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For landowners · Dorset

Land Promotion Agreements in Poole

How does land promotion work in Poole?

With promotion, you keep your land in Poole while Land to Homes pays for the surveys, design and planning application. There is nothing to pay upfront: costs are recovered from the sale proceeds only if the land sells with planning. A minimum price agreed at the start means you are not obliged to sell below that figure.

Aerial view of open farmland with hedgerows on the edge of a townPoole · BH15

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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

Our coverage in Poole

Poole (BH15) is one of the Dorset towns we cover, about 5 miles west of Bournemouth. Bournemouth is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 5 miles, followed by Christchurch and New Milton. Poole is in the South West region of England.

Sites worth a conversation around Poole: brownfield land in and around Poole, paddocks on the edge of Poole and corner plots and side gardens. In England, where Poole sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

If you own land near Poole, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.

Our approach in Poole

Planning work funded by us

Nothing to pay upfront: on promotion we fund the planning work. Those costs are recovered from the sale proceeds only if the land sells with planning, and the heads of terms set out exactly how that works.

Open-market sale

Once planning is secured, the land is marketed to housebuilders and other buyers, usually through an agent. The aim is genuine competition between bidders, rather than reliance on a single valuation figure.

Reasonable legal fees covered

We pay your reasonable legal fees on promotion agreements, with the amount agreed up front in the heads of terms. You choose your own solicitor to act for you.

Clear fee and cost rules

The heads of terms state the fee, which costs can be recovered and whether any cap applies, so you can see what will come out of the proceeds before you sign.

How the rules work in Poole

Selling development land in Poole usually starts with heads of terms, a short written summary of price, conditions and fees, before solicitors draft the contract. In England the sale becomes binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title then registered at HM Land Registry. The buyer normally pays Stamp Duty Land Tax. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes, your reasonable legal fees are covered, with the amount agreed in the heads of terms.

In England, promotion usually focuses on getting land allocated in a Local Plan, or permitted where the council cannot show enough land for housing. Larger schemes often go in as outline applications, and the heads of terms should explain how Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy and biodiversity net gain costs affect the net proceeds.

Key rules in Poole
National planning policyNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
How a sale becomes bindingA 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 contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Your questions answered for Poole

Can a promotion agreement cover land owned by several people?

Yes. Neighbours, family members or trustees can sign one agreement, or linked agreements, often with a separate arrangement for sharing proceeds between them. This makes it easier to bring forward a larger site with a single planning strategy. Our land assembly page explains how sharing usually works.

Is a promotion agreement better than an option?

Neither is better in every case. Promotion often suits larger sites where open-market competition is likely to drive the price and the landowner wants transparency. An option can suit smaller or more complex sites where one committed buyer matters more. Our guide to option and promotion agreements compares the two.

What is a minimum price in a promotion agreement?

It is the lowest figure at which the landowner can be required to sell once planning is granted. It protects you from a sale in a weak market. Set it too high and the land may not sell; set it too low and it gives little protection. Some agreements allow review by an independent surveyor.

Can I end a promotion agreement early?

Usually only in limited circumstances set out in the agreement, such as the promoter failing to meet its obligations or the term expiring. Because the promoter is investing in planning, early termination by the landowner is normally restricted. Check the termination clauses with your solicitor before you sign.

Do you buy land in Poole?

Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Poole and elsewhere in Dorset, including Bournemouth, Weymouth and Christchurch. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.

Read more: Land Promotion Agreements · Guide: Who pays for land promotion? Fees, costs and legal fees explained

Land Promotion Agreements elsewhere in Dorset

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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