Land Assembly and Access in Chichester
Some sites in Chichester cannot be developed alone because another owner controls the way in. That might be a ransom strip, a verge, land needed for visibility at a junction, or a private lane. Land to Homes investigates title and highway records, then works with each party to agree access on fair, written terms.
Chichester · PO19Free 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 we look at around Chichester
We cover Chichester as part of West Sussex. It is about 32 miles south-west of Crawley, around postcode district PO19. The nearest other places we cover are Bognor Regis (6 miles), Havant (9 miles) and Littlehampton (11 miles). Within England, Chichester falls in the South East region.
Typical sites we review near Chichester include backland plots with a workable access, farmland next to the settlement boundary and paddocks on the edge of Chichester. In England, where Chichester sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
Send us a postcode in or near PO19 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
What you get in Chichester
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.
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.
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.
Rules that apply in Chichester
Whether a field or large garden could take homes depends mostly on the council's Local Plan and national policy. Under the National Planning Policy Framework, plans define settlement boundaries, and land just outside Chichester may still come forward if it is allocated, previously developed or meets evidenced unmet housing need. Smaller housing schemes can also use Permission in Principle, an England-only route that settles location, use and amount first. Our free appraisal explains which route suits your land.
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.
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
|---|---|
| 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 on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
Your questions answered for Chichester
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.
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.
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.
Do you work with landowners in Chichester?
We do. We work with landowners in Chichester and elsewhere in West Sussex, including Haywards Heath, East Grinstead and Bognor Regis. 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