Funding and Investment Partners in County Down

Schemes around County Down

Across County Down, we cover Bangor (County Down) and 5 other towns, among them Banbridge, Castlereagh and Newry. Neighbouring areas we also cover include County Antrim, County Armagh and County Tyrone.

Partnerships we can discuss around County Down include Section 106 affordable homes, mixed-tenure developments and joint ventures with landowners. Because County Down is in Northern Ireland, land titles are registered with Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

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

Our approach in County Down

No money from the public

We do not take deposits, loans or investment from members of the public. Funding is discussed privately with lenders, institutions and landowners only.

Advice from your own advisers

We do not give legal, tax or financial advice. Every party should take independent advice before entering into any agreement with us.

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.

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.

Planning and land rules in County Down

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 Down. 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 Down
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 Down

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.

Is anything on this site regulated investment advice?

No. Land to Homes does not give investment, financial, tax or legal advice, and nothing on this site is an offer, invitation or recommendation to invest. Funding discussions take place privately with lenders and professional parties, who rely on their own advisers and due diligence. If you are unsure about any investment, speak to an independent regulated adviser.

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.

Can I invest in Land to Homes?

Nothing on this site is an offer or invitation to invest, and we do not take investment, loans or deposits from members of the public. We discuss funding privately with development lenders and institutional partners on specific schemes. If you are a professional party with an interest in residential development, you can contact us to start a conversation.

Can we discuss a partnership in County Down?

We are happy to talk about specific opportunities across County Down, including Downpatrick, Banbridge and Bangor (County Down). Conversations are private and every arrangement is documented by each party’s own advisers. Nothing here is an invitation to invest.