Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Clwyd
Land to Homes brings forward serviced plots as well as finished homes, and Clwyd is one of the areas where self-builders can register interest. On larger sites, a share of plots can be set aside for self-build and custom build, each with access, services and a plot passport setting out what can be built. Landowners with land suited to plots can also talk to us.
ClwydFree 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 work around Clwyd
Our Clwyd coverage takes in 8 towns and cities, centred on Wrexham and including Hawarden, Flint and Rhyl. If your land is near a boundary, we also cover Gwynedd, Powys and Dyfed. Our Great Barr head office in Birmingham is about 68 miles from the middle of Clwyd.
Near Clwyd, we look at land where self-build plots could suit the market, fields that need a masterplan before an application and in-principle consents that still need detailed approval. As Clwyd is in Wales, applications are judged against Planning Policy Wales, and the buyer of land pays Land Transaction Tax (LTT).
Send us the site address near Clwyd and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.
Why work with Land to Homes in Clwyd
Planning made clear
We aim to bring plots forward with planning permission in place, or with a clear set of rules, often called a plot passport, describing what can be built.
Design rules up front
Where a site has a design code or plot passport, we set out the rules before you commit, so you know what the planning permission allows.
Services at the boundary
Plots are planned with road access and connections for water, drainage and electricity, so you are not left negotiating with utility companies on your own.
Part of larger schemes
On bigger developments, serviced plots can sit alongside homes for sale, rent and affordable tenures, sharing the same roads and services.
The Welsh system, as it applies in Clwyd
Permission in Principle is not available in Wales, so the usual first step for land near Clwyd is an outline planning application, with reserved matters to follow, or a full application. Councils allocate housing sites through their Local Development Plan, and landowners can put land forward as a candidate site when a plan is prepared or reviewed. If your land is not allocated, an option or promotion agreement lets a partner take on the cost of promoting it.
In Wales, the Right to Build register duty does not apply, so self-build plots come forward through the Local Development Plan and normal planning policy. The Welsh Government has backed self-build through its Self Build Wales scheme. Most new homes need sustainable drainage approval from the SuDS approving body, and a self-build exemption may apply where a council charges the Community Infrastructure Levy.
| National planning policy | Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12) and Future Wales: the National Plan 2040, supported by Technical Advice Notes |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the county or county borough council (or a national park authority) |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land Transaction Tax (LTT) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | As in England, a land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title registered at HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council has adopted it |
Common questions in Clwyd
Do self-builders pay the Community Infrastructure Levy?
In England and Wales, where a council charges the Community Infrastructure Levy, self-builders can usually claim an exemption, but it must be applied for correctly and before work starts, and the conditions followed afterwards. Mistakes can mean the full charge becomes payable. Scotland and Northern Ireland do not have the levy. Take advice before starting work.
What is the difference between self-build and custom build?
With self-build, you organise the design and construction of your home yourself, either doing some of the work or hiring a builder. With custom build, a developer provides more of the package, such as a serviced plot, a range of designs and sometimes the construction itself, while you make the key choices. The line between the two is not always sharp.
Can I sell part of my land as self-build plots?
Yes, if the land has planning prospects and suitable access. A few plots can suit land on a village edge or a large garden. Our free site appraisal looks at whether plots would work and whether a direct sale to us, an option or a promotion agreement is the right route. On option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
What is a serviced plot?
A serviced plot is a piece of land ready for a single home, with access to a road and connections for services such as water, drainage and electricity at or near the boundary. In England, the Right to Build legislation defines a serviced plot by reference to access to a public highway and those utility connections, or the ability to provide them.
Do you take on planning and building work in Clwyd?
Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership across Clwyd, including Hawarden, Deeside and Flint. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.
Read more: Serviced Plots for Self-Build · Guide: Buying a new-build home: what to expect from reservation to keys