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Our Services
Land Banking Fraud
Land banking schemes sell investors small plots of agricultural or greenbelt land with false promises that planning permission is imminent. The truth is usually that planning will never be granted — leaving investors with unsellable plots worth a fraction of what they paid.
£200m+
Estimated UK losses to land-banking fraud
<5%
Of plots ever achieve planning permission
4.8 ★
Trustpilot rating
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Cold call or unsolicited email about "strategic land" investment
- Claims of imminent planning permission or rezoning
- Pressure to buy quickly before the "price rise"
- A plot priced far above local agricultural values
- A scheme operated as a Collective Investment Scheme without FCA authorisation
Our Recovery Process
1
Review
We assess the contracts, planning history, and FCA status of the operator.
2
Identify
We identify breaches of FCA rules around unauthorised collective investment schemes.
3
Pursue
We file FCA complaints, FSCS claims where applicable, and civil action against operators.
4
Recover
We secure FSCS payouts and judgment-based recovery against directors.
How Land Banking Frauds Work
Operators buy a large field cheaply, divide it into hundreds of small plots, and sell each plot at many times its true value. The pitch always involves a story about imminent rezoning. In nearly every case, the land is greenbelt or otherwise protected, planning permission is never granted, and the plots remain unsellable on the open market.
The Legal Position
Operating an unauthorised collective investment scheme is a criminal offence. The FCA and HMRC have shut down many land-banking operators, often returning some funds to investors through court-appointed liquidators. The FSCS may also pay out where regulated parties were involved.
Bought a plot that has not delivered?
Speak with our specialists today — free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Often yes. Many land-banking operators are subject to liquidation processes that allow late claims.
Not necessarily. The land's market value is usually far below what you paid, and the loss is recoverable from the operator.
Affected by land banking fraud?
Our team of expert fraud lawyers can help you recover your lost funds.