Sell an Infill Plot in Cornwall
An infill plot in Cornwall is a gap in an otherwise built-up street or frontage, such as land between two houses, a side garden at the end of a terrace, or a cleared site in a row. Because it fills a gap rather than extending a settlement, it often has policy support, but design and neighbour impact are scrutinised closely.
CornwallFree site appraisal
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- 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
Our coverage in Cornwall
Across Cornwall, we cover Truro and 9 other towns, among them Bodmin, Launceston and Newquay. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Devon, Somerset and Bristol.
Sites worth a conversation around Cornwall: land that already has planning permission, former garage blocks and yards and land behind street frontages. In England, where Cornwall sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
Tell us where your land is around Cornwall and we will explain the routes open to you.
Our approach in Cornwall
We can buy the plot
Where a plot suits us, we can buy it ourselves, with or without planning, with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract. Any offer is set out in writing.
Self-builder or developer
Some infill plots suit individual self-builders, while others suit a developer building several homes. We explain who is likely to want your plot and what that means for the deal.
Village infill policies
Some rural policies allow limited infilling within villages even where wider development is restricted. We check whether your plot falls within the exact wording of those rules.
Services and connections
Connecting water, sewers and power to a single plot can be costly where mains are not close by. We check where services run before estimating what the plot could support.
Planning in Cornwall: the English rules
Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around Cornwall, the usual routes in England are a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement, where the planning work is funded for you and the land is sold once consent is granted. Outline planning permission settles the principle, with reserved matters approved later. Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged and biodiversity net gain all affect what a site is worth, so independent advice matters.
In England, the NPPF supports small sites and treats limited infilling in villages as an exception within the Green Belt. Smaller schemes can test the principle of housing through Permission in Principle before detailed design. Party wall procedures apply where work affects a shared wall or boundary, and buyers pay Stamp Duty Land Tax.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| 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 | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Sell an Infill Plot in Cornwall: questions
Should I sell an infill plot with or without planning?
Selling with permission usually achieves a higher price, but means paying for drawings, surveys and fees yourself and accepting the risk of refusal. Selling without planning is simpler and passes that risk to the buyer. A contract conditional on planning sits between the two and suits many small plots.
Do infill plots need biodiversity net gain?
In England, recent changes exempt many very small sites from biodiversity net gain, subject to conditions, and other exemptions may apply. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland take different approaches to biodiversity in planning. Check the current rules with your council or a planning consultant before you apply.
Can I sell the side garden of my end-of-terrace house?
Often, yes, where the side garden is wide enough for a new home that continues the terrace or stands as a separate detached house. Consider the impact on your own home, parking and garden, and whether your mortgage lender will agree to release the land.
How small can a plot be for a new house?
There is no single minimum. It depends on the width of the frontage, the size of neighbouring plots, space standards for the new home, garden and parking requirements, and how the design fits the street. A narrow plot may still work for a terraced design that continues an existing row.
Is Cornwall an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land across Cornwall, including Falmouth, Camborne and St Austell. Where a site suits us we can buy it directly, or set up an option or promotion agreement. On promotion there is nothing to pay upfront.
Read more: Sell an Infill Plot · Guide: Selling part of your garden: what you need to know