Sell an Infill Plot in County Down
Selling infill land in County Down turns on three questions: does the gap fit the pattern of the street, are services and access available, and would a new home affect neighbours' light or privacy? Land to Homes checks each one, explains the likely scale of scheme, and puts any offer or terms in writing before you commit.
County DownFree 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 County Down
Our County Down coverage takes in 6 towns and cities, centred on Bangor (County Down) and including Newry, Banbridge and Newtownards. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover County Antrim, County Armagh and County Tyrone.
In and around County Down, the land we appraise ranges from corner plots and side gardens to paddocks on the edge of Bangor (County Down), including fields put forward or allocated in the local plan. Planning in County Down follows Northern Ireland’s rules: the Strategic Planning Policy Statement sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Tell us where your land is around County Down and we will explain the routes open to you.
Why work with Land to Homes in County Down
Street scene first
Councils look at the building line, roof heights, plot widths and materials along the street. A new home that follows that pattern has a much better chance of approval than one that ignores it.
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.
Small plots still count
Many single-plot sites are viable. We look at what could fit, from one detached house to a short terrace, rather than dismissing a site because of its size.
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.
How the rules work in County Down
Countryside planning policy in Northern Ireland is generally restrictive, so land inside or next to the settlement development limits around County Down 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, rural infill is tightly controlled: PPS 21 allows a small gap site within an otherwise substantial and continuously built-up frontage, and councils with adopted plan strategies apply their own versions. Within settlements, PPS 7 and the Creating Places guide shape design. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies on the sale.
| 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) |
Your questions answered for County Down
Is it easier to get planning permission for infill?
Often, because infill makes use of land within a settlement. But councils still refuse infill that harms the character of the street, neighbours' amenity or highway safety. In some rural areas, infill policies are tightly defined, so it pays to check the exact policy wording for your area.
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.
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.
Do my neighbours have a say if I sell an infill plot?
You do not need their permission to sell, but they will be notified when a planning application is made and can comment on it. Early, courteous contact often helps, especially if party walls, shared drives or boundary features such as hedges and fences are involved.
Do you buy land in County Down?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land across County Down, including Banbridge, Newry and Bangor (County Down). Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
Read more: Sell an Infill Plot · Guide: Selling part of your garden: what you need to know