Free Site Appraisal in Highlands & Islands
Before you spend money on surveys or advisers, find out whether your land in Highlands & Islands 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.
Highlands & IslandsFree 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 Highlands & Islands
Across Highlands & Islands, we cover Inverness and 5 other towns, among them Kirkwall, Stornoway and Lerwick. Next door, we also cover Moray, Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire and Angus & Dundee.
In and around Highlands & Islands, the land we appraise ranges from redundant agricultural buildings to backland plots with a workable access, including small holdings and pony paddocks. As Highlands & Islands is in Scotland, applications are judged against National Planning Framework 4, and the buyer of land pays Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
If you own land near Highlands & Islands, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Why work with Land to Homes in Highlands & Islands
Services and drainage
We check where sewers, water mains and power run, and flag where limited capacity, long connections or drainage design could add significant cost to a scheme.
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.
No obligation, no cost
The appraisal is free and there is no obligation to go any further. If your land is unlikely to suit new homes, we will tell you plainly and explain why.
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.
Planning in Highlands & Islands: the Scottish rules
Planning obligations in Scotland are made under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and can cover affordable housing and infrastructure. Once registered against the title, they can bind future owners. Under NPF4, national and major developments must also leave biodiversity in a demonstrably better state. These costs shape what development land near Highlands & Islands is worth, which is why our free appraisal explains them before any offer or promotion terms are agreed.
In Scotland, we check the Local Development Plan and NPF4, SEPA's flood maps, Historic Environment Scotland designations, and whether the land is croft land. Title is read from the Land Register or, for older titles, the Register of Sasines kept by Registers of Scotland. Former coalfield areas may need a Coal Authority check.
| National planning policy | National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| 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 transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) |
| Land registration | Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) |
| How a sale becomes binding | Land sales are concluded through missives, formal letters exchanged between solicitors that become a binding contract once concluded, followed by settlement on the date of entry and registration in the Land Register of Scotland. |
| Developer contributions | Section 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments |
Common questions in Highlands & Islands
Can I ask for an appraisal on land I am selling for someone else?
Yes, if you are acting for the owner, for example as an executor, trustee, attorney or land agent. We will need to understand your authority before discussing terms. If you are a buyer looking at land, a planning consultant or surveyor can advise you independently.
Does a site appraisal mean I will get planning permission?
No. Nobody can promise planning permission, because the decision rests with the planning authority, or on appeal. The appraisal gives an informed view of prospects and risks, based on policy and constraints, so you can decide whether pursuing planning is worth the time and cost.
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.
Will you contact my neighbours or the council?
Not without your agreement. We use what you share to assess your land and discuss it with you. Our desktop review relies on published records and mapping. If talking to a neighbour or the council would help, we will ask you first and explain why.
Do you work with landowners in Highlands & Islands?
We do. We work with landowners across 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: Free Site Appraisal · Guide: How to sell land for development