Landowner Joint Ventures in Derry/Londonderry
Joint ventures in Derry/Londonderry suit landowners who can wait for their money and are comfortable with uncertainty. Your land becomes part of a development, with Land to Homes, part of the S&K Group, running planning and construction. How costs, profit, decisions and any lender's security over the land are handled is all set out in the agreement.
Derry/Londonderry · BT48Free 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
Selling land around Derry/Londonderry
Our County Londonderry coverage is centred on Derry/Londonderry, postcode district BT48, and reaches 3 other places. Nearby, we also cover Strabane, Limavady and Coleraine, all within 27 miles.
Around Derry/Londonderry we look at farmland next to the settlement boundary, backland plots with a workable access and paddocks on the edge of Derry/Londonderry. In Northern Ireland, where Derry/Londonderry sits, planning decisions are made by the 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications.
Send us a postcode in or near BT48 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
Why work with Land to Homes in Derry/Londonderry
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.
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.
Decisions and deadlock
The agreement should say who decides on design, pricing, contractors and programme, which matters need both parties' consent, and how any disagreement is resolved without stalling the project.
Choice of structure
A joint venture can be purely contractual, a joint venture company or a limited liability partnership. Each handles control, liability, tax and exit differently, and your own advisers should help you choose.
The Northern Irish system, as it applies in Derry/Londonderry
Permission in Principle, an English route, does not apply in Northern Ireland. Instead, landowners near Derry/Londonderry usually seek outline or full planning permission from the council. Developer contributions are agreed under Section 76 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, and there is no Community Infrastructure Levy. Land to Homes can take on that process through an option or promotion agreement, or buy a suitable site directly, subject to survey, title and contract.
In Northern Ireland, joint ventures use similar structures, but planning is handled by the district council under the SPPS and its local development plan. Section 76 agreements can secure affordable housing, often delivered by housing associations through the social housing programme the Housing Executive manages. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies, and titles are registered with Land & Property Services.
| National planning policy | Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Your questions answered for Derry/Londonderry
How is the land valued in a joint venture?
Usually by agreement or independent valuation at the start, based on its value with or without planning. That figure may give you a first call on proceeds before any profit is shared. The method matters a great deal, so agree it in writing and consider taking advice from your own surveyor.
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.
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.
Is Derry/Londonderry an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land in Derry/Londonderry and elsewhere in County Londonderry, including Magherafelt, Coleraine and Limavady. 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?