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For landowners · Greater Manchester

Sell Land with Planning Permission in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Can I sell land with planning permission in Ashton-in-Makerfield?

Got planning permission on land in Ashton-in-Makerfield but no wish to build? You can sell the site with the consent attached. Land to Homes reads the decision notice, the approved drawings, the conditions and any planning agreement, then tells you whether we would buy it directly, subject to survey, title and contract, and what would affect the figure.

Ripe wheat field edge with a village church tower and rooftops beyond the hedgeAshton-in-Makerfield · WN4

Free 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

Land and sites near Ashton-in-Makerfield

About 17 miles west of Manchester, Ashton-in-Makerfield is part of our Greater Manchester coverage, centred on postcode district WN4. Close by, our coverage also takes in Golborne, Newton-le-Willows and St Helens. Ashton-in-Makerfield is in the North West region of England.

Sites worth a conversation around Ashton-in-Makerfield: corner plots and side gardens, fields put forward or allocated in the local plan and infill gaps along existing streets. Because Ashton-in-Makerfield is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

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

Why work with Land to Homes in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Expiry dates checked

Most permissions lapse if development does not lawfully begin within the period set in the decision. We check the deadline, and whether a lawful start has already been made, before discussing any deal.

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.

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.

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 Ashton-in-Makerfield: the English rules

Selling development land in Ashton-in-Makerfield 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, 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 Ashton-in-Makerfield
Local planning documentLocal Plan
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
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.

Sell Land with Planning Permission in Ashton-in-Makerfield: questions

What is a pre-commencement condition?

It is a condition that must be discharged before any development starts, such as approval of drainage, materials, a construction management plan or ecology measures. Starting work before discharging one can mean the permission has not been lawfully implemented. Buyers check these carefully because they affect both cost and when building can begin.

Does planning permission go with the land when I sell?

Yes. In most cases planning permission runs with the land, not the owner, so it passes to the buyer automatically. Personal permissions are rare exceptions. Planning agreements tied to the consent, such as a Section 106 agreement in England and Wales, also bind the land, so the buyer takes on those obligations as well.

Who pays the Community Infrastructure Levy when I sell land with planning?

CIL is only charged where the council has adopted it, which is possible in England and Wales but not in Scotland or Northern Ireland. It is normally payable when development starts, by whoever has assumed liability. If you sell before work begins, the buyer usually takes on that liability. Reliefs and exemptions generally have to be claimed before commencement, so check the council's charging schedule.

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.

Do you work with landowners in Ashton-in-Makerfield?

We do. We work with landowners in Ashton-in-Makerfield and elsewhere in Greater Manchester, including Rochdale, Hindley and Manchester. 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?

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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