Landowner Joint Ventures in West Sussex
If you own land in West Sussex and want more than a land price, a joint venture lets you stay involved in what gets built. The structure might be a contract, a joint venture company or a partnership. Each has different implications for control, risk, tax and funding, so independent legal and tax advice is essential before you commit.
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Our coverage in West Sussex
Across West Sussex, we cover Crawley and 8 other towns, among them Horsham, East Grinstead and Bognor Regis. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover East Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.
Around West Sussex we look at redundant commercial buildings, redundant agricultural buildings and large and long rear gardens. In England, where West Sussex sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
A postcode and a rough boundary are enough for us to start a free appraisal of land near West Sussex.
Our approach in West Sussex
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.
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.
Advice before commitment
Joint ventures carry real commercial risk. We always recommend independent legal, tax and valuation advice, and we will say plainly if a straight sale or an option looks like a better fit for 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.
The English system, as it applies in West Sussex
Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around West Sussex, the usual routes in England are a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement, where the planning work is funded for you and the land is sold once consent is granted. Outline planning permission settles the principle, with reserved matters approved later. Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged and biodiversity net gain all affect what a site is worth, so independent advice matters.
In England, a joint venture scheme still has to meet the Local Plan, the NPPF and, where it applies, biodiversity net gain. Affordable housing is usually secured through a Section 106 agreement, which affects cash flow. If land is transferred into a joint venture company, Stamp Duty Land Tax can arise, and the transfer is registered at HM Land Registry.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| 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 | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Landowner Joint Ventures in West Sussex: questions
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.
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 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.
Do you work with landowners in West Sussex?
We do. We work with landowners across West Sussex, including Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Burgess Hill. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Landowner Joint Ventures · Guide: Landowner joint ventures explained: sharing in the development