Call for sites explained: how developers use CFS to unlock future land
A call for sites (CFS) is a formal process used by local planning authorities (LPAs) to identify land that may be suitable for future development.
Councils invite landowners, developers and promoters to submit sites for consideration as part of their evidence base for housing, employment and wider growth. These submissions help shape local plans and neighbourhood plans, often many years before allocations or planning applications come forward.
For developers, a call for sites represents one of the earliest and most influential points in the planning system - a chance to put land on the radar before competition intensifies.
What is a call for sites?
A call for sites is a consultation exercise run by an LPA to gather information on land that could potentially be developed.
Submitting a site:
- does not grant planning permission
- does not allocate land
- does ensure the site is assessed and recorded
Think of it as formally registering development potential. Submitted sites are assessed and may be included in the authority’s evidence base to support future planning decisions over the next 15–20 years.
Importantly, anyone can submit a site. You do not need to own the land, which makes calls for sites particularly valuable for developers working in partnership with landowners.
Why do councils run calls for sites?
Local planning authorities are required to prepare and maintain a local development plan. This plan sets out what can be built, where growth should occur, and how future needs will be met.
To do this, councils must demonstrate a robust evidence base, including:
- sufficient land to meet housing and employment needs
- confidence in site deliverability
- a pipeline of potential sites over time
Calls for sites help LPAs:
- understand what land is available
- identify landowner and developer interest
- test viability and deliverability
- build a credible future land supply
Why calls for sites matter to developers and landowners
For councils, a call for sites helps de-risk future planning strategy.
For developers and landowners, it is a rare opportunity to:
- have land formally assessed for future development
- influence emerging local and neighbourhood plans
- demonstrate availability and deliverability early
- engage landowners before sites become widely promoted
When done well, a call for sites submission is a win-win: councils build evidence, developers build pipeline, and landowners unlock long-term value.
How does the call for sites process work?
While each authority runs its own process, most calls for sites follow a similar structure.
Typically, this involves submitting a site identification form, which may include:
- a site location plan
- basic site details (size, access, constraints)
- an indication of proposed use (housing, employment, mixed use)
- availability and deliverability information
Anyone can submit a site, and developers often submit joint representations with landowners. This is a separate process from submitting a planning application and should not be confused with speculative planning.
Submitting a site does not guarantee allocation or consent - it simply ensures the site is assessed.
How are submitted sites assessed?
Submitted sites are commonly reviewed through a housing and economic land availability assessment (HELAA) or strategic housing land availability assessment (SHLAA).
These assessments consider whether a site is:
- suitable
- available
- achievable
Sites are often categorised as positive, neutral or negative, based on factors such as access, constraints, location and deliverability.
Understanding how sites have been assessed historically can provide valuable insight into what councils are likely to support in the future.
What types of land can be submitted?
National guidance encourages LPAs to assess a broad range of sites, not just large strategic allocations.
In general:
- sites capable of delivering five or more homes, or
- economic development on 0.25 hectares or more
must be considered.
That said:
- smaller sites are often suitable for neighbourhood plans
- both greenfield and brownfield land can be submitted
- sites within or adjacent to existing settlements are often favoured
Land uses may include:
- housing (market, affordable, specialist)
- employment and business space
- retail, leisure, tourism and mixed-use development
Local planning constraints will still apply, so reviewing nearby planning decisions - including refusals - is a sensible first step.
What makes a site “deliverable”?
Under national policy, a deliverable housing site is one that:
- is available now
- is suitable for development
- has a realistic prospect of being delivered within five years
In practice, councils tend to look more favourably on sites that:
- have clear landowner intent
- show developer interest
- demonstrate viable access and delivery routes
This is where early engagement and clear submissions can materially improve outcomes.
How developers use calls for sites strategically
Calls for sites are often time-limited, so preparation and speed matter.
Successful developers typically:
- monitor councils with active or upcoming calls
- identify suitable sites in advance
- engage landowners early
- submit clear, well-evidenced representations
Used strategically, calls for sites are not just a planning exercise - they are a pipeline-building tool.
How to use Searchland to support call for sites submissions
Tracking calls for sites manually across dozens of councils is difficult.
Searchland simplifies this by bringing key datasets together in one place.
Using Searchland, you can:
- identify which LPAs are running active calls for sites
- review local plan status and evidence
- analyse five-year housing land supply and delivery context
- screen sites using SHLAA and HELAA data
- identify landownership and contact landowners directly
Searchland also provides tools to help you approach landowners efficiently, including integrated letter-sending, allowing you to move quickly when opportunities arise.
Writing to landowners: making the approach count
Calls for sites are an ideal trigger for landowner engagement.
Effective outreach typically answers four questions:
- why you – you’re operating in an area with an active call for sites
- why now – submission windows are often limited
- why me – you bring development experience and credibility
- why us – collaboration benefits both parties
This is also a strong moment to re-engage landowners you’ve contacted previously, including sites that may not have progressed through earlier SHLAA or HELAA rounds.
TL;DR: why calls for sites matter
A call for sites is one of the earliest and most influential stages in the planning system.
It allows councils to build evidence, landowners to unlock long-term value, and developers to shape future growth well before allocations or planning applications come forward.
Handled strategically, calls for sites can become a core driver of long-term development pipeline - especially when supported by the right data and tools.
