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For landowners · Cambridgeshire

Sell Land with Planning Permission in March

Can I sell land with planning permission in March?

Land with planning permission in March is a site where the council has already approved new homes, either in outline or in full. A buyer is paying for that consent as well as the ground, so the price depends on what the permission allows, the conditions attached and the planning obligations that come with it. Land to Homes reviews all three before making an offer.

Grass field bordered by a hedgerow, with the backs of a housing estate along one sideMarch · PE15

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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

Land and sites near March

About 14 miles east of Peterborough, March is part of our Cambridgeshire coverage, centred on postcode district PE15. The nearest other places we cover are Wisbech (8 miles), Ely (13 miles) and Peterborough (14 miles). Within England, March falls in the East of England region.

Sites worth a conversation around March: land behind street frontages, large and long rear gardens and land that already has planning permission. In England, where March 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 March, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.

What we offer in March

Buildability tested

As part of the S&K Group, a construction and property group, we test whether the approved homes can be built for a sensible cost, not just whether the drawings look right.

Conditions priced in

Pre-commencement conditions, such as drainage, materials or ecology details, must be discharged before work starts. We identify which are outstanding, what they are likely to cost and who would deal with them.

Planning obligations understood

Section 106 agreements in England and Wales, Section 75 in Scotland and Section 76 in Northern Ireland bind the land. Their costs, such as affordable housing or contributions, pass to the buyer and affect value.

Permission read in full

We read the decision notice, the approved plans and every condition, so any offer reflects what the consent actually allows rather than the headline number of homes on the application form.

Planning in March: the English rules

Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around March, the usual routes in England are a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement, where the planning work is funded for you and the land is sold once consent is granted. Outline planning permission settles the principle, with reserved matters approved later. Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged and biodiversity net gain all affect what a site is worth, so independent advice matters.

In England, buyers check Section 106 obligations, any Community Infrastructure Levy liability and, for many newer permissions, the biodiversity gain condition, which usually requires a biodiversity gain plan to be approved before work starts. We also confirm whether the consent came from a full application, an outline approval, or Permission in Principle followed by technical details consent.

Key rules in March
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Sell Land with Planning Permission in March: questions

Is outline planning permission worth less than full permission?

Usually, because more approvals are still needed. Outline permission sets the principle and sometimes the access, while reserved matters such as layout, scale, appearance and landscaping come later. A buyer allows for the cost and risk of that remaining work. In Scotland the closest equivalent is planning permission in principle.

Do I need to clear the planning conditions before I sell?

Not usually. Many sites sell with conditions still outstanding, and the buyer deals with them as part of preparing to build. Clearing some in advance can make a site easier to sell, but it costs money and may not suit every buyer's design. We will tell you whether it is worth doing on your site.

What checks will a buyer make on land with planning permission?

Expect checks on the decision notice and conditions, any planning agreement, the title and boundaries, access and visibility at the junction, drainage and utility connections, ground conditions, ecology and flood risk. A surprise found late can lead to renegotiation, so sharing what you already know early tends to keep a sale on track.

What happens if my planning permission is about to expire?

If development has not lawfully begun by the deadline, the permission usually lapses and a new application is needed, which may be judged against newer policy. The usual choices are to sell to a buyer able to make a lawful start, to apply again, or to make a start yourself after discharging pre-commencement conditions. Take planning advice early.

Do you work with landowners in March?

We do. We work with landowners in March and elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, including Huntingdon, Ely and St Neots. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.

Read more: Sell Land with Planning Permission · Guide: How is development land valued?

Sell Land with Planning Permission elsewhere in Cambridgeshire

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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