Sell an Infill Plot in Lerwick
Owners of small gap sites in Lerwick are often told the plot is too small to bother with. It may not be. One well-designed house on the right frontage can be a straightforward planning case. Land to Homes gives a free, no-obligation appraisal and, where the plot suits us, can buy it directly, subject to survey, title and contract.
Lerwick · ZE1Free 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
Our coverage in Lerwick
Lerwick (ZE1) is one of the Highlands & Islands towns we cover, about 215 miles north-east of Inverness. Kirkwall is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 103 miles, followed by Thurso and Fraserburgh.
Typical sites we review near Lerwick include corner plots and side gardens, brownfield land in and around Lerwick and paddocks on the edge of Lerwick. Planning in Lerwick follows Scotland’s rules: National Planning Framework 4 sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Send us a postcode in or near ZE1 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
Our approach in Lerwick
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.
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.
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.
The Scottish system, as it applies in Lerwick
In Scotland, planning applications for land around Lerwick are decided by the council as planning authority, using National Planning Framework 4 and the Local Development Plan, which together form the statutory development plan. Instead of outline permission, Scotland uses planning permission in principle, followed by approval of matters specified in conditions. Land to Homes can buy suitable sites directly or promote land through planning, and every conversation starts with a free site appraisal.
In Scotland, infill sites are assessed against the Local Development Plan and NPF4, including its policies on local living and rural homes. Small sites are often consented through planning permission in principle or a full application. Shared boundaries are dealt with under Scots property law rather than party wall legislation, and a building warrant is required.
| National planning policy | National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| In-principle consent | Planning permission in principle (PPP), followed by approval of matters specified in conditions |
| Land registration | Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) |
Common questions in Lerwick
What is an infill plot?
An infill plot is a gap within an existing line of buildings, such as a space between two houses or at the end of a terrace, where a new home would continue the street rather than extend into open land. Exact definitions vary between councils, and rural policies often define infill more narrowly.
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.
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.
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 you work with landowners in Lerwick?
We do. We work with landowners in Lerwick and elsewhere in Highlands & Islands, including Kirkwall, Fort William and Thurso. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Sell an Infill Plot · Guide: Selling part of your garden: what you need to know