Free Site Appraisal in Castlereagh
Before you spend money on surveys or advisers, find out whether your land in Castlereagh has realistic potential for new homes. Our free appraisal starts with a desktop review of official planning documents, maps and title records, and may lead to a site visit. You get a plain-English view on prospects, risks and next steps.
Castlereagh · BT5Free 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 we look at around Castlereagh
Castlereagh (BT5) is one of the County Down towns we cover, about 11 miles south-west of Bangor (County Down). Belfast is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 2 miles, followed by Newtownabbey and Lisburn.
In and around Castlereagh, the land we appraise ranges from paddocks on the edge of Castlereagh to former garage blocks and yards, including land behind street frontages. In Northern Ireland, where Castlereagh sits, planning decisions are made by the 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications.
Tell us where your land is around Castlereagh and we will explain the routes open to you.
What you get in Castlereagh
Planning policy reviewed
We read the adopted development plan, its policies map and any emerging plan, and note how your land is treated: within a settlement boundary, allocated, protected or open countryside.
Access and highways
We look at road frontage, the likely junction position and visibility, and whether the adopted highway actually reaches your land or stops short of it.
Title and boundaries
We read the title register and plan for covenants, rights of way and easements that could affect development, and flag anything your solicitor should look at more closely.
Routes explained
We set out which deals could suit your land, from direct purchase and conditional contracts to options, promotion agreements and joint ventures, with the trade-offs of each.
Rules that apply in Castlereagh
Countryside planning policy in Northern Ireland is generally restrictive, so land inside or next to the settlement development limits around Castlereagh is usually the strongest prospect for new homes. Outline planning permission can establish the principle, with reserved matters approved later. A promotion agreement lets us fund that planning work, with our costs recovered from the sale proceeds only if the land sells with planning. Your reasonable legal fees are covered too, agreed in the heads of terms.
In Northern Ireland, we check the council's local development plan or the older area plan still in force, the SPPS, the Department for Infrastructure's flood maps, historic environment records held by the Department for Communities, and title held by Land & Property Services. We also look at wastewater capacity, which is a constraint in some areas.
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP), made up of a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan |
|---|---|
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
Your questions answered for Castlereagh
What information do I need to provide for a site appraisal?
A postcode or rough boundary is enough to start. It helps to add the title number if you know it, the current use, any planning history, any tenancies, and known issues such as drainage or access disputes. Photos and existing reports are useful but not essential.
Is the site appraisal really free?
Yes. The appraisal is free and carries no obligation. You do not have to sign anything to receive it, and asking for one does not commit you to selling or entering any agreement. If you later decide to go ahead, any terms are set out in writing first.
What does a free site appraisal include?
It covers local planning policy, constraints such as flood risk and heritage, access to the road, title issues, services, and an indication of the kind of scheme that might fit. It ends with a view on the realistic routes for your land. It is not a formal valuation, and it is not legal advice.
Will you need to visit my land?
Often, if the desktop review shows realistic potential. We will arrange a visit at a time that suits you and explain what we want to look at, such as the access point, boundaries and ground conditions. Many sites can be ruled in or out without a visit.
Do you work with landowners in Castlereagh?
We do. We work with landowners in Castlereagh and elsewhere in County Down, including Bangor (County Down), Banbridge and Downpatrick. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Free Site Appraisal · Guide: Ransom strips and access: what landowners need to know