Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Gloucestershire

Sites we take on near Gloucestershire

Our Gloucestershire coverage takes in 8 towns and cities, centred on Gloucester and including Mangotsfield, Cirencester and Cheltenham. Next door, we also cover Bristol, Wiltshire and Herefordshire. Our Great Barr head office in Birmingham is about 60 miles from the middle of Gloucestershire.

Typical work around Gloucestershire: fields that need a masterplan before an application, sites where the layout needs to change and plots where access or drainage is the sticking point. As Gloucestershire is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Tell us about the site near Gloucestershire and we will explain how we would take it forward.

What you get in Gloucestershire

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.

Landowners welcome

If your land could suit self-build plots, our free site appraisal explains the options, including a direct purchase, an option or a promotion agreement.

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.

The English system, as it applies in Gloucestershire

Selling development land in Gloucestershire usually starts with heads of terms, a short written summary of price, conditions and fees, before solicitors draft the contract. In England the sale becomes binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title then registered at HM Land Registry. The buyer normally pays Stamp Duty Land Tax. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes, your reasonable legal fees are covered, with the amount agreed in the heads of terms.

In England, councils keep self-build and custom housebuilding registers under the Right to Build legislation and have a duty to grant enough suitable permissions for serviced plots to meet demand. Self-build homes can usually claim an exemption from the Community Infrastructure Levy where it is charged, and plots are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework and the Local Plan.

Key rules in Gloucestershire
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

Common questions in Gloucestershire

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 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.

Is there a self-build register in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

In Scotland, planning authorities keep self-build lists of people interested in building their own home, which inform local planning. Wales and Northern Ireland do not have a statutory register like England's, although some councils may still record interest, and self-build plots are assessed through normal planning policy. Check with your local council.

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.

Can you manage a site in Gloucestershire from planning to build?

On land we take forward ourselves across Gloucestershire, including Kingswood, Gloucester and Yate, we manage planning, design and construction. Tell us about the site and we will explain how we would approach it.