Land and new homes in Rochester
Land to Homes buys land and partners with landowners in Rochester, 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.
Rochester · ME1Free 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 Rochester
Rochester (ME1) is one of the Kent towns we cover, about 8 miles north of Maidstone. Close by, our coverage also takes in Chatham, Strood and Gillingham. Within England, Rochester falls in the South East region.
In and around Rochester, the land we appraise ranges from redundant agricultural buildings to land behind street frontages, including redundant commercial buildings. Because Rochester is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
If you own land near Rochester, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Services in Rochester
For landowners
- Sell Land for Development in Rochester
- Sell Land with Planning Permission in Rochester
- Sell Land Without Planning in Rochester
- Land Option Agreements in Rochester
- Land Promotion Agreements in Rochester
- Landowner Joint Ventures in Rochester
- Sell Garden Land and Backland in Rochester
- Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Rochester
- Sell Brownfield Land in Rochester
- Sell an Infill Plot in Rochester
- Land Assembly and Access in Rochester
- Free Site Appraisal in Rochester
- Sell a Building for Conversion in Rochester
Planning, design and build
- Planning Permission and Strategy in Rochester
- Architecture and Masterplanning in Rochester
- New Home Construction in Rochester
- Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Rochester
New homes and housing
- New-Build Homes for Sale in Rochester
- New Homes to Rent in Rochester
- Affordable Housing in Rochester
- Social Housing in Rochester
- Council and Housing Partnerships in Rochester
Funders and partners
Rules that apply in Rochester
Selling development land in Rochester 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 Rochester 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.
| 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 registration | HM Land Registry |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Questions about Land and homes in Rochester
Can you guarantee my land will get planning permission?
No one can guarantee planning permission. Decisions rest with the planning authority or, on appeal, an independent appeal body. What we can do is assess the prospects honestly, prepare a thorough application and deal with likely objections early. If we think a site is unlikely to succeed, we will tell you before anyone spends time or money on it.
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.
Who pays for the planning application?
Usually the applicant pays the council fee and the cost of surveys and reports. Under a promotion agreement with Land to Homes, we fund the planning work, and the costs are only recovered from the sale proceeds if the land sells with planning. On a direct purchase without planning, the planning cost and risk become ours.
Can I sell land without planning permission?
Yes. Land often sells without planning, either for a price that reflects the planning risk or under a deal where the price is set once permission is granted. Land to Homes can buy suitable sites directly, with or without planning and with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract, or promote the land through planning with you.
Is Rochester an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land in Rochester and elsewhere in Kent, including Ramsgate, Whitstable and Sevenoaks. 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.