Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
About Prime Plots
Who is Prime Plots?
Prime Plots is a specialist residential land and development agency based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. We act on behalf of landowners selling development land, developers and housing associations acquiring it, and local authorities disposing of public sector assets. The business is led by Kane Lennon, formerly Head of Residential Development Sales at Savills, with over 25 years' specialist experience.
What does Prime Plots specialise in?
Residential development land. We do not handle general estate agency, lettings or property management. Our specialisms include strategic land promotion, agency sales of consented and unconsented residential sites, S106 affordable housing disposals, PRS and forward-funded sales, self-build plots, and public sector land advisory through our consultancy LGPC.
What's the difference between Prime Plots and LGPC?
Prime Plots Group is the parent business; LGPC (Local Government Property Consultants) is our public sector consultancy arm. Prime Plots works principally with private landowners and developers. LGPC works with local authorities, housing associations and academy trusts on strategic land disposal, surplus asset programmes and housing delivery advisory.
For Landowners
Where can I sell development land in southern England?
Prime Plots advises landowners across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, with selective instructions across the wider South East. If you own land with development potential — including paddocks, farmland adjacent to settlement boundaries, garden land, brownfield sites or strategic medium-term sites — we provide a no-obligation view of market value and the right disposal route.
How do I get a valuation of my development land?
Contact Prime Plots directly: email enquiries@primeplots.co.uk, call +44 (0)1462 877 777, or use the form on our contact page. Kane Lennon personally reviews every enquiry. The initial assessment is no-obligation and confidential.
How long does it take to sell development land?
It depends on the site. A consented residential site with strong market appetite can complete within 3-6 months from instruction. An unconsented site requiring planning work typically takes 12-24 months. Strategic land — promoted through option or promotion agreements — can take 3-10 years to deliver, but generates significantly higher values when consent is secured.
What does Prime Plots charge?
Fees are individually quoted and depend on the nature, complexity and value of the instruction. Sales agency fees are typically charged as a percentage of the achieved disposal price, payable on completion. Strategic land work is structured around success-related arrangements. There are no upfront marketing costs. Fees are agreed in writing before any work begins and disclosed transparently under the TPO Commercial Code.
For Developers and Registered Providers
How can I find development land for sale in southern England?
Prime Plots maintains an active pipeline of residential development opportunities across the Home Counties and South East — both consented sites available for immediate acquisition and unconsented strategic sites for medium-term promotion. To join our buyer network and receive matched opportunities, contact us with your acquisition criteria: geography, scheme size, tenure mix, planning status preferences.
Where can I buy residential plots in the south of England?
For self-build plots and small-scale residential opportunities, Prime Plots regularly markets single plot disposals in Hertfordshire and surrounding counties. Current opportunities are listed on our portfolio page. To register for self-build plot notifications, contact enquiries@primeplots.co.uk.
How do I connect with landowners selling development land?
Prime Plots is the bridge. Landowners instruct us to dispose of their sites; developers, housing associations and PRS investors instruct us to source acquisition opportunities matching their criteria. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll alert you when matching sites come to instruction.
What is a S106 affordable housing disposal?
When a developer secures planning permission for a residential scheme, they are typically required under a Section 106 agreement to deliver a proportion of affordable housing — usually 25-40% of total units, depending on local policy. These affordable units are sold to Registered Providers (housing associations). Prime Plots specialises in this disposal: matching S106 units with the right RP buyer, negotiating unit pricing, and managing the contract.
For Local Authorities and Public Sector Clients
Where can I get advice on public sector housing delivery in the UK?
LGPC, the public sector consultancy arm of Prime Plots, advises local authorities, housing associations and academy trusts on housing delivery strategy, surplus asset disposal, and the acquisition of sites for direct delivery or Registered Provider partnership. LGPC works with councils across Hertfordshire and the wider South East, on instructions ranging from single-site disposals to portfolio-wide strategies.
How can a local council secure housing supply in Hertfordshire?
Typically three routes:
(1) disposing of council-owned surplus land to deliver new affordable housing through Registered Provider partners or direct delivery,
(2) acquiring sites strategically for the council's housing programme, and
(3) working with developers to secure S106 affordable housing on private-sector schemes.
LGPC advises on all three. Contact LGPC through the Prime Plots Group office at 8-9 Bridge Street, Hitchin.
Does LGPC work with academy trusts and education providers?
