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For landowners · East Sussex

Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Portslade

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

A paddock in Portslade used for grazing or horses can be worth far more as housing land, but only if planning is realistic. Land to Homes looks at the settlement boundary, access from the road, flood risk and the development plan, then tells you which route gives you the clearest outcome for that field.

Misty paddock at sunrise on the edge of a market town with a church spirePortslade · BN41

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

Our coverage in Portslade

Portslade (BN41) is one of the East Sussex towns we cover, about 3 miles west of Brighton. Nearby, we also cover Hove, Brighton and Worthing, all within 7 miles. Portslade is part of England’s South East region.

Typical sites we review near Portslade include former garage blocks and yards, brownfield land in and around Portslade and large and long rear gardens. In England, where Portslade sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

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

Why work with Land to Homes in Portslade

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.

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.

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.

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.

The English system, as it applies in Portslade

In England, most planning applications for new homes in Portslade are decided by the local planning authority, usually the council, using its Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Many landowners sell without planning, either outright or through an option or promotion agreement that funds the application first. Land to Homes offers a free site appraisal, pays your reasonable legal fees on option and promotion agreements, and can buy suitable sites directly, subject to survey, title and contract.

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 Portslade
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingA land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry.

Questions about Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Portslade

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 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.

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 Portslade?

Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Portslade and elsewhere in East Sussex, including Rottingdean, Seaford and Hailsham. 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: Biodiversity net gain for landowners: what it means for your land

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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