Land and new homes in Formby
Land to Homes buys land and partners with landowners in Formby, 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.
Formby · L37Free 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 Formby
About 11 miles north of Liverpool, Formby is part of our Merseyside coverage, centred on postcode district L37. Nearby, we also cover Maghull, Southport and Bootle, all within 7 miles. Within England, Formby falls in the North West region.
In and around Formby, the land we appraise ranges from paddocks on the edge of Formby to former garage blocks and yards, including brownfield land in and around Formby. Because Formby is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us where your land is around Formby and we will explain the routes open to you.
Services in Formby
For landowners
- Sell Land for Development in Formby
- Sell Land with Planning Permission in Formby
- Sell Land Without Planning in Formby
- Land Option Agreements in Formby
- Land Promotion Agreements in Formby
- Landowner Joint Ventures in Formby
- Sell Garden Land and Backland in Formby
- Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Formby
- Sell Brownfield Land in Formby
- Sell an Infill Plot in Formby
- Land Assembly and Access in Formby
- Free Site Appraisal in Formby
- Sell a Building for Conversion in Formby
Planning, design and build
- Planning Permission and Strategy in Formby
- Architecture and Masterplanning in Formby
- New Home Construction in Formby
- Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Formby
New homes and housing
- New-Build Homes for Sale in Formby
- New Homes to Rent in Formby
- Affordable Housing in Formby
- Social Housing in Formby
- Council and Housing Partnerships in Formby
Funders and partners
How the rules work in Formby
Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around Formby, the usual routes in England are a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement, where the planning work is funded for you and the land is sold once consent is granted. Outline planning permission settles the principle, with reserved matters approved later. Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged and biodiversity net gain all affect what a site is worth, so independent advice matters.
Councils and housing associations around Formby can bid for grant through Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which funds Social Rent, Affordable Rent at up to 80% of market rent, and shared ownership. Landlords of the rented homes must be registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. National policy also expects local plans to set a minimum Social Rent proportion for major development. Land to Homes is ready to discuss sites, partnership and delivery.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Your questions answered for Formby
Who decides who gets an affordable or social home?
Councils and housing associations, not developers. They set eligibility, usually based on income, housing need and sometimes a local connection, and allocate homes through their own lists or sales processes. In Northern Ireland, social homes are allocated through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's common waiting list. Land to Homes does not allocate homes.
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.
Do you buy land directly?
Yes, on suitable sites. We can buy land directly, with or without planning permission and with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract. Whether a direct purchase suits you depends on the site and on whether you would rather have certainty now or wait for planning to change what the land is worth.
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 Formby?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Formby and elsewhere in Merseyside, including Speke, Heswall and Kirkby. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.