Subject-to-planning contract for land in Leicestershire
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 Leicestershire
Subject-to-planning contract is one of four ways we buy land in Leicestershire. Leicestershire surrounds the city of Leicester and includes Loughborough, Hinckley, Coalville, Melton Mowbray and Market Harborough, plus many villages. There is no Green Belt, although local plans use green wedges and areas of separation to keep settlements apart. Typical sites include edge-of-town and village fields, farm buildings, infill plots and former industrial land around Coalville and the north-west of the county.
The M1, M69 and Midland Main Line corridors carry most growth, with urban extensions around Leicester and Loughborough. In the north-west, nutrient advice for the River Mease has affected schemes, and much of the area near Coalville is former coalfield, so mining risk checks can apply.
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.
English councils keep brownfield land registers, and some previously developed sites can be granted permission in principle, a quicker way of establishing whether housing is acceptable before technical details are settled.
Leicestershire has no designated Green Belt, so the main policy questions near Leicester are usually the settlement boundary, landscape and access.
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 Leicestershire that often suits a subject-to-planning contract
WantedResidential development land
Around Leicester, the residential land that tends to work is close to existing homes, shops and transport rather than out on its own. Common for land without planning: we agree a price now and complete once a suitable permission is granted.
Learn more
WantedBrownfield land
In Leicester, the brownfield sites we look at are often tucked behind main roads or alongside older housing, close to services. Useful where the change from commercial to residential still needs consent.
Learn more
WantedInfill plots
Infill gaps in Leicester's established streets can be among the easiest small sites to bring forward when the design respects the neighbours. Common for infill: we apply, and you sell once permission is granted.
Learn more
WantedGarden and backland plots
In parts of Leicester with long gardens or rear lanes, backland plots can work well if the access is wide enough and neighbours are treated fairly. The usual route: we apply and you only sell if permission is granted.
Learn more
WantedFarmland and paddocks
We are looking for farmland near Leicester 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
WantedStrategic land
Larger landholdings on the approaches to Leicester are where strategic land usually comes from, particularly near transport links. Possible for the first phase of a larger holding.
Learn more
WantedRedundant buildings
Redundant buildings in Leicester often sit in the heart of things, close to shops and transport, which can make them strong residential sites. Used where consent or prior approval is still needed.
Learn more
WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
We read the planning history of sites across Leicester closely; a past refusal often points straight to the fix. The usual route: we make the revised application and complete on success.
Learn moreTowns we cover in Leicestershire
Subject-to-planning contract: questions
What happens if planning is refused?
The contract normally lets us appeal, re-apply or withdraw within set timescales. If it ends, you keep your land.
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 Leicestershire?
Yes. We use subject-to-planning contracts across Leicestershire and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.