Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Northampton
A serviced plot in Northampton is a parcel of land with planning permission or a clear route to it, a road access and connections for water, drainage and electricity at the boundary, ready for someone to build their own home. Land to Homes looks for land that suits serviced plots, takes it through planning and services it, so self-builders can focus on the house.
Northampton · NN1Free 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 Northampton
Northampton (NN1) anchors our coverage of Northamptonshire, which takes in 5 other places. The nearest other places we cover are Wellingborough (9 miles), Daventry (12 miles) and Rushden (12 miles). Northampton is part of England’s East Midlands region. Our head office in Great Barr, Birmingham, is about 50 miles away.
Near Northampton, we look at land with an expired or ageing consent, plots where access or drainage is the sticking point and in-principle consents that still need detailed approval. As Northampton is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
If you have a site near Northampton that is stuck, a short call is the best place to start.
Our approach in Northampton
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.
Right to Build explained
In England, councils keep self-build and custom housebuilding registers. We explain how the registers work in general terms, but they are run by councils, not by us.
Register interest now
No plots are available yet. Registering interest tells us where people want plots and what they need, which helps shape the sites we bring forward.
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.
Planning and land rules in Northampton
In England, most planning applications for new homes in Northampton 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, 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.
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
|---|---|
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Your questions answered for Northampton
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.
Can I get a mortgage for a self-build plot?
Many lenders offer self-build mortgages that release money in stages as the build progresses, but criteria vary and a standard mortgage will not usually work. You will normally need planning permission, a detailed budget and a warranty or professional supervision in place. A mortgage broker or adviser can explain the options; we cannot give financial advice.
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 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.
Can you manage a site in Northampton from planning to build?
On land we take forward ourselves in Northampton and elsewhere in Northamptonshire, including Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby, we manage planning, design and construction. Tell us about the site and we will explain how we would approach it.
Read more: Serviced Plots for Self-Build · Guide: Who pays for land promotion? Fees, costs and legal fees explained