What Is a Local Plan?
A Local Plan sets out where future homes, employment land, infrastructure and growth should be located in a council area. It is one of the most important planning documents affecting the future development potential of farmland.
Councils regularly review Local Plans and need to identify enough land to meet future housing and employment requirements. During this process, farmland on the edge of towns and villages may be considered for allocation.
Getting land included in a Local Plan can be a major step towards planning permission. It does not always guarantee consent, but it can significantly improve the planning position and market value of land.
Key points for farmers and landowners include:
Call for Sites
Councils invite landowners to submit available land.
Suitability
The council assesses whether development would be appropriate.
Availability
Land must be genuinely available for development.
Achievability
The site must be deliverable and viable.
Consultation
Representations are made during plan stages.
Allocation
Successful sites may be identified for future development.
Why Local Plan Promotion Matters
Many farmers wait until developers approach them, but proactive Local Plan promotion can put land in front of the council at the right time.
A site that is not promoted may be overlooked, even if it has genuine potential. Early engagement can therefore be important.
The right planning strategy can make a major difference to the value achieved.
How Value My Land Helps With Local Plan Promotion
Value My Land can monitor Local Plan reviews, identify Call for Sites opportunities, prepare promotion strategies, coordinate technical evidence and help farmers present land as a credible development option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free Farm Land Review
Value My Land provides a free initial assessment for farmers who want to understand planning potential, development value and the best route to maximising land value.
Find Out Whether Your Farmland Could Be Promoted Through a Local Plan
Contact Value My Land today for a free, no-obligation review of your farm land, including planning potential, land promotion options and possible development value.