Land Assembly and Access in Greater London
Land assembly in Greater London 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.
Greater LondonFree site appraisal
Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- 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 Greater London
We cover 82 places across Greater London: London is the main one, alongside Eltham, Camden Town and Canary Wharf. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Surrey, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
In and around Greater London, the land we appraise ranges from infill gaps along existing streets to redundant commercial buildings, including backland plots with a workable access. Planning in Greater London follows England’s rules: the National Planning Policy Framework sets national policy and the council’s Local Plan sets local policy.
Send us a postcode in or near EC1A and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
What we offer in Greater London
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.
Rights of way and easements
Public footpaths, drainage easements and private rights can affect a layout. We map them early and plan around them, or seek diversions, where the scheme requires it.
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.
Planning and land rules in Greater London
If your land near Greater London 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Common questions in Greater London
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is Greater London an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land across Greater London, including Hanworth, Pimlico and Northolt. 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