Sell Land for Development in County Antrim
Land to Homes buys and promotes development land in County Antrim, from a single infill plot to fields on the edge of town. We start with a free, no-obligation appraisal, explain whether a direct sale, an option or a promotion agreement suits your land, and put every term in writing before you commit to anything.
County AntrimFree 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 County Antrim
Our County Antrim coverage takes in 7 towns and cities, centred on Belfast and including Lisburn, Ballymena and Newtownabbey. Next door, we also cover County Down, County Armagh and County Londonderry.
Around County Antrim we look at infill gaps along existing streets, paddocks on the edge of Belfast and redundant commercial buildings. Because County Antrim is in Northern Ireland, land titles are registered with Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us where your land is around County Antrim and we will explain the routes open to you.
Our approach in County Antrim
Your legal fees covered
On option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees. The figure is agreed up front in the heads of terms, so there are no surprises later.
Straight answers on value
We explain how development land is valued, including the costs a buyer has to allow for, so you understand an offer rather than just receiving one.
Nothing to pay upfront
Where we promote land through planning, we fund the planning work. They are only recovered from the sale proceeds if the land sells with permission.
Every nation covered
We work across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and tailor each deal to the planning and conveyancing rules that apply where your land sits.
Planning and land rules in County Antrim
Countryside planning policy in Northern Ireland is generally restrictive, so land inside or next to the settlement development limits around County Antrim 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, the 11 district councils decide most planning applications under the Strategic Planning Policy Statement and their local development plans. Countryside policy is tight, so land within or next to settlement limits is the strongest starting point.
| National planning policy | Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP), made up of a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan |
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
| 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. |
| Developer contributions | Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy) |
Common questions in County Antrim
Who pays the legal fees when I sell land?
On a straightforward sale each side normally pays its own. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes we pay your reasonable legal fees, and the amount is agreed in the heads of terms before you instruct a solicitor.
What size of land do you buy?
From single infill plots that could take one or two homes up to fields large enough for a full development. If a site is too small or too constrained for us, we will tell you quickly rather than leave you waiting.
Will I have to pay tax when I sell land?
Selling land can create a Capital Gains Tax or Income Tax liability depending on your circumstances. We are not tax advisers, so we always recommend speaking to an accountant before you agree terms. GOV.UK has a guide to tax when you sell land and property.
What makes land suitable for new homes?
Good road access, a position next to or within an existing settlement, no overriding constraints such as high flood risk, and local planning policy that supports new housing. Sites that miss one of these can still work, but the route and timescale change.
Do you buy land in County Antrim?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land across County Antrim, including Ballymena, Belfast and Carrickfergus. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
Read more: Sell Land for Development · Guide: How to sell land for development