Land Assembly and Access in March
Land assembly in March means bringing several pieces of land under one plan so they can be developed together. It might combine neighbouring gardens, separate fields, or a main site and the strip needed to reach the road. Land to Homes negotiates with each owner and sets up a fair, written way of sharing value.
March · PE15Free site appraisal
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Land and sites near March
We cover March as part of Cambridgeshire. It is about 14 miles east of Peterborough, around postcode district PE15. If your land sits between towns, Wisbech, Ely and Peterborough are the closest neighbouring places on our list. March is in the East of England region of England.
In and around March, the land we appraise ranges from redundant commercial buildings to redundant agricultural buildings, including corner plots and side gardens. As March is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us where your land is around March and we will explain the routes open to you.
Our approach in March
Equalisation between owners
A collaboration or equalisation agreement shares proceeds by area or agreed proportion, so it does not matter whose land ends up as roads, open space or homes in the final layout.
Unregistered land traced
Some strips and verges have never been registered. We search the records and, where an owner cannot be traced, explain the options, which usually need specialist legal advice.
Highway boundaries checked
The adopted highway does not always reach your boundary. We ask the highway authority for its records, because a narrow unadopted verge can change the access position completely.
One planning strategy
A single application covering the whole area usually produces a better layout than piecemeal schemes, and councils often expect it where their plans call for comprehensive development.
Planning in March: the English rules
If your land near March lies in the Green Belt, national policy still protects it, but England's planning framework now recognises grey belt: Green Belt land that is previously developed or does not strongly contribute to certain Green Belt purposes. Where there is evidenced unmet need and the location is sustainable, grey belt housing can be acceptable, with major schemes meeting the Golden Rules on affordable housing, infrastructure and green space. Planning is never guaranteed, so we check policy, access and constraints first.
In England, new estate roads are usually adopted under a Section 38 agreement with the highway authority, with works to the existing road under a Section 278 agreement. Ownership is checked through HM Land Registry and local records. Where a Local Plan allocates a larger site across several ownerships, it may require a masterplan covering all of them.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Common questions in March
Should neighbours sell their land together or separately?
Together usually produces a stronger planning case and a more efficient layout, especially where one access can serve everyone. It needs trust and clear documents. Selling separately can work for a plot with its own access, but may limit what the wider area can achieve.
What is an equalisation agreement?
It is an agreement between landowners whose land will be developed together. It shares proceeds and costs by an agreed formula, usually by area, regardless of where homes, roads or open space end up. Without one, owners may compete for the most valuable parts of the layout and stall the whole scheme.
What if my access crosses a public footpath?
A footpath crossing does not usually prevent access, but the design must keep the path safe and usable. If the layout needs the path to move, a formal diversion order is required, which is a separate legal process that members of the public can object to.
What is a ransom strip?
A ransom strip is a piece of land, sometimes very narrow, that sits between a development site and the road or services it needs. Whoever owns it can block access or ask for a share of the value it unlocks. The amount is negotiated case by case. Our guide to ransom strips and access explains more.
Is March an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land in March and elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, including Wisbech, Peterborough and Cambridge. 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: Land Assembly and Access · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK