Land and new homes in Edinburgh & the Lothians
Land to Homes is a land and new-homes business covering Edinburgh & the Lothians. We can buy suitable land directly, fund the planning on promotion and option deals, and deliver homes for sale, rent and affordable housing. Every land enquiry starts with a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Edinburgh & the LothiansFree 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
Our coverage in Edinburgh & the Lothians
Across Edinburgh & the Lothians, we cover Edinburgh and 3 other towns, among them Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover Fife, Forth Valley and Lanarkshire.
Around Edinburgh & the Lothians we look at land behind street frontages, backland plots with a workable access and fields put forward or allocated in the local plan. Planning in Edinburgh & the Lothians follows Scotland’s rules: National Planning Framework 4 sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
If you own land near Edinburgh & the Lothians, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Services in Edinburgh & the Lothians
For landowners
- Sell Land for Development in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell Land with Planning Permission in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell Land Without Planning in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Land Option Agreements in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Land Promotion Agreements in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Landowner Joint Ventures in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell Garden Land and Backland in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell Brownfield Land in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell an Infill Plot in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Land Assembly and Access in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Free Site Appraisal in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Sell a Building for Conversion in Edinburgh & the Lothians
Planning, design and build
- Planning Permission and Strategy in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Architecture and Masterplanning in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- New Home Construction in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Edinburgh & the Lothians
New homes and housing
- New-Build Homes for Sale in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- New Homes to Rent in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Affordable Housing in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Social Housing in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Council and Housing Partnerships in Edinburgh & the Lothians
Funders and partners
- Funding and Investment Partners in Edinburgh & the Lothians
- Build to Rent Partnerships in Edinburgh & the Lothians
The Scottish system, as it applies in Edinburgh & the Lothians
In Scotland, planning applications for land around Edinburgh & the Lothians are decided by the council as planning authority, using National Planning Framework 4 and the Local Development Plan, which together form the statutory development plan. Instead of outline permission, Scotland uses planning permission in principle, followed by approval of matters specified in conditions. Land to Homes can buy suitable sites directly or promote land through planning, and every conversation starts with a free site appraisal.
Affordable homes in Edinburgh & the Lothians are mainly funded through the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme, with councils and registered social landlords building them. Councils set local investment priorities in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans. On private developments, Local Development Plans often require an affordable housing contribution, secured through a Section 75 agreement. Land to Homes can bring forward land and deliver homes for councils and housing associations.
| National planning policy | National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| Who decides applications | The council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area) |
| In-principle consent | Planning permission in principle (PPP), followed by approval of matters specified in conditions |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) |
| Land registration | Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) |
| How a sale becomes binding | Land sales are concluded through missives, formal letters exchanged between solicitors that become a binding contract once concluded, followed by settlement on the date of entry and registration in the Land Register of Scotland. |
| Developer contributions | Section 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments |
Questions about Land and homes in Edinburgh & the Lothians
How is the price of development land worked out?
Development land is usually valued by working back from what the finished homes would be worth, then deducting build costs, infrastructure, planning obligations such as affordable housing, fees, finance and a developer's margin. This is called a residual valuation. We do not quote land values online; our free appraisal explains the factors that affect your site.
What is a local development plan and why does it matter?
The development plan sets out where new homes and other development should go, and it is the starting point for planning decisions. In England it is usually called the Local Plan; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have Local Development Plans. Land allocated for housing, or next to a settlement where policy supports growth, usually has stronger prospects.
What should I check before reserving any new-build home?
Check the specification, the tenure and any lease terms, estate or service charges for unadopted roads and open space, the warranty provider, the reservation terms and whether the developer is registered with the New Homes Quality Board. Instruct your own solicitor early, visit the site if you can and ask for everything important in writing.
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.
Do you buy land in Edinburgh & the Lothians?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land across Edinburgh & the Lothians, including Edinburgh, Musselburgh and Bathgate. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.