Subject-to-planning contract for land in West Sussex
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 West Sussex
Subject-to-planning contract is one of four ways we buy land in West Sussex. West Sussex includes Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Chichester and the coastal towns of Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing. It has only a very small area of Green Belt on the Surrey border, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald and Chichester Harbour National Landscapes cover large parts. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, infill plots and urban brownfield land.
Water neutrality advice that held up many schemes around Crawley, Horsham and Chichester was withdrawn from 1 November 2025, though water efficiency remains important. Chichester Harbour and the coastal plain bring flood risk and mitigation considerations, while the Brighton Main Line and A23 corridor focus growth around Crawley and Burgess Hill.
The August 2026 NPPF supports homes within reasonable walking distance (around 800 metres) of well-connected railway stations, with minimum densities of 35 homes per hectare, or 45 near higher-frequency stations.
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.
Some land in West Sussex 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 West Sussex fall within South Downs National Park, High Weald National Landscape and Chichester Harbour 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 West Sussex that often suits a subject-to-planning contract
WantedLand with planning permission
For consented land around Chichester, the first things we read are the decision notice, the conditions and any legal agreement attached to the permission. Used where a fresh or amended application would improve the scheme.
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WantedLand without planning permission
For land on the edges of Chichester 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.
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WantedGarden and backland plots
Around Chichester, garden land is most promising where a lane already runs behind the houses or two or three neighbours can sell together. The usual route: we apply and you only sell if permission is granted.
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WantedSmall sites
Small sites in and around Chichester 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.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
In Chichester, industrial land that has drifted out of use can often be reimagined as homes, subject to the council's view on employment land. Used where a change of use still needs consent.
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WantedRedundant buildings
We are interested in buildings around Chichester that have outlived their original use, whether they would be converted or replaced. Used where consent or prior approval is still needed.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
In the countryside around Chichester, redundant barns and yards can sometimes become homes, depending on the building and the route available. Common: we seek consent or prior approval and complete if successful.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Across Chichester, 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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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.
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.
Can I keep using the land meanwhile?
Yes, usually, until completion.
Do you use subject-to-planning contracts for land in West Sussex?
Yes. We use subject-to-planning contracts across West Sussex and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.