Landowner Joint Ventures in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

Land and sites near Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

Our Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire coverage takes in 5 towns and cities, centred on Aberdeen and including Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Inverurie. Next door, we also cover Moray, Angus & Dundee and Perth & Kinross.

Sites worth a conversation around Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire: paddocks on the edge of Aberdeen, large and long rear gardens and land behind street frontages. Because Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire is in Scotland, land titles are registered with Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) and transfers attract Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

If you own land near Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.

What you get in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

Land value agreed first

Your land is valued at the outset so everyone knows what it contributes. That figure often sets an entitlement paid to you before any profit is shared, which is a key protection in most structures.

Clear exit routes

The agreement should cover what happens on completion, if one party wants to leave, or if planning is refused. Clear exit terms protect both sides from being locked into a project that no longer works.

Funding and lender security

Development lenders usually want a first charge over the land. If your land is charged, you need to understand what happens if the project runs into difficulty and what protection the agreement gives you.

Sale or rent agreed together

Homes can be built for sale, for rent, or as affordable housing with a council or housing association. The mix affects risk and when money comes back, so it is agreed before work starts.

Rules that apply in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

In Scotland, planning applications for land around Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire 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, land placed in a joint venture is transferred or secured under Scots property law, typically by disposition or standard security registered with Registers of Scotland. Land and Buildings Transaction Tax can apply to transfers. Planning obligations are agreed under Section 75, and new homes need a building warrant before construction starts.

Key rules in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
National planning policy	National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan
Local planning document	Local Development Plan (LDP)
Who decides applications	The council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area)
In-principle consent	Planning permission in principle (PPP), followed by approval of matters specified in conditions
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)	Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
Land registration	Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland)
How a sale becomes binding	Land sales are concluded through missives, formal letters exchanged between solicitors that become a binding contract once concluded, followed by settlement on the date of entry and registration in the Land Register of Scotland.
Developer contributions	Section 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments

Common questions in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

How is a property joint venture taxed?

It depends on the structure and your circumstances. Taking part in development can change how your proceeds are taxed, for example as income rather than a capital gain, and moving land into a company can trigger stamp duty or its equivalent in your nation. Speak to an accountant before agreeing any structure.

Do I have to put money into a joint venture?

Not always. In many landowner joint ventures the land is the landowner's whole contribution, while the developer arranges the rest of the funding. Some structures ask both parties to contribute cash. The agreement should state clearly whether any further contribution could ever be required from you, and in what circumstances.

Is a joint venture riskier than selling my land?

Usually, yes. A sale gives you a known figure. In a joint venture, what you receive depends on build costs, sales values, funding and timing, all of which can change. If the market falls or costs rise, your share could be less than a straight sale would have achieved, which is why advice before committing matters.

What happens if the joint venture does not get planning?

The agreement should say. Common approaches include ending the venture with each party bearing its own costs, or allowing a revised application within a set period. Make sure you know whether any planning costs could ever be charged to you, and in what circumstances, before you sign.

Is Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire an area you cover for land?

Yes, we cover land across Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, including Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Stonehaven. 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.