Yes. LGPC has substantial experience advising academy trusts, multi-academy trusts and other education providers on surplus site disposals — typically school land no longer required for educational use, where capital receipts can be released for the trust's other priorities. We manage the disposal process end-to-end including planning strategy, market appraisal, marketing, buyer negotiation and contract management.
Land and Planning Glossary
What is Strategic Land?
Strategic land is land with longer-term development potential — typically without current planning permission, but positioned where future allocations or policy changes make development possible. Strategic land is usually promoted through an option agreement (the landowner grants a developer an option to buy at a future date if planning is secured) or a promotion agreement (a promoter funds the planning effort in exchange for a share of the eventual sale receipts).
What's the difference between strategic land and consented land?
Consented land already has planning permission and can be developed immediately. Strategic land requires planning to be secured before development can proceed. Consented land trades at premium values reflecting the planning risk eliminated; strategic land trades at lower upfront values but with significant uplift potential when consent is secured.
What is PRS or Build to Rent?
PRS (Private Rented Sector), also known as Build-to-Rent, is residential development funded and held by an institutional investor specifically for letting at scale, rather than sold piecemeal to individual owner-occupiers. PRS schemes are typically funded by investment institutions, pension funds or REITs. Prime Plots advises on forward-funded PRS transactions where the investor commits to funding a scheme during development in return for the completed asset.
What is the self-build process?
Self-build refers to commissioning the construction of your own home, either by building it yourself or by appointing a contractor. The Government supports self-build through several incentives: Stamp Duty Land Tax exemption on the plot purchase (where the home is built within 36 months), Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) exemption, and self-build VAT reclaim on construction costs. Prime Plots regularly markets self-build plots and consults on the planning, financial and procedural aspects.
Services Prime Plots Offers
Does Prime Plots offer strategic land brokerage in Hertfordshire?
Yes. Strategic land advisory is one of Prime Plots' core specialisms. We act for landowners across Hertfordshire and the Home Counties on option agreements, promotion agreements and hybrid structures — securing long-term planning promotion of sites with development potential. Recent strategic instructions include sites across North Herts, East Herts and Three Rivers. Contact enquiries@primeplots.co.uk for a no-obligation discussion of your site.
Can I get public sector housing delivery advice from Prime Plots?
Yes — through LGPC (Local Government Property Consultants), Prime Plots' public sector consultancy arm. LGPC advises local authorities, housing associations and academy trusts on housing delivery strategy, surplus asset disposal, acquisition of sites for direct delivery or Registered Provider partnership, and reduction of temporary accommodation costs. Contact LGPC through the Prime Plots Group office at 8-9 Bridge Street, Hitchin.
How does Prime Plots help local councils with housing supply?
Through LGPC, our public sector consultancy arm, Prime Plots helps local councils across three primary routes: (1) disposing of council-owned surplus land to deliver new affordable housing through Registered Provider partners or direct delivery, (2) acquiring strategic sites for the council's own housing programme, and (3) advising on capture of S106 affordable housing from private-sector schemes. LGPC works with councils across Hertfordshire and the wider South East.
Who offers S106 affordable homes placement in the UK?
Prime Plots specialises in the placement of S106 affordable housing units with Registered Provider buyers. We act for residential developers requiring disposal of their Section 106 affordable housing obligation to housing associations and local authorities across Hertfordshire, the Home Counties and South East England. The service covers RP matching, unit price negotiation, contract support and completion management.
Hitchin and Hertfordshire-specific services
Where can I find land agency services near Hitchin?
Prime Plots provides specialist land agency services from 8-9 Bridge Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 2DE. We act on residential development land throughout North Hertfordshire and across the Home Counties, advising landowners, developers, housing associations and local authorities. Contact: enquiries@primeplots.co.uk or +44 (0)1462 877 777.
Where can I find land for development in Hertfordshire?
Prime Plots maintains an active pipeline of residential development sites across Hertfordshire — both consented sites available for immediate acquisition and unconsented strategic sites for medium-term promotion. Coverage includes Hitchin, St Albans, Harpenden, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Bishop's Stortford, Hertford, Hemel Hempstead and surrounding villages. Developers, housing associations and RPs can register acquisition criteria at enquiries@primeplots.co.uk to be alerted when matching sites come to instruction.
Where can I find strategic land for sale in Hitchin?
