What Is a Call for Sites? A Landowner’s Guide to Putting Land Forward for Development

Written by the Revive Estates Group team — independent land development consultants helping landowners across the UK understand and unlock the development potential of their land, property and buildings.

What Is a Call for Sites?

A Call for Sites is an opportunity for landowners and other interested parties to tell a local council about land that they believe may have potential for future development or another use.

It is normally carried out as part of the process of preparing or reviewing a Local Plan.

The purpose is to help the council build a picture of the land that may be available across its area and identify potential sites that can then be assessed through the planning process.

Government guidance describes a Call for Sites as an effective way of finding new sites for potential development that have not previously been identified. The sites can then be assessed, with the most appropriate potentially put forward for allocation during the Local Plan process.

For a landowner, this means a Call for Sites can provide an opportunity to put forward land that the council may not otherwise have identified as a potential development site.

Is a Call for Sites the Same as Getting Planning Permission?

No.

This is one of the most important things for a landowner to understand.

Submitting land through a Call for Sites is essentially an opportunity for the council to consider the site.

It is not:

• a planning application;
• planning permission;
• a guarantee that the land will be allocated;
• a guarantee that the land is suitable for development; or
• a commitment from the council to support development.

Some councils describe the process explicitly as an information-gathering exercise.

The sites submitted will normally be assessed alongside other potential sites and other evidence before decisions are made about which sites, if any, should be taken forward.

This distinction is particularly important where land has significant development value attached to the outcome.

Why Do Councils Run Calls for Sites?

Councils need to understand where potential development land exists when preparing their Local Plans.

A Call for Sites helps them identify land that may be available for different forms of development, including sites that may not have previously been considered.

Depending on the council and the particular Local Plan, sites may be suggested for:

• housing;
• employment and commercial development;
• mixed-use development;
• community facilities;
• infrastructure;
• open space and recreation;
• renewable or low-carbon energy;
• environmental or biodiversity purposes; and
• other uses identified by the council.

The precise uses accepted will vary between councils, so landowners should always check the requirements of the particular Call for Sites.

Who Can Submit Land to a Call for Sites?

You do not necessarily have to be a landowner to suggest a site.

Government guidance says councils should seek submissions from a wide range of people and organisations, including:

• landowners;
• developers;
• land promoters;
• planning consultants;
• estate and property agents;
• businesses;
• public bodies;
• community groups;
• parish and town councils; and
• members of the public.

Some councils therefore allow people to nominate land even where they do not own it.

However, if you are a landowner considering development, it is sensible to understand exactly what is being submitted about your land and what development use is being proposed.

What Types of Land Can Be Put Forward?

There is no single national list of land types that every council will accept.

The requirements vary depending on the Local Plan and the council’s development needs.

However, Calls for Sites can include a wide variety of land, such as:

• greenfield land;
• Green Belt land;
• Grey Belt land;
• agricultural land;
• paddocks and equestrian land;
• large gardens;
• previously developed or brownfield land;
• redundant commercial land;
• car parks and service yards;
• vacant or underused buildings; and
• land on the edge of existing settlements.

Whether a particular site is appropriate for a particular use will then be assessed against the council’s planning strategy and the characteristics of the site.

Can Green Belt Land Be Submitted to a Call for Sites?

Yes, potentially.

Green Belt designation does not necessarily prevent a landowner from putting a site forward for consideration.

In fact, the current planning framework makes the identification and assessment of Green Belt land particularly relevant where councils need to consider whether their development requirements can be met.

The 2026 National Planning Policy Framework also requires local plan preparation to consider Grey Belt and Green Belt boundary changes in the circumstances set out in national policy.

However, submitting Green Belt land does not mean that it will be released from the Green Belt.

The council still has to assess the site and consider it alongside other reasonable development options, planning constraints, infrastructure and the wider spatial strategy.

If you are interested specifically in Green Belt opportunities, our guide explains what can happen when Green Belt land is considered for release:

What Happens When Green Belt Land Is Released for Development?

What Information Do You Usually Need to Submit?

The precise submission form varies from one council to another.

However, government guidance indicates that councils may seek information that helps them understand the site and assess its potential.

Typical information can include:

• the site’s location;
• the site boundary;
• the size of the site;
• the proposed use;
• the amount or capacity of development being suggested;
• ownership or control of the land;
• whether the land is available;
• potential access arrangements;
• known planning constraints;
• infrastructure considerations;
• the likely timescale for delivery; and
• other information relevant to the site’s potential.

Some councils may ask for substantially more detail than others.

For example, a current 2026 Call for Sites may ask for information about the proposed number of homes, availability, constraints, access and anticipated delivery timescale.

The important point is that the quality of the information submitted can affect how clearly the council understands the opportunity being proposed.

Does the Council Assess Every Site?

Potentially, but the exact process varies between councils.

Government guidance envisages that sites identified through the Call for Sites process will then move into further assessment.

The assessment may consider factors such as:

• Suitability — is the site suitable for the proposed development?
• Availability — is the site genuinely available for development?
• Achievability — is development realistically capable of being delivered?
• access and transport;
• infrastructure;
• environmental constraints;
• flood risk;
• ecology;
• landscape;
• heritage;
• relationship with existing settlements; and
• planning policy.

Some councils incorporate this assessment into a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) or similar evidence base.

The precise terminology and methodology varies, so the council’s own Call for Sites guidance should always be checked.

What Happens After You Submit a Site?

Submitting the site is normally only the beginning.

