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For landowners · Argyll & Bute

Landowner Joint Ventures in Oban

Can I enter a joint venture on land in Oban?

A landowner joint venture in Oban is a deal where you contribute the land and Land to Homes brings planning, design, construction and project management. Instead of a one-off price, you share in the outcome once the homes are sold or let, under terms agreed in writing before work begins. It carries more risk than a straight sale.

Grass field bordered by a hedgerow, with the backs of a housing estate along one sideOban · PA34

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Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.

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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

Selling land around Oban

Oban sits about 40 miles north-west of Helensburgh in Argyll & Bute, in the PA34 postcode district. Close by, our coverage also takes in Fort William, Dunoon and Helensburgh.

In and around Oban, the land we appraise ranges from redundant commercial buildings to former garage blocks and yards, including redundant agricultural buildings. In Scotland, where Oban sits, planning decisions are made by the council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area).

Tell us where your land is around Oban and we will explain the routes open to you.

How we work in Oban

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.

Construction within the group

As part of the S&K Group, a construction and property group, Land to Homes plans schemes around homes it can build, keeping design, cost control and delivery closely connected.

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.

Planning and land rules in Oban

Scottish land deals differ from the rest of the UK in a few ways: contracts are concluded by missives, consent in principle is called planning permission in principle, and developer contributions use Section 75 agreements. Land to Homes works within those rules around Oban, whether buying a suitable site directly with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract, or promoting it through planning with nothing to pay upfront. Planning permission is never guaranteed, so we explain the risks plainly.

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 Oban
Local planning documentLocal Development Plan (LDP)
Who decides applicationsThe council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area)
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
Developer contributionsSection 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments

Your questions answered for Oban

Can a joint venture include affordable or rental homes?

Yes. A scheme can combine homes for sale, homes for rent and affordable or social homes delivered with a council or housing association. The mix changes the cash flow and when money is paid out, so it should be agreed between the parties before the planning application is submitted.

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.

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.

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 Oban an area you cover for land?

Yes, we cover land in Oban and elsewhere in Argyll & Bute, including Helensburgh, Dunoon and Campbeltown. 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: Landowner Joint Ventures · Guide: Option agreement or promotion agreement: what is the difference?

Landowner Joint Ventures elsewhere in Argyll & Bute

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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