Turning potential into possibility
Land & Partnerships
Land and planning sits at the heart of everything we do at By Carnaby, and we are always looking to connect with landowners whose sites could be the canvas for our next exceptional development.
Whether you are considering an outright sale or are open to a more collaborative approach, we welcome the conversation. For landowners who do not require the full capital value of their site released on day one, The By Carnaby Land Partnership can offer a compelling alternative — one that allows you to share in the value we create together, while we bring the vision, expertise, and resource to bring it to life.
The Carnaby Land Partnership is a different kind of arrangement. It allows landowners to receive a meaningful cash payment now, retain a genuine share of the development upside, and hand the entire process of development to a professional team with a proven track record — without taking on any construction or operational responsibility whatsoever.
Most landowners are unaware that a structure like this exists. We think that is worth changing.
How the Partnership works
The structure is straightforward. Four steps, clearly explained.
Honest appraisal — the foundation of everything
We agree a fair and realistic value for your land based on what the finished development will sell for and what it costs to build. This is not a low offer designed to extract value. It is an honest, evidence-based appraisal prepared by people who have delivered over £100m of residential development and who understand precisely what your land is capable of becoming.
Immediate cash release
By Carnaby brings in a specialist development finance facility that releases a meaningful cash payment to you at the outset — providing immediate capital without requiring a full open market sale. You receive real money now, without having sold your land at a discount to do so.
A genuine share of the upside
Rather than receiving a single fixed price for your land and nothing more, you defer the balance of the agreed land value and in return receive 50% of the net development profit when the finished property sells. This is not a token participation. It is a genuine financial partnership in the outcome — because we believe the landowner who makes a development possible deserves to share in what it becomes.
We do the work — entirely
By Carnaby manages every aspect of the development from planning through to sale — design coordination, procurement, construction oversight, marketing, and completion. You are a financial partner, not an operational one. The complexity, the risk, and the day-to-day management are ours. The upside is shared.
The numbers — an illustrative example
Every site is different and every appraisal is prepared individually. The following example demonstrates how the structure works in practice.
A site with an agreed land value of £500,000. A finished development value of £2,000,000. Total construction and professional costs of £850,000.
The landowner receives a cash payment of £250,000 at the outset. On completion, they receive the deferred land balance of £250,000 plus 50% of the net development profit — £325,000. Total landowner receipt: £825,000.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross Development Value (agreed sale on completion) | £2,000,000 |
| Total construction and professional costs | £850,000 |
| Agreed land value | £500,000 |
| Cash released to landowner at outset | £250,000 |
| Net development profit | £650,000 |
| Landowner — deferred land balance on completion | £250,000 |
| Landowner — 50% share of net development profit | £325,000 |
| Total Landowner Receipt | £825,000 |
That is £825,000 for a plot with an open market value of £500,000 — with no construction or project management responsibility, and no operational involvement of any kind.
Why this is better than the alternatives
Compared to a straight sale, a conventional transaction gives you one fixed number — almost always below the land's true potential. The Partnership gives you that number plus half the profit the buyer would otherwise have kept entirely for themselves.
Compared to developing yourself, building is complex, time-consuming, and carries significant financial risk. The Partnership gives you the financial benefit of development without appointing a contractor, managing a programme, or carrying any personal exposure to cost or delay.
Compared to a traditional joint venture, a typical equity partner provides capital and takes 50% of profit in return — contributing nothing beyond their money. In The Carnaby Land Partnership, that 50% goes to you. Your land is the contribution. The expertise and management are ours.
Is the Partnership right for you?
The Carnaby Land Partnership suits landowners who recognise one or more of the following:
- You own land or property with development potential and feel the offers you have received do not reflect what it could truly be worth.
- You are not under acute financial pressure requiring an immediate full cash exit — you are interested in the best possible outcome, not just the fastest.
- You would prefer not to take on the complexity and risk of managing a development yourself.
- You have been approached by developers whose offers feel opportunistic and whose interest in your outcome ends the moment contracts are exchanged.
- You want to deal with a professional practice that is transparent about what it earns and genuinely motivated to maximise the value of your land — because half of that value comes back to you.
As progressive thinkers with an unrivalled understanding of the acquisition, planning, and technical processes, we have a rare ability to see potential where others do not. Whether your land is greenfield, brownfield, or derelict, we have the experience and ambition to unlock its true value — and a proven track record of progressing sites that less experienced developers would overlook.
Your next step
We would welcome a confidential conversation. There is no cost, no commitment, and no obligation involved in an initial discussion. We will listen to your situation, give you an honest view of whether The Carnaby Land Partnership might be appropriate for your land, and if so, prepare a detailed indicative appraisal for your consideration.
Every conversation is treated with complete discretion.