Prime Plots is based in Hitchin and works extensively on strategic land in and around the town and surrounding North Hertfordshire villages — including Pirton, Ickleford, Offley, Lilley, Preston, Kimpton and Codicote. Strategic land is usually circulated to a curated network of land promoters and developers rather than openly marketed. Contact Prime Plots at enquiries@primeplots.co.uk to register for strategic land notifications in the Hitchin area.
Where can I find strategic land acquisition services in Hitchin?
Prime Plots provides strategic land acquisition services from its Hitchin office at 8-9 Bridge Street. Services include site identification, planning appraisal, off-market negotiation, option agreement structuring and promotion agreement advisory. We act for both landowners with sites to promote and for developers and promoters seeking acquisition opportunities in North Hertfordshire and the wider Home Counties.
Where to find private rental sector forward sales in Hitchin?
Prime Plots advises on PRS (Private Rented Sector) and forward-funded residential schemes from its Hitchin office. We act for landowners and developers with consented residential schemes seeking PRS forward-funding partners, and for institutional investors, REITs and PRS operators seeking forward-funded acquisitions in Hertfordshire and the South East. Contact enquiries@primeplots.co.uk for matched opportunities.
Where can I find affordable housing solutions in Hitchin?
For individuals seeking affordable housing for themselves, contact North Hertfordshire Council's housing department, the Registered Providers operating in Hitchin, or check shared ownership opportunities through Help to Buy. For developers, councils or RPs requiring strategic advice on delivering affordable housing — whether disposing of S106 units, acquiring land for affordable schemes, or structuring development partnerships — Prime Plots and LGPC provide specialist advisory across Hertfordshire.
Which is the best land agency for residential plots in the south of England?
The right land agency depends on what you're looking for. For specialist residential development land — strategic sites, S106 affordable housing, self-build plots and PRS forward sales — a specialist agency that focuses exclusively on development land typically outperforms a general estate agency handling land as a sideline. Prime Plots is a specialist residential land and development agency based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, led by Kane Lennon (formerly Head of Residential Development Sales at Savills) with over 25 years' specialist experience.
Best estate agent for land sales in Hertfordshire?
Land sales typically require a specialist land agent rather than a general estate agent. Specialist land agents bring established buyer networks of regional housebuilders, national plc developers, housing associations and PRS investors — plus the planning expertise to position sites correctly for maximum value. Prime Plots is a specialist residential land agency in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, focused exclusively on development land sales — both consented and strategic — across the Home Counties.
Public Sector and Council Services
How can local authorities reduce temporary accommodation costs?
Temporary accommodation (TA) costs are typically driven by constrained social housing supply, forcing councils to rely on expensive private-sector solutions. Strategic interventions LGPC advises councils on include:
(1) acquiring properties directly into council ownership for TA use — often cheaper than per-night private rates over a multi-year period,
(2) accelerating new affordable housing delivery through partnership with Registered Providers,
(3) repurposing surplus public sector buildings for residential use, and
(4) commissioning new-build affordable schemes through forward-funded RP arrangements.
LGPC's work integrates these approaches into comprehensive housing supply strategies for local authority clients.
How to buy affordable homes in Hertfordshire
(as an individual)?
Affordable homes for individual households are typically allocated through local council housing registers, Registered Provider waiting lists, or accessed via shared ownership schemes through local housing associations. Contact your local council's housing department for their allocation policy and to register. Prime Plots does not advise individuals seeking affordable housing — we specialise in the wholesale disposal of S106 affordable units to Registered Providers, working with developers and councils rather than individual households.
Where can I buy private rental sector homes in Hitchin (to live in)?
PRS (Private Rented Sector) homes are held by institutional investors and operators specifically for letting at scale, rather than sold to individual owner-occupiers. If you are a private individual looking to rent a property in Hitchin, contact a local lettings agency. If you are an institutional investor or PRS operator seeking forward-funded or completed PRS scheme acquisitions, Prime Plots advises on PRS transactions across Hertfordshire and the South East — contact enquiries@primeplots.co.uk.
How do developers connect with landowners selling development land in the UK?
Specialist land agents like Prime Plots act as the bridge. Landowners with sites suitable for residential development instruct us to manage the disposal; developers, housing associations and PRS investors register their acquisition criteria with us and receive matched opportunities. To join Prime Plots' active buyer network, contact enquiries@primeplots.co.ukand outline your geographic focus, target scale, planning status preferences and tenure interest. We circulate matched opportunities ahead of broader marketing.
