Northern Ireland: heads of terms, then an exchange of contracts signed by both sides, which makes the sale binding, and completion. The buyer pays Stamp Duty Land Tax, as in England, and the title is registered with Land Registry, part of Land & Property Services, although older titles may first need moving from the Registry of Deeds. Infrastructure and affordable housing are usually secured through a Section 76 planning agreement.
In Northern Ireland, housing associations find sites and develop schemes under the Social Housing Development Programme, while the Housing Executive assesses housing need in areas such as Derry/Londonderry. Councils' Local Development Plans can also require affordable homes on private developments, secured through a Section 76 planning agreement. Land to Homes can supply land, design and construction, or deliver completed homes for transfer to a registered housing association.
| National planning policy | Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy |
|---|---|
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services. |
Questions about Land and homes in Derry/Londonderry
Is the site appraisal really free?
Yes. Our site appraisal is free and carries no obligation. It covers access, planning policy, likely constraints and an indicative number of homes, and we talk you through the routes open to you. You do not have to agree to anything afterwards, and we will tell you plainly if the land is not suitable for us.
What is an option agreement?
An option agreement gives a developer the right, but not the obligation, to buy land within an agreed period, usually once planning permission is granted. The landowner normally receives an option fee, and the purchase price is worked out under an agreed formula. On option agreements with Land to Homes, we pay your reasonable legal fees, agreed up front in the heads of terms.
What is biodiversity net gain?
Biodiversity net gain is a requirement in England for most new developments to leave natural habitat in a measurably better state than before, assessed using a statutory metric. It can be delivered on site, off site or, as a last resort, through statutory credits. It affects how much land a scheme needs. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own biodiversity policies.
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.
Is Derry/Londonderry an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land in Derry/Londonderry and elsewhere in County Londonderry, including Magherafelt, Limavady and Coleraine. Where a site suits us we can buy it directly, or set up an option or promotion agreement. On promotion there is nothing to pay upfront.