Part of the S&K Group · Land, planning and new homesEngland · Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland0800 088 6248
Land to Homes emblem: two house roofs over green fieldsLANDTOHOMES
For landowners · Kent

Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Chatham

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

A paddock in Chatham 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.

Grass field bordered by a hedgerow, with the backs of a housing estate along one sideChatham · ME4

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

Selling land around Chatham

Chatham sits about 8 miles north of Maidstone in Kent, in the ME4 postcode district. If your land sits between towns, Gillingham, Rochester and Strood are the closest neighbouring places on our list. Chatham is in the South East region of England.

In and around Chatham, the land we appraise ranges from fields put forward or allocated in the local plan to land that already has planning permission, including brownfield land in and around Chatham. In England, where Chatham 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 Chatham.

Why work with Land to Homes in Chatham

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.

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.

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.

Planning and land rules in Chatham

In England, most planning applications for new homes in Chatham 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 Chatham
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Sell Farmland and Paddocks in Chatham: questions

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.

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.

Is agricultural land worth more with planning permission?

Usually much more, because residential land values are generally far higher than farming values. Even without permission, land with realistic prospects can attract hope value. The gap depends on location, how many homes could be built and the costs a builder faces. Our free appraisal explains the factors for your field.

Do you work with landowners in Chatham?

We do. We work with landowners in Chatham and elsewhere in Kent, including Dartford, Swanley and Tonbridge. 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: 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.

CallFree appraisal