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For landowners · Derbyshire

Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Chesterfield

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

Farming families in Chesterfield 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.

Ripe wheat field edge with a village church tower and rooftops beyond the hedgeChesterfield · S40

Free 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 Chesterfield

Chesterfield (S40) is one of the Derbyshire towns we cover, about 23 miles north of Derby. Close by, our coverage also takes in Staveley, Dronfield and Sheffield. Chesterfield is part of England’s East Midlands region. Our head office in Great Barr, Birmingham, is about 52 miles away.

In and around Chesterfield, the land we appraise ranges from land behind street frontages to large and long rear gardens, including redundant commercial buildings. Planning in Chesterfield follows England’s rules: the National Planning Policy Framework sets national policy and the council’s Local Plan sets local policy.

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

What you get in Chesterfield

Fees covered on options

On option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees, with the amount agreed up front in the heads of terms, so specialist rural legal advice is within reach.

Access kept to retained fields

Deals can reserve access rights, service connections and drainage routes for the rest of your holding, so a new scheme does not cut off fields or buildings you keep.

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.

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.

Rules that apply in Chesterfield

Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around Chesterfield, 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.

In England, the NPPF asks councils to take account of the value of higher-quality farmland, and Local Plans set settlement boundaries. Agricultural tenancies may fall under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 or be farm business tenancies, each with its own rules. Land in Environmental Land Management or Countryside Stewardship agreements needs checking before it is taken out.

Key rules in Chesterfield
National planning policyNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Land registrationHM Land Registry
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Questions about Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Chesterfield

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.

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.

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.

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.

Do you buy land in Chesterfield?

Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Chesterfield and elsewhere in Derbyshire, including Swadlincote, Long Eaton and Heanor. 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

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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