Sell Land for Development in Kirkwall
Selling land for development in Kirkwall means agreeing a deal with a developer who can see new homes on your site, whether that is a field, a paddock, a large garden or a former commercial yard. Land to Homes can buy suitable land outright, or partner with you through an option or promotion agreement so the land sells once planning permission is in place.
Kirkwall · KW15Free 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 Kirkwall
About 113 miles north-east of Inverness, Kirkwall is part of our Highlands & Islands coverage, centred on postcode district KW15. If your land sits between towns, Thurso, Buckie and Elgin are the closest neighbouring places on our list.
In and around Kirkwall, the land we appraise ranges from infill gaps along existing streets to brownfield land in and around Kirkwall, including backland plots with a workable access. In Scotland, where Kirkwall sits, planning decisions are made by the council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area).
Send us a postcode in or near KW15 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
What we offer in Kirkwall
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.
Direct purchase on suitable sites
Where a site suits us, we can buy it ourselves with or without planning, with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract.
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.
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.
How the rules work in Kirkwall
If you own land on the edge of Kirkwall, its prospects in Scotland depend largely on the Local Development Plan, which allocates sites for housing, and on NPF4 policies such as those on local living, infrastructure and quality homes. An option or promotion agreement lets a partner fund the planning case while you keep ownership until a sale. With Land to Homes, your reasonable legal fees on these agreements are covered, with the amount agreed in the heads of terms.
In Scotland, land sales are concluded through missives rather than exchange of contracts, and planning follows National Planning Framework 4 and the Local Development Plan. Where permission is needed, a deal can be made conditional on planning permission in principle.
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
|---|---|
| Who decides applications | The council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area) |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) |
| How a sale becomes binding | Land sales are concluded through missives, formal letters exchanged between solicitors that become a binding contract once concluded, followed by settlement on the date of entry and registration in the Land Register of Scotland. |
Questions about Sell Land for Development in Kirkwall
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 much is my land worth for development?
It depends on how many homes the site could take, what those homes would sell for locally, and the costs of building them, including roads, drainage, affordable housing and planning obligations. Agricultural or paddock land without planning prospects is worth far less than land with permission. Our free appraisal explains the factors for your site.
Can I sell land for development without planning permission?
Yes. Many sites change hands without planning. A buyer will either pay a price that reflects the planning risk, or agree a deal where the final price is set once permission is granted. We can do either, and we will explain which gives you the better outcome for your land.
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.
Is Kirkwall an area you cover for land?
Yes, we cover land in Kirkwall and elsewhere in Highlands & Islands, including Thurso, Fort William and Inverness. 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