Sell Land for Development in Cumbria
If you own land in Cumbria that could take new homes, you can sell it to Land to Homes as it stands or let us take it through planning first. Selling now gives you certainty. Going through planning first usually raises what the land is worth. On promotion agreements we fund the planning work, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
CumbriaFree 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
Our coverage in Cumbria
Across Cumbria, we cover Carlisle and 5 other towns, among them Workington, Penrith and Kendal. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Lancashire, County Durham and Tyne and Wear.
In and around Cumbria, the land we appraise ranges from farmland next to the settlement boundary to former garage blocks and yards, including land behind street frontages. Because Cumbria is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Tell us where your land is around Cumbria and we will explain the routes open to you.
Why work with Land to Homes in Cumbria
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.
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.
We build what we buy
Land to Homes is part of the S&K Group, a construction and property group, so we plan sites around homes we can actually build and deliver.
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 in Cumbria: the English rules
In England, most planning applications for new homes in Cumbria are decided by the local planning authority, usually the council, using its Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Many landowners sell without planning, either outright or through an option or promotion agreement that funds the application first. Land to Homes offers a free site appraisal, pays your reasonable legal fees on option and promotion agreements, and can buy suitable sites directly, subject to survey, title and contract.
In England, planning decisions follow the National Planning Policy Framework and the council's Local Plan. Where a council cannot show enough land for housing, sites on the edge of settlements can come forward sooner, which affects whether we buy now or promote.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| 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 | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Sell Land for Development in Cumbria: questions
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.
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.
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 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.
Is Cumbria an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land across Cumbria, including Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness and Penrith. 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: Tax when selling land for development