Subject-to-planning contract for land in Dorset
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
A subject-to-planning (conditional) contract is a sale agreed now that only completes once planning permission is granted on terms both sides have defined. We normally pay for the application, and if permission is not obtained the contract can end and the landowner keeps the land.
Subject-to-planning contract for land in Dorset
Subject-to-planning contract is one of four ways we buy land in Dorset. Dorset combines the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation with market towns such as Dorchester, Wimborne Minster and Ferndown and a large rural area. Green Belt surrounds the conurbation and extends inland, and the Dorset and Cranborne Chase National Landscapes cover much of the countryside. Typical sites include urban brownfield land, edge-of-town fields, farm buildings and infill plots in villages.
Heathland protection around the conurbation means many schemes contribute to mitigation for protected heaths, and Poole Harbour has been subject to nutrient neutrality advice. Weymouth, the wider coast and the river valleys add flood and coastal-change checks, while the A31 and A35 corridors link the main towns.
In England, the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August 2026 replaced the old "tilted balance" with new settlement policies: development within a settlement should normally be approved unless the harm substantially outweighs the benefits, while land outside a settlement can gain support in defined circumstances.
In England, a planning permission normally has to be implemented within three years unless the council sets a different period, and councils aim to decide minor applications within eight weeks and major ones within thirteen.
Some land in Dorset is designated Green Belt. If your land is within it, it may still qualify as grey belt or previously developed land under national policy, subject to the Golden Rules.
Parts of Dorset fall within Dorset National Landscape and Cranborne Chase National Landscape. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
In short: we agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted. It usually suits land without planning that has a realistic route; infill, garden and small sites; owners who want a value linked to planning without funding it. See how a subject-to-planning contract works for the full process, pros and cons.
Land in Dorset that often suits a subject-to-planning contract
WantedLand without planning permission
For land on the edges of Dorchester with no consent yet, the first questions are access, flood risk and how the council's current plan treats the area. The most common route: we fund the application and complete once permission is granted.
Learn more
WantedBrownfield land
Former works, depots and yards in and around Dorchester can make good housing sites once the ground and neighbouring uses are understood. Useful where the change from commercial to residential still needs consent.
Learn more
WantedFarmland and paddocks
We are looking for farmland near Dorchester with a realistic access, ideally land the owner has already put forward to the local plan. Works well for smaller paddocks and edge-of-village fields.
Learn more
WantedGreen Belt and grey belt land
Where Green Belt land in Dorset is already hemmed in by roads or existing homes, a grey belt case may be worth testing. Works for smaller previously developed Green Belt sites.
Learn more
WantedStrategic land
Larger landholdings on the approaches to Dorchester are where strategic land usually comes from, particularly near transport links. Possible for the first phase of a larger holding.
Learn more
WantedSmall sites
Small sites in and around Dorchester are central to what we look for, from corner plots to the odd field on the edge of a nearby village. Popular for small plots: you only sell once permission is granted.
Learn more
WantedCommercial and industrial sites
We look at yards and units across Dorchester where the business use has run its course or the site sits awkwardly among houses. Used where a change of use still needs consent.
Learn more
WantedBarns and rural buildings
We look at barns and rural yards around Dorchester and give a straight view on whether conversion or replacement is realistic. Common: we seek consent or prior approval and complete if successful.
Learn moreTowns we cover in Dorset
Subject-to-planning contract: questions
What counts as a satisfactory permission?
The contract defines it: usually the number and type of homes, acceptable conditions and planning obligations, and the end of the judicial review period.
Is there a deposit?
Sometimes a modest deposit is paid on exchange; terms vary by site and are set out in the heads of terms.
Can I keep using the land meanwhile?
Yes, usually, until completion.
Do you use subject-to-planning contracts for land in Dorset?
Yes. We use subject-to-planning contracts across Dorset and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.