A typical process can look something like this:

1. Site submitted — the council receives information about the land.
2. Initial checking — the council checks the submission and may request further information.
3. Site assessment — the site is assessed against relevant criteria and evidence.
4. Comparison with other sites — the council considers the site alongside alternative development opportunities.
5. Local Plan strategy — the council considers which sites could contribute to its development strategy.
6. Potential allocation — some sites may eventually be identified as proposed allocations.
7. Further consultation and examination — proposed allocations form part of the wider Local Plan process.

Not every Call for Sites submission reaches the allocation stage.

Some sites may be rejected because of constraints, poor location, insufficient infrastructure, lack of availability or because another site provides a more appropriate development opportunity.

Does Being Submitted Mean My Land Will Be Allocated?

No.

This is perhaps the biggest misconception surrounding Calls for Sites.

A council may receive hundreds of potential sites but only need to allocate a proportion of them to meet its identified development requirements.

The purpose of the Call for Sites is to create a pool of potential sites for assessment.

The council then has to decide which sites best fit its planning strategy.

A site that looks attractive to a landowner may therefore still not be selected.

Does a Call for Sites Increase the Value of Land?

Simply submitting land does not automatically create a new planning value.

However, if a site progresses through the Local Plan process and becomes a credible candidate for allocation, the planning prospects can change significantly.

This can affect how the market views the land.

There is a major difference between:

• land with no identified development opportunity;
• land submitted to a Call for Sites;
• land being assessed as potentially suitable;
• land identified as a proposed allocation; and
• land with an adopted allocation and a realistic route to planning permission.

These stages should not be treated as having the same value.

Development land value is ultimately linked to the development that can realistically be delivered and the risks and costs involved in achieving it.

Should You Put Your Land Into a Call for Sites?

There is no universal answer.

For some landowners, a Call for Sites can be an important opportunity to put forward land that has genuine development potential.

For others, submitting a poorly researched site without understanding the planning context may achieve very little.

Before submitting land, it is worth considering:

• what the council is looking for;
• what development need the Local Plan is trying to meet;
• how the site relates to the existing settlement;
• whether there are significant constraints;
• how the site performs against relevant planning policies;
• whether the land is genuinely available;
• what scale of development might realistically be proposed; and
• whether there is a wider planning strategy for the site.

For a landowner with a potentially valuable site, the Call for Sites submission should be considered as part of a wider land promotion strategy, rather than simply completing a council form and hoping for the best.

What If the Council Is Not Currently Running a Call for Sites?

This does not necessarily mean that your land has no development potential.

Calls for Sites are normally linked to particular stages of Local Plan preparation, and councils use different approaches to when and how they run them.

Some councils operate defined submission windows, while others may keep opportunities open for longer periods or invite further submissions during the plan-making process.

The best approach is to check:

• the council’s current Local Plan timetable;
• whether a Local Plan review is underway;
• whether a Call for Sites is open or planned;
• whether there is a current Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment;
• whether the council has recently published a land availability assessment; and
• whether the council provides another route for suggesting potential development sites.

The absence of an active Call for Sites should therefore not automatically be interpreted as the end of the opportunity.

Is a Call for Sites Worthwhile for a Landowner?

Potentially, yes.

A Call for Sites gives landowners an opportunity to put their land into the council’s evidence-gathering and site-assessment process at a time when the Local Plan is being prepared or reviewed.

It can be particularly relevant where land:

• is well related to an existing settlement;
• could contribute towards housing or employment needs;
• has good transport connections;
• is close to a well-connected railway station;
• is previously developed or underused;
• has potential Grey Belt characteristics;
• could form part of a wider development opportunity; or
• has other characteristics that make it worth investigating for future development.

But the key is to approach the process realistically.

A Call for Sites is an opportunity to be considered — not a promise of development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Call for Sites?

A Call for Sites is a process used by councils when preparing or reviewing a Local Plan to identify land that may be suitable and available for future development or other uses. Landowners, developers and other interested parties can suggest sites for assessment.

Can anyone submit land to a Call for Sites?

Often, yes. Councils commonly invite landowners, developers, land promoters, agents, planning consultants, businesses, community groups and members of the public to suggest potential sites. The exact arrangements vary between councils.

Can I submit Green Belt land to a Call for Sites?

Potentially. Green Belt land can be put forward for consideration where the council’s Call for Sites process allows it. Submitting the land does not mean that it will be released from the Green Belt or allocated for development.

Does submitting land to a Call for Sites mean I will get planning permission?

No. A Call for Sites is an evidence-gathering and site-identification exercise. Sites are assessed and only some may eventually be considered for allocation in the Local Plan. Planning permission is a separate stage.

What information do I need to submit?

The information varies between councils, but commonly includes the site location and boundary, size, proposed use, development capacity, availability, ownership or control, access, constraints and potential delivery timescale.

What happens after I submit my land?

The council will normally check the submission and then assess the site against relevant criteria. Sites may be considered alongside other potential sites and evidence before the council decides which sites could form part of its Local Plan strategy.

Does a Call for Sites increase land value?

Submitting land does not automatically create a development value. However, if a site progresses through the planning process and becomes a credible allocation, its development prospects and potential market value can change significantly.

What if my council is not currently running a Call for Sites?

Check the council’s Local Plan timetable, current planning policy consultations and land availability assessments. Some councils operate defined submission periods while others may allow submissions at different stages of the plan-making process.

Should I get professional advice before submitting my land?

It can be sensible, particularly where the land could have significant development value. A professional assessment can help identify the most realistic development opportunity, potential constraints and how the site could fit into the council’s planning strategy before it is submitted.

If you are considering putting your land forward through a Call for Sites and want to understand its potential first, contact Revive Estates Group for an initial discussion.