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For landowners · Highlands & Islands

Sell Land for Development in Stornoway

Can I sell land for development in Stornoway?

Selling land for development in Stornoway 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.

Development surveyor walking a field boundary hedge with a tabletStornoway · HS1

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

Our coverage in Stornoway

We cover Stornoway as part of Highlands & Islands. It is about 94 miles north-west of Inverness, around postcode district HS1. The nearest other places we cover are Inverness (94 miles), Thurso (107 miles) and Fort William (107 miles).

Typical sites we review near Stornoway include redundant commercial buildings, infill gaps along existing streets and farmland next to the settlement boundary. Planning in Stornoway follows Scotland’s rules: National Planning Framework 4 sets national policy and the council’s Local Development Plan sets local policy.

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

What we offer in Stornoway

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.

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.

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.

Planning in Stornoway: the Scottish rules

Planning obligations in Scotland are made under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and can cover affordable housing and infrastructure. Once registered against the title, they can bind future owners. Under NPF4, national and major developments must also leave biodiversity in a demonstrably better state. These costs shape what development land near Stornoway is worth, which is why our free appraisal explains them before any offer or promotion terms are agreed.

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.

Key rules in Stornoway
National planning policyNational Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan
Local planning documentLocal Development Plan (LDP)
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT)
Land registrationRegisters of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland)

Sell Land for Development in Stornoway: questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

Do you buy land in Stornoway?

Yes. Land to Homes looks at land in Stornoway and elsewhere in Highlands & Islands, including Thurso, Lerwick and Kirkwall. 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: Overage and clawback: how they work when you sell land

Sell Land for Development elsewhere in Highlands & Islands

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.

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