Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Lerwick
Selling farmland or paddocks in Lerwick 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.
Lerwick · ZE1Free 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 Lerwick
We cover Lerwick as part of Highlands & Islands. It is about 215 miles north-east of Inverness, around postcode district ZE1. The nearest other places we cover are Kirkwall (103 miles), Thurso (137 miles) and Fraserburgh (173 miles).
In and around Lerwick, the land we appraise ranges from corner plots and side gardens to infill gaps along existing streets, including small holdings and pony paddocks. Planning in Lerwick follows Scotland’s rules: National Planning Framework 4 sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Send us a postcode in or near ZE1 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
How we work in Lerwick
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.
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.
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.
Planning in Lerwick: the Scottish rules
In Scotland, planning applications for land around Lerwick are decided by the council as planning authority, using National Planning Framework 4 and the Local Development Plan, which together form the statutory development plan. Instead of outline permission, Scotland uses planning permission in principle, followed by approval of matters specified in conditions. Land to Homes can buy suitable sites directly or promote land through planning, and every conversation starts with a free site appraisal.
In Scotland, NPF4 limits development on prime agricultural land, and rural housing is guided by its rural homes policy and the Local Development Plan. Croft land usually needs a decrofting direction from the Crofting Commission before it can be developed. Scottish agricultural tenancies carry their own statutory rights, so take specialist advice early.
| National planning policy | National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan |
|---|---|
| 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 registration | Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) |
Your questions answered for Lerwick
Will selling farmland affect my inheritance tax reliefs?
It may. Reliefs for agricultural and business property depend on how the land is used and held, and selling land or holding cash instead can change the position. These rules have changed recently, so speak to an accountant or tax adviser before agreeing terms.
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.
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 work with landowners in Lerwick?
We do. We work with landowners in Lerwick and elsewhere in Highlands & Islands, including Kirkwall, Fort William and Inverness. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Sell Farmland and Paddocks · Guide: Green Belt and grey belt land explained