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For landowners · County Armagh

Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Lurgan

Can I sell a paddock or farmland for housing in Lurgan?

Selling farmland or paddocks in Lurgan for development usually means land on the edge of a town or village that could take new homes once planning policy allows. Value depends heavily on planning prospects, so many deals are options or promotion agreements that let you keep farming until permission is granted and the land is sold.

Aerial view of long rear gardens behind 1930s semi-detached houses backing onto a paddockLurgan · BT66

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Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.

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  • 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

Land and sites near Lurgan

About 5 miles north-east of Portadown, Lurgan is part of our County Armagh coverage, centred on postcode district BT66. Nearby, we also cover Portadown, Banbridge and Lisburn, all within 13 miles.

Around Lurgan we look at redundant agricultural buildings, farmland next to the settlement boundary and redundant commercial buildings. In Northern Ireland, where Lurgan sits, planning decisions are made by the 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications.

A postcode and a rough boundary are enough for us to start a free appraisal of land near Lurgan.

What you get in Lurgan

Tenancies handled carefully

If the land is let, the type of tenancy decides how and when vacant possession can be obtained. We look at the tenancy before proposing any deal and recommend specialist agricultural advice.

Edge-of-settlement focus

Fields that adjoin existing homes, roads and services have the strongest planning prospects. Isolated fields deep in open countryside rarely suit housing, and if that applies to yours, we will say so.

Farm schemes considered

If the land is in an agri-environment or farm support agreement, taking it out may have consequences, including possible repayments. Check the scheme rules before you sign anything with anyone.

Keep farming meanwhile

Under an option or promotion agreement, you normally stay in possession and keep farming or grazing until the land is sold, subject to access for surveys and agreed notice periods.

Planning in Lurgan: the Northern Irish rules

In Northern Ireland, planning applications for new homes around Lurgan are decided by the local district council, one of 11, while the Department for Infrastructure decides regionally significant schemes. Councils apply the Strategic Planning Policy Statement and their Local Development Plan, together with retained planning policy statements until their Plan Strategy is adopted. Land to Homes offers a free site appraisal and can buy suitable land directly or promote it through planning.

In Northern Ireland, countryside housing is tightly controlled through the SPPS and PPS 21, or a council's adopted plan strategy, with limited exceptions such as a dwelling on an active and established farm. Much grazing land is let in conacre, a seasonal arrangement that can usually be timed around a sale. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies.

Key rules in Lurgan
National planning policyStrategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Developer contributionsSection 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy)

Your questions answered for Lurgan

What is an overage clause on farmland?

Overage is a promise by the buyer to make a further payment if a defined event happens after the sale, typically planning permission for a more valuable use. It is common when farmland sells at agricultural value. The key terms are the trigger, the share payable, the duration and how the promise is secured.

What happens to my tenant farmer if I sell for development?

It depends on the tenancy. Some older agricultural tenancies give tenants strong security, while newer tenancies and grazing licences are usually more flexible. Planning permission for a non-agricultural use can sometimes support ending a tenancy, but the rules are technical and specialist advice is essential. We factor the tenancy into any deal.

Can I sell a paddock for housing?

Often, if it sits within or next to a settlement and has safe road access. Paddocks behind existing homes are common development sites. Those in open countryside, or with poor access, rarely get permission. We check the development plan and site constraints before suggesting any route or deal structure.

Can I keep farming while the land goes through planning?

Yes, in most option and promotion agreements. You stay in possession until the sale, and the agreement sets notice periods before the land is needed. It may restrict new long-term tenancies or works that could affect planning, such as removing hedgerows or trees without agreement.

Do you buy land in Lurgan?

Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Lurgan and elsewhere in County Armagh, including Armagh and Portadown. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.

Read more: Sell Farmland and Paddocks · Guide: Green Belt and grey belt land explained

Sell Farmland and Paddocks elsewhere in County Armagh

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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