What Is a Call for Sites?
A Call for Sites is a process used by councils to invite landowners, developers and promoters to submit land for consideration through the Local Plan process. It does not grant planning permission, but it allows the council to assess whether land could help meet future housing, employment, infrastructure or mixed-use development needs.
For farmers, a Call for Sites can be an important opportunity to put farmland forward before key planning decisions are made. This is particularly relevant where land lies close to a town, village or settlement boundary, has potential highway access and could form a logical extension to existing development.
A strong submission should explain why the land is suitable, available and achievable. It should also address access, constraints, ownership, timescale, potential capacity, services, landscape impact and the type of development proposed.
Value My Land can help farmers decide whether a submission is worthwhile, identify the most suitable parcel, review planning risks and prepare a clearer case for why the land should be assessed positively by the council.
A typical Call for Sites submission will usually need to address several important matters before the council can properly assess the land:
Site Location
The council needs to understand precisely where the land is located and how it relates to the surrounding area. Factors such as proximity to existing settlements, nearby services, public transport links and the overall sustainability of the location can all influence how the site is assessed.
Ownership
The land should be available for development and controlled by willing parties. Councils will often want confidence that there are no ownership disputes, legal restrictions or other issues that could prevent the site from coming forward if it is identified for future development.
Access
Potential highway access should be identified at an early stage. Councils will usually consider whether safe and suitable access can be achieved, whether there is sufficient visibility and whether the surrounding highway network can accommodate future development.
Constraints
Flood risk, ecology, heritage assets, landscape sensitivity, trees and other environmental considerations are commonly reviewed. Constraints do not automatically prevent development, but they should be understood and, where necessary, capable of being appropriately managed or mitigated.
Capacity
The submission may indicate how many homes, how much employment land or what type of development could be accommodated on the site. Councils will often consider whether the proposed scale of development is realistic and appropriate for the location.
Deliverability
A site should have a realistic prospect of being developed within the Local Plan period. Councils will consider factors such as ownership, infrastructure requirements, viability, planning constraints and the practical ability to bring the site forward for development.
Why Farmers Should Not Miss Call for Sites Opportunities
If farmland is not submitted, the council may not properly assess it as a future development option. Missing a Call for Sites window can mean waiting years for another Local Plan review.
Many councils only undertake formal Call for Sites exercises at specific stages of the plan-making process. Once that opportunity has passed, it may become more difficult for a site to gain visibility within the council's evidence base or be considered alongside competing development locations.
Farmers with edge-of-settlement land should therefore monitor council consultations carefully and take advice before deciding not to submit.
The right planning strategy can make a major difference to the value achieved.
How Value My Land Can Help With Call for Sites
Value My Land can identify whether a Call for Sites is open, assess whether your farmland is suitable, prepare a clear submission, explain development potential and help position the land for future Local Plan consideration. We can also help farmers understand whether a land promotion agreement, planning application route or longer-term allocation strategy may be the best way to maximise value.
How We Help Farmers Maximise Land Value
Why a Call for Sites Matters for Farmland Value
For many farmers, the value of land is first considered by reference to agricultural use. However, if land has realistic development potential, its strategic value may be far higher than ordinary farming value.
A Call for Sites submission can be the first formal step in showing the council that land is available and capable of being considered for future growth. If the land is later assessed positively, included in a housing land availability assessment or allocated in a Local Plan, market interest can increase significantly.
Value My Land can help farmers understand whether a site has realistic planning prospects before time and money are spent. We can review the Local Plan position, settlement relationship, constraints and potential development value so the landowner can make an informed decision.
A strong Call for Sites submission may help show:
What Councils Usually Assess After a Call for Sites Submission
After land is submitted, the council will normally review it against planning, environmental, technical and deliverability criteria. Value My Land can help farmers understand these criteria and present the land in a way that directly responds to the issues councils are likely to consider.
A strong Call for Sites submission normally needs to explain why the land is suitable, why it is available, how it can be accessed, what constraints exist, how those constraints can be addressed, and why the site represents a logical location for future growth.
What Factors Will a Council Consider?
Suitability for Development
The council considers whether the location is suitable for housing, employment or another use. Value My Land can review settlement proximity, policy constraints and whether development would form a logical extension.
Availability of the Land
The land needs to be genuinely available. This can involve ownership, tenancy, option, access and willingness issues. We can help farmers explain availability clearly in the submission.
Achievability and Viability
Councils need sites that can realistically be delivered. Value My Land can consider likely infrastructure, abnormal costs, market demand and whether the site appears commercially realistic.
Highways and Access
Potential access, visibility, road capacity and pedestrian connectivity are often important. We can identify obvious access opportunities and highlight where further highways evidence may be needed.
Environmental Constraints
Flood risk, ecology, trees, landscape, heritage, agricultural land quality and drainage can affect assessment. Value My Land can help identify risks early before a submission is made.
Development Capacity
The council may ask for an indicative capacity. We can help farmers avoid unrealistic figures by considering site size, constraints, access, open space, SuDS and likely developable area.
Call for Sites, HELAA, SHELAA and Local Plan Allocation
Different councils use different terms, but the overall purpose is similar: to identify and assess land that could help meet future development needs. Value My Land can help farmers understand where their land sits in this process and what further promotion may be needed.
1. Call for Sites
The landowner submits land for assessment. We can prepare the submission and explain the land’s planning opportunity.
