Subject-to-planning contract for land in Hampshire
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 Hampshire
We use subject-to-planning contracts for suitable land across Hampshire. Hampshire includes the cities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester, the north Hampshire towns of Basingstoke, Farnborough, Aldershot and Fleet, and a large rural area. The New Forest and South Downs National Parks, several National Landscapes and Green Belt on the Dorset border in the south-west all constrain land. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, infill plots and urban brownfield land.
Nutrient neutrality advice has applied across much of south Hampshire because of the Solent's protected habitats, and coastal schemes contribute to recreation mitigation for overwintering birds. The M3 and M27 corridors carry most planned growth, with smaller sites in market towns such as Alton, Andover and Romsey.
Where an English council cannot show a five-year supply of housing land, or its Housing Delivery Test result falls below 75%, the August 2026 NPPF can give policy support to suitable housing outside settlement boundaries.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduced Environmental Delivery Plans and a Nature Restoration Levy in England, which over time may offer an alternative to site-by-site mitigation for some environmental issues.
Some land in Hampshire 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 Hampshire fall within New Forest National Park, South Downs National Park, North Wessex Downs National Landscape, Chichester Harbour 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 Hampshire that often suits a subject-to-planning contract
WantedResidential development land
Sites on the edge of Winchester or the villages nearby can be worth a conversation, especially where they are well connected by road and bus or rail. Common for land without planning: we agree a price now and complete once a suitable permission is granted.
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WantedBrownfield land
Brownfield land in Winchester tends to be well located for homes; the questions are usually about contamination, demolition and neighbours. Useful where the change from commercial to residential still needs consent.
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WantedInfill plots
We look for infill plots across Winchester and the surrounding villages, particularly where there is room for parking off the road. Common for infill: we apply, and you sell once permission is granted.
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WantedFarmland and paddocks
Around Winchester, paddocks and fields beside existing homes can have real potential, even where they have been grazed or farmed for generations. Works well for smaller paddocks and edge-of-village fields.
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WantedGreen Belt and grey belt land
If you own Green Belt land in Hampshire, its previous use and how enclosed it already is will shape whether a grey belt route exists. Works for smaller previously developed Green Belt sites.
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WantedStrategic land
If you own a substantial holding near Winchester, the council's plan timetable will shape when and how it could be promoted. Possible for the first phase of a larger holding.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Across Winchester, lock-up blocks that are half empty can be a better use of land as homes, with parking handled sensibly. The usual route for garage courts.
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WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
If a scheme near Winchester was refused or ran out of time, the officer's report usually shows what a better application would need. The usual route: we make the revised application and complete on success.
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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 Hampshire?
Yes. We use subject-to-planning contracts across Hampshire and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.