Sell Land Without Planning in Lurgan
Most development land in Lurgan starts life with no planning at all. If your field, yard or paddock sits close to existing homes, you have a choice: take a lower price now and pass the risk to a buyer, or wait for planning and share in the higher value. We set out both sides in writing after a free appraisal.
Lurgan · BT66Free 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 we look at around Lurgan
About 5 miles north-east of Portadown, Lurgan is part of our County Armagh coverage, centred on postcode district BT66. Close by, our coverage also takes in Portadown, Banbridge and Lisburn.
In and around Lurgan, the land we appraise ranges from land that already has planning permission to small holdings and pony paddocks, including farmland next to the settlement boundary. As Lurgan is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us where your land is around Lurgan and we will explain the routes open to you.
Why work with Land to Homes in Lurgan
Conditional contracts
Contracts are signed now, but the sale only completes if a satisfactory planning permission is granted by a longstop date. The price is usually fixed, or set by an agreed formula, when the contract is signed.
Option or promotion routes
Where planning will take longer, an option or promotion agreement lets us fund the application while you keep ownership. We explain the difference, including who benefits from a higher or lower sale price.
Overage protects the upside
If you sell now, an overage clause can entitle you to a further payment if a more valuable permission is granted later. We explain how triggers, duration and security are usually set out.
Planning funded on promotion
Nothing to pay upfront: on a promotion agreement we fund the planning work, and those costs are recovered from the sale proceeds only if the land sells with planning. The detail is set out in the heads of terms.
Planning and land rules in Lurgan
Countryside planning policy in Northern Ireland is generally restrictive, so land inside or next to the settlement development limits around Lurgan is usually the strongest prospect for new homes. Outline planning permission can establish the principle, with reserved matters approved later. A promotion agreement lets us fund that planning work, with our costs recovered from the sale proceeds only if the land sells with planning. Your reasonable legal fees are covered too, agreed in the heads of terms.
In Northern Ireland, councils are replacing older area plans with new local development plans made up of a plan strategy and then a local policies plan that zones land. Until zoning is settled, development limits and countryside policy in the SPPS and PPS 21, or a council's own adopted policies, make land outside settlements difficult.
| 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 | Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services. |
Common questions in Lurgan
What is a subject to planning contract?
It is a contract where both sides commit now, but the sale only completes if a satisfactory planning permission is granted. It sets a longstop date, defines what counts as satisfactory and usually says who controls the application. If permission is not granted by the longstop date, either side can normally withdraw without penalty.
What if my land has been refused planning before?
A previous refusal is useful evidence, not necessarily the end of the story. Policy changes, new local plans and a different scheme can lead to a different outcome. We read the refusal reasons and any appeal decision before giving a view on whether a fresh approach is realistic and worth the cost.
Should I apply for planning permission myself before selling?
You can, but an application costs money in surveys, reports and fees, and a refusal can make the land harder to sell. A scheme designed by someone who does not intend to build may also not suit housebuilders. Many landowners prefer a partner who carries the cost and risk of planning instead.
Can I get planning on land outside the settlement boundary?
Sometimes. Land just outside a boundary is usually treated as countryside, where new housing is restricted. Prospects improve if the council allocates the land in a new plan, or where national policy gives weight to unmet housing need. Each nation handles this differently, so we explain the position for your council area.
Is Lurgan an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land in Lurgan and elsewhere in County Armagh, including Portadown and Armagh. 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: Sell Land Without Planning · Guide: Planning permission explained for landowners