Land Assembly and Access in Antrim
Land assembly in Antrim 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.
Antrim · BT41Free site appraisal
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 Antrim
Antrim sits about 14 miles north-west of Belfast in County Antrim, in the BT41 postcode district. Nearby, we also cover Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Belfast, all within 14 miles.
In and around Antrim, the land we appraise ranges from corner plots and side gardens to large and long rear gardens, including infill gaps along existing streets. Planning in Antrim follows Northern Ireland’s rules: the Strategic Planning Policy Statement sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.
Tell us where your land is around Antrim and we will explain the routes open to you.
What we offer in Antrim
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.
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.
Visibility splays secured
A new junction needs clear sightlines across land on either side. If any of that land is in other ownership, rights or a purchase are needed before the access can work.
Deals to suit each owner
Different owners may want different routes: some prefer to sell outright, others an option or promotion. The structure can combine these within one plan for the whole area.
The Northern Irish system, as it applies in Antrim
Selling land near Antrim follows a familiar pattern in Northern Ireland: heads of terms, then an exchange of contracts signed by both sides, which makes the sale binding, and completion. The buyer pays Stamp Duty Land Tax, as in England, and the title is registered with Land Registry, part of Land & Property Services, although older titles may first need moving from the Registry of Deeds. Infrastructure and affordable housing are usually secured through a Section 76 planning agreement.
In Northern Ireland, new estate roads are usually built under the Private Streets (Northern Ireland) Order 1980, with DfI Roads determining the layout and an agreement and bond securing adoption. Titles are held by Land & Property Services, and some older land is still recorded in the Registry of Deeds. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies to purchases.
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
|---|---|
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| 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. |
| Developer contributions | Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy) |
Your questions answered for Antrim
What is a visibility splay?
A visibility splay is the area of land either side of a junction that must be kept clear so drivers can see approaching traffic. Its size depends on road speeds and the highway authority's standards. If part of the splay is owned by someone else, the scheme needs their agreement before the access can work.
Can the council force a neighbour to sell land for my development?
Generally no, for a private housing scheme. Councils have compulsory purchase powers for certain public purposes, but they are not a routine tool for individual developments. Most land assembly is achieved by agreement, which is why early, fair and well-documented negotiation matters so much.
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.
Who pays the legal costs in a land assembly?
It depends on the structure. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes, we pay your reasonable legal fees, with the amount agreed up front in the heads of terms. For direct purchases and collaboration agreements, cost arrangements are agreed case by case and set out in writing.
Do you buy land in Antrim?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Antrim and elsewhere in County Antrim, including Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Lisburn. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
Read more: Land Assembly and Access · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK