Land Assembly and Access in Magherafelt
Land assembly in Magherafelt 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.
Magherafelt · BT45Free 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
Land and sites near Magherafelt
In County Londonderry, Magherafelt lies about 33 miles south-east of Derry/Londonderry; its central postcode district is BT45. Nearby, we also cover Cookstown, Ballymena and Antrim, all within 16 miles.
In and around Magherafelt, the land we appraise ranges from redundant commercial buildings to paddocks on the edge of Magherafelt, including large and long rear gardens. Because Magherafelt is in Northern Ireland, land titles are registered with Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us where your land is around Magherafelt and we will explain the routes open to you.
Why work with Land to Homes in Magherafelt
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.
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.
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 Magherafelt: the Northern Irish rules
Permission in Principle, an English route, does not apply in Northern Ireland. Instead, landowners near Magherafelt 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, 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 |
|---|---|
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| 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. |
Your questions answered for Magherafelt
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.
How do I find out who owns a strip of land?
Registered land can be searched through the land registry for the relevant nation. Unregistered land is harder: old deeds, local knowledge, highway records and neighbours can all help. Where an owner genuinely cannot be found, there are legal options, but they need specialist advice and can add time.
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 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.
Do you work with landowners in Magherafelt?
We do. We work with landowners in Magherafelt and elsewhere in County Londonderry, including Derry/Londonderry, Coleraine and Limavady. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Land Assembly and Access · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK