Funding and Investment Partners in County Armagh

Partnerships around County Armagh

Our County Armagh coverage takes in 3 towns and cities, centred on Portadown and including Lurgan and Armagh. Next door, we also cover County Down, County Antrim and County Tyrone.

Partnerships we can discuss around County Armagh include social rent homes, Section 106 affordable homes and design and build for a registered provider. In Northern Ireland, where County Armagh sits, planning decisions are made by the 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications.

Tell us about the opportunity near County Armagh and the right person will call you back.

What you get in County Armagh

Not an offer to invest

Nothing on this site is an offer or invitation to invest, and nothing here is regulated investment advice, a recommendation or a solicitation.

Landowner co-investment

A landowner can keep an interest in their land through a joint venture rather than selling outright, with the terms set out in a written agreement.

Development lenders

We discuss senior and mezzanine development finance with lenders on a site-by-site basis, with security and terms agreed through each party's solicitors.

Forward funding and purchase

For build to rent and affordable homes, we discuss forward funding and forward purchase structures with institutional and registered provider partners.

The Northern Irish system, as it applies in County Armagh

In Northern Ireland, housing associations find sites and develop schemes under the Social Housing Development Programme, while the Housing Executive assesses housing need in areas such as County Armagh. Councils' Local Development Plans can also require affordable homes on private developments, secured through a Section 76 planning agreement. Land to Homes can supply land, design and construction, or deliver completed homes for transfer to a registered housing association.

In Northern Ireland, Stamp Duty Land Tax applies, and title and charges are registered with Land & Property Services. Planning agreements are made under Section 76, and most applications are decided by the 11 district councils. Northern Ireland property law and procedure differ from the rest of the UK, so partners need local legal advice.

Key rules in County Armagh
National planning policy	Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy
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)
Land registration	Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds)
How a sale becomes binding	A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services.
Developer contributions	Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy)

Questions about Funding and Investment Partners in County Armagh

What is forward funding?

Forward funding is where an investor, often an institution, buys a site and funds the construction of homes on it, taking ownership of the completed scheme. The developer builds the homes under a development agreement. It is used in build to rent and some affordable housing schemes. The legal and tax structure needs specialist advice for each party.

How is forward purchase different from forward funding?

With forward funding, the investor pays for the land and construction as the scheme is built. With forward purchase, the investor commits to buy the completed homes, but the developer arranges construction finance in the meantime. The choice affects risk, cost and timing for both parties, so each takes its own advice before agreeing terms.

What types of funding do residential developments use?

Typically a mix of senior development debt, sometimes mezzanine debt, and equity from the developer and its partners. Build to rent and affordable homes may use forward funding or forward purchase by an institution or registered provider. Landowners can also contribute land through a joint venture. The right structure depends on the scheme, and each party takes independent advice.

How can a landowner co-invest in a development?

Instead of selling outright, a landowner can put land into a joint venture with a developer, agreeing how costs, decisions and proceeds are shared. This can suit landowners who want a longer-term involvement. It carries more risk than a sale, so independent legal, tax and financial advice is essential before agreeing any terms.

Can we discuss a partnership in County Armagh?

We are happy to talk about specific opportunities across County Armagh, including Lurgan, Portadown and Armagh. Conversations are private and every arrangement is documented by each party’s own advisers. Nothing here is an invitation to invest.