Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Magherafelt
Farming families in Magherafelt often have one field that could suit homes and want to protect the rest of the holding. Land to Homes shapes deals around that: access to retained land, timing that fits the farming year, and clear terms on tenancies and farm schemes. Every proposal starts with a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Magherafelt · BT45Free 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
Land and sites near Magherafelt
About 33 miles south-east of Derry/Londonderry, Magherafelt is part of our County Londonderry coverage, centred on postcode district BT45. Close by, our coverage also takes in Cookstown, Ballymena and Antrim.
In and around Magherafelt, the land we appraise ranges from land behind street frontages to corner plots and side gardens, including former garage blocks and yards. As Magherafelt is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
A postcode and a rough boundary are enough for us to start a free appraisal of land near Magherafelt.
How we work in Magherafelt
Overage on paddock sales
If you sell a paddock at its current value, an overage clause can secure a further payment if planning is later granted. We explain triggers, duration and how the obligation is secured.
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.
Land quality and flood risk
Planning policy tends to protect higher-grade farmland, and flood zones can rule land out entirely. We check agricultural land quality mapping and flood maps early, before any detailed discussion of terms.
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.
Rules that apply in Magherafelt
Permission in Principle, an English route, does not apply in Northern Ireland. Instead, landowners near Magherafelt usually seek outline or full planning permission from the council. Developer contributions are agreed under Section 76 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, and there is no Community Infrastructure Levy. Land to Homes can take on that process through an option or promotion agreement, or buy a suitable site directly, subject to survey, title and contract.
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.
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP), made up of a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan |
|---|---|
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Land registration | Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services. |
Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Magherafelt: questions
How do I keep access to the rest of my farm?
Through rights reserved in the agreement and the eventual transfer. These can include a right of way through the new estate road, service connections and drainage routes for retained land. Plan them early, because once a layout is approved it is much harder to add access later.
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.
How long does it take to get planning on farmland?
There is no set timescale. A field allocated in a development plan can move to an application relatively directly, while unallocated land may need to wait for the next plan review. That is why options and promotion agreements on farmland usually run over a defined term with a longstop date.
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.
Do you buy land in Magherafelt?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Magherafelt and elsewhere in County Londonderry, including Derry/Londonderry, Limavady and Coleraine. 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