Land and new homes in Fife
Land to Homes buys land and partners with landowners in Fife, 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.
FifeFree 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 we work in Fife
We cover 3 places across Fife: Dunfermline is the main one, alongside Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy. Next door, we also cover Edinburgh & the Lothians, Forth Valley and Perth & Kinross.
Typical sites we review near Fife include corner plots and side gardens, backland plots with a workable access and small holdings and pony paddocks. Planning in Fife follows Scotland’s rules: National Planning Framework 4 sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Tell us where your land is around Fife and we will explain the routes open to you.
Services in Fife
For landowners
- Sell Land for Development in Fife
- Sell Land with Planning Permission in Fife
- Sell Land Without Planning in Fife
- Land Option Agreements in Fife
- Land Promotion Agreements in Fife
- Landowner Joint Ventures in Fife
- Sell Garden Land and Backland in Fife
- Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Fife
- Sell Brownfield Land in Fife
- Sell an Infill Plot in Fife
- Land Assembly and Access in Fife
- Free Site Appraisal in Fife
- Sell a Building for Conversion in Fife
Planning, design and build
- Planning Permission and Strategy in Fife
- Architecture and Masterplanning in Fife
- New Home Construction in Fife
- Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Fife
New homes and housing
- New-Build Homes for Sale in Fife
- New Homes to Rent in Fife
- Affordable Housing in Fife
- Social Housing in Fife
- Council and Housing Partnerships in Fife
Funders and partners
Rules that apply in Fife
In Scotland, planning applications for land around Fife 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.
For councils and housing associations planning homes in Fife, Scottish delivery centres on the council's Strategic Housing Investment Plan, grant from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and, on private sites, affordable housing secured through Section 75 agreements under NPF4 and the Local Development Plan. Land to Homes can bring forward land with or without planning, or build homes for transfer to a registered social landlord.
| 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 Fife
Do you pay my legal fees?
On option and promotion agreements, yes. We pay your reasonable legal fees, and the amount is agreed up front in the heads of terms before you instruct a solicitor, so there are no surprises later. On a direct purchase, each side normally pays its own legal costs, and we will explain the position before you commit.
Can Green Belt land be developed?
Green Belt is land around certain towns and cities where policy keeps land open, so new homes are normally resisted unless a local plan releases the land or there are very special circumstances. In England, recent policy changes introduced grey belt land, which can be more acceptable for development in some cases. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own green belt policies.
How do I register interest in a new home?
Tell us your contact details, preferred areas, the type and size of home, whether you want to buy or rent, and your timing. Registering is free, it is not a reservation or an application, and you can ask us to remove your details at any time. We use it to contact you and to understand what people need.
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.
Is Fife an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land across Fife, including Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. 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.