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For landowners · County Antrim

Sell Land for Development in Ballymena

Can I sell land for development in Ballymena?

Land to Homes buys and promotes development land in Ballymena, 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.

Aerial view of long rear gardens behind 1930s semi-detached houses backing onto a paddockBallymena · BT42

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

Selling land around Ballymena

About 23 miles north-west of Belfast, Ballymena is part of our County Antrim coverage, centred on postcode district BT42. If your land sits between towns, Antrim, Magherafelt and Larne are the closest neighbouring places on our list.

Sites worth a conversation around Ballymena: land behind street frontages, infill gaps along existing streets and brownfield land in and around Ballymena. Planning in Ballymena follows Northern Ireland’s rules: the Strategic Planning Policy Statement sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.

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

How we work in Ballymena

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.

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.

Three ways to sell

A direct purchase, an option agreement or a promotion agreement. We explain the trade-off between certainty now and value later, in writing, so you can compare like with like.

Free site appraisal

A no-obligation desktop appraisal covering access, planning policy, likely constraints and an indicative number of homes, before you spend a penny on advice.

How the rules work in Ballymena

Permission in Principle, an English route, does not apply in Northern Ireland. Instead, landowners near Ballymena usually seek outline or full planning permission from the council. Developer contributions are agreed under Section 76 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, and there is no Community Infrastructure Levy. Land to Homes can take on that process through an option or promotion agreement, or buy a suitable site directly, subject to survey, title and contract.

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.

Key rules in Ballymena
National planning policyStrategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Developer contributionsSection 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy)

Your questions answered for Ballymena

Do I need an agent to sell development land?

You do not have to use one, but independent advice is sensible on any land deal. Many landowners use a land agent or chartered surveyor, and you will need your own solicitor. Where we agree to cover your reasonable legal fees, the cap is set out in writing.

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.

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.

How long does selling land for development take?

A direct sale of land with clear title can move as quickly as the legal work allows. Where planning permission is needed first, the timescale depends on the local plan and the planning process, which is why options and promotion agreements run over a set term.

Is Ballymena an area you cover for land?

Yes, we cover land in Ballymena and elsewhere in County Antrim, including Newtownabbey, Belfast and Carrickfergus. 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 for Development · Guide: How to sell land for development

Sell Land for Development elsewhere in County Antrim

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.

CallFree appraisal