Development Land and Promotion
Where your land may be suitable for housing or commercial development, we can put it forward to the council and advise you on selecting, and negotiating with, a developer or land promoter.
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- Fee agreed in writing before any work starts
Who We Act For
We act for landowners with fields or sites on the edge of a town or village that may be suitable for development in future, and for developers seeking land across the North West.
Our Land Promotion Services
- submitting your land to the council when it holds a call for sites as part of a local plan review
- identifying and comparing land promoters and developers
- advising on option agreements and promotion agreements, and negotiating the terms on your behalf
Option Agreements and Promotion Agreements Compared
Landowners are usually offered one of two forms of agreement.
Option agreement. A developer pays you for the right to buy the land within a set period, usually once planning permission has been granted. The price is normally market value less agreed deductions, and there is a single buyer.
Promotion agreement. A promoter funds the planning work, then sells the land on the open market once it has permission. The promoter takes an agreed share of the sale price, and you benefit from competition between housebuilders.
The detail of an agreement matters more than its label. The points we examine most closely are:
- the length of the agreement, and whether it can be extended
- which costs are deducted from the price before you are paid
- whether there is a minimum price
- what happens to any land the developer does not take
Call for Sites in Central Lancashire and Ribble Valley
A local plan sets out where new homes and businesses will be located for years to come. Securing an allocation for land begins with the call for sites.
Central Lancashire (Preston, South Ribble and Chorley). The joint Central Lancashire Local Plan was submitted for examination on 30 June 2025. The inspectors issued a post-hearing letter in March 2026, and main modifications are the next stage. The councils have targeted adoption by the end of 2026.
Ribble Valley. The council is preparing a new local plan to replace its Core Strategy, with formal preparation beginning on 14 September 2026. Its most recent call for sites ran from 3 July to 14 August 2026, followed by a call for previously developed land that closed on 19 October 2026. The submitted sites are now being assessed.
These timetables can change, so please call us to confirm the current position with your council.
What Makes Land Suitable for Development
Councils and developers assess the same practical considerations:
- proximity to a settlement, shops, schools and public transport
- safe access from a public road
- flood risk and drainage
- whether the land lies in the Green Belt or another protected area
- whether the site can be delivered, free of ransom strips or tenancies that would prevent development
Some of these constraints can be resolved, for example by agreeing access over neighbouring land. It is valuable to identify them early.
How We Work
- We assess the land and the stage the council has reached with its local plan.
- We explain the options available to you, such as selling, granting an option or entering into a promotion agreement.
- If you decide to proceed, we deal with the council, promoters and developers on your behalf.
How Long Land Promotion Takes
A local plan review usually takes several years, so it is advantageous to begin early.
Next Step
Call us on 07857 877925 or request a call back. A plan showing the extent of the land is helpful.
Common Questions
What is a call for sites?
A call for sites is an invitation from a council to landowners, developers and promoters to put forward land that could be used for housing, employment or other development in its new local plan. The council then assesses each site. Submission does not guarantee that land will be allocated, but land that is never put forward is unlikely to be considered.
What is the difference between an option agreement and a promotion agreement?
Under an option agreement, a developer pays for the right to buy your land within a set period, usually once planning permission is granted, at a price linked to market value less agreed deductions. Under a promotion agreement, a promoter funds the planning work, then sells the land on the open market and takes an agreed share of the proceeds.
Is the Ribble Valley call for sites open?
Not at the time of writing (5 November 2026). Ribble Valley Borough Council held its most recent call for sites from 3 July to 14 August 2026, with a further invitation for previously developed land from 7 September to 19 October 2026. The submitted sites are now being assessed. Please call us to check whether there is a further opportunity.
Where is the Central Lancashire Local Plan up to?
Preston, South Ribble and Chorley councils submitted their joint Central Lancashire Local Plan for examination on 30 June 2025. The inspectors issued a post-hearing letter in March 2026 requesting further work, with main modifications as the next stage. The councils have targeted adoption by the end of 2026. Please call us for the latest position.
Does putting land forward commit me to selling it?
No. Submitting land to a call for sites does not oblige you to sell it or to sign any agreement with a developer. Councils may publish the sites submitted, so neighbours could learn that your land has been put forward. It is nonetheless sensible to consider access, tenancies and family plans before you submit.
Can I keep farming land that is under option?
Usually, yes. Most option and promotion agreements allow the landowner to continue farming until the land is required for development. The agreement will normally give the developer or promoter access for surveys and site investigations, so the terms on access, compensation for crop damage and any existing tenancies should be checked before you sign.
Reviewed by Luke Banks MRICS FAAV, RICS Registered Valuer, on .
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