Sell Brownfield Land in Argyll & Bute
Brownfield land in Argyll & Bute is land that has been built on or used before, such as a former yard, depot, garage block, workshop or car park. Planning policy across the UK generally favours reusing it for homes, but ground contamination, demolition, old services and neighbouring uses all affect value. Land to Homes assesses each of these before making an offer.
Argyll & ButeFree 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
Selling land around Argyll & Bute
Across Argyll & Bute, we cover Helensburgh and 3 other towns, among them Oban, Dunoon and Campbeltown. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Glasgow & the Clyde, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.
In and around Argyll & Bute, the land we appraise ranges from infill gaps along existing streets to fields put forward or allocated in the local plan, including former garage blocks and yards. In Scotland, where Argyll & Bute sits, planning decisions are made by the council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area).
If you own land near Argyll & Bute, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.
What we offer in Argyll & Bute
Tenants and leases
If business tenants remain, their lease terms and any statutory protection affect when the site can be cleared. We review the leases before agreeing timing with you.
Demolition and asbestos
Older buildings often contain asbestos, which must be surveyed and removed by licensed specialists where required before demolition. These costs feed into the price, so an early survey supports a firmer offer.
VAT on commercial sites
If you have opted to tax the property, VAT may be chargeable on the sale, which affects what a buyer pays. Your accountant should confirm the position before a price is agreed.
Direct purchase of brownfield sites
Where a brownfield site suits us, we can buy it ourselves, with or without planning and with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract.
Planning in Argyll & Bute: the Scottish rules
Land sales in Scotland are concluded through missives, an exchange of formal letters between solicitors. Once missives are concluded they form a binding contract, and the buyer takes entry at settlement, then registers the title with Registers of Scotland. For land near Argyll & Bute, missives can be made conditional on planning permission in principle, so the sale only proceeds if consent is secured. The buyer pays Land and Buildings Transaction Tax to Revenue Scotland.
In Scotland, NPF4 supports the reuse of vacant and derelict land, and councils record such land in the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey. Flood risk is assessed against NPF4 and SEPA's flood maps. Former mining areas may need a Coal Authority report, and ground conditions affect the building warrant as well as planning.
| 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 |
Your questions answered for Argyll & Bute
Is it easier to get planning permission on brownfield land?
Usually it has stronger policy support than greenfield land, because national policy in each UK nation encourages the reuse of previously developed land. Permission is still not automatic: loss of employment land, heritage, flood risk, neighbours and design all matter, and a site in an area protected for business use may still struggle.
Can I sell a commercial site that still has tenants?
Yes. Many sites sell with tenants in place, and the buyer manages the leases coming to an end. Business tenants can have statutory rights to stay in some cases, so the lease terms and any notices matter. We review the leases and agree timing that works for you and, where possible, for the tenants.
Do I need a contamination report before selling?
Not necessarily, but it helps. A desk study of past uses is relatively inexpensive and gives buyers confidence. If you hold older reports, share them. Buyers will usually carry out their own investigations anyway, both as part of their due diligence and because planning conditions often require them.
Will VAT apply when I sell my brownfield site?
It may. If you have opted to tax the land or buildings, VAT can apply to the sale price. Whether the option can be disapplied depends on what the buyer intends to do with the property, and the rules are technical. Ask your accountant before agreeing a price, because it affects what the buyer pays.
Do you work with landowners in Argyll & Bute?
We do. We work with landowners across Argyll & Bute, including Campbeltown, Dunoon and Oban. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Sell Brownfield Land · Guide: Green Belt and grey belt land explained