2. HELAA or SHELAA
The council assesses suitability, availability and achievability. We can help respond if the site is scored poorly or misunderstood.
3. Local Plan Promotion
Further representations may be needed at consultation stages. Value My Land can support ongoing promotion.
4. Allocation or Planning Route
Successful sites may progress towards allocation or a planning application strategy, helping to increase land value.
What Makes Farmland More Likely to Succeed?
Not every farm field submitted through a Call for Sites will progress. The strongest opportunities are usually well related to existing settlements, capable of safe access, free from overriding constraints and able to make a meaningful contribution to housing or employment needs.
Value My Land can help farmers identify whether their land has a realistic chance before submission, and can also advise whether the land should be promoted for housing, employment, mixed-use, care, retirement living or another form of development.
Settlement Edge
Land adjoining a village or town is often easier to justify than isolated countryside.
Clear Access
A credible access solution can make a major difference to site assessment.
Limited Constraints
Flood risk, ecology, heritage and landscape issues need to be manageable.
Deliverable Timescale
Councils need confidence that development could come forward within the plan period.
Common Mistakes Farmers Make
Submitting too little information: a bare form may not explain why the site is suitable or deliverable.
Missing the deadline: Local Plan windows can close quickly and may not reopen for years.
Ignoring access: a site may be rejected or downgraded if highway access is unclear.
Using the wrong boundary: too much land, too little land or an awkward boundary can weaken the submission.
Not promoting after submission: a Call for Sites is often only the start; further consultation responses may be needed.
How Value My Land Helps Avoid These Issues
We can review the most appropriate site boundary, identify whether the land should be submitted alone or as part of a wider parcel, and explain what supporting information may strengthen the case.
We can also track Local Plan stages, advise on consultation responses, help with landowner statements and support a longer-term land promotion strategy aimed at maximising development value.
Where appropriate, Value My Land can consider whether the land may be suitable for a promotion agreement, allowing planning work to be funded and managed without the farmer paying all costs upfront.
What Information May Be Needed for a Call for Sites Submission?
Every council form is different, but farmers are often asked for similar information. Value My Land can help assemble this information and identify where further evidence could improve the submission.
Basic Site Information
Site address, plan boundary, land ownership, land area, current use, proposed use and confirmation that the owner is willing for the land to be considered.
Planning and Access Information
Potential access points, relationship to the existing settlement, nearby services, known constraints and any previous planning history.
Development Potential
Indicative capacity, likely use, developable area, infrastructure considerations and whether the site could be delivered in the short, medium or long term.
Supporting Case
A concise planning case explaining why the land is suitable, available, achievable and worthy of further assessment through the Local Plan process.
Planning Opportunity Guides
Search our live tracker pages for open Call for Sites, HELAA, SHLAA and SHELAA opportunities, and follow Local Plan progress across England. These guides can help farmers and rural landowners identify when councils are accepting land and understand where future development opportunities may arise.
Open Call for Sites Opportunities
Find live and rolling opportunities for farmers and landowners to put land forward to Local Planning Authorities across England.
Click hereEngland Local Plan Progress
Follow Local Plan preparation, consultation, examination and adoption activity to identify when farmland promotion opportunities may arise.
Click hereOpen HELAA / SHLAA Opportunities
Search identified HELAA, SHLAA, SHELAA and related land availability assessment opportunities currently accepting sites.
Click hereRelated Guides
Explore practical guides for farmers and rural landowners covering Call for Sites submissions, Local Plan allocation, site suitability and agricultural land development potential. Learn how land promotion, planning strategy and promotion agreements can help farmland progress from an initial opportunity assessment towards allocation, planning permission and higher development value.
Can Farmland Be Included in a Local Plan?
Learn how farmland can be assessed, promoted and allocated for future development through the Local Plan process.
Click hereLocal Plan Allocation Guide
Understand how land is assessed, promoted and considered for allocation through the Local Plan process.
Click hereAgricultural Land Development Potential
Understand the key indicators that may give agricultural land residential or commercial development potential.
Click hereIs My Farm Suitable for Development?
Assess access, infrastructure, planning policy and environmental constraints affecting your farm's suitability for development.
Click hereWhat Is Land Promotion?
Discover how professional land promotion can support Local Plan representations, planning applications and development land sales.
Click hereHow Do Farmers Obtain Planning Permission?
Follow the principal routes available to farmers, including Local Plan promotion, Call for Sites submissions and planning applications.
Click herePromotion Agreements for Farmers
Learn how a promoter can fund and manage the planning process in return for an agreed share of the eventual sale proceeds.
Click hereCan I Get Planning for My Farm?
Explore the policies, constraints and evidence that determine whether development could gain planning approval on your farm.
Click hereCan Agricultural Land Obtain Planning Permission?
Understand the planning policy tests, evidence and development routes that may apply to agricultural land.
Click hereFrequently Asked Questions
Free Farmland Review
Value My Land provides a free initial assessment for farmers who want to understand Call for Sites opportunities, Local Plan promotion, planning potential, development value and the best route to maximising land value.
Thinking About Submitting Your Farmland Through a Call for Sites?
Contact Value My Land today for a free, no-obligation assessment of your farmland. We can help identify whether the land may be suitable for submission, review planning prospects, assess potential constraints and advise on the best strategy for promoting the site through the Local Plan process.