Development land wanted in County Durham
Land wanted throughout County Durham: plots, fields, brownfield sites and buildings.
County Durham here includes the Tees Valley towns of Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool as well as Durham, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Bishop Auckland and the former coalfield villages. Green Belt protects land around Durham and between the Tyne and Wear conurbation and nearby towns, while the North Pennines National Landscape covers the west. Former colliery land, edge-of-village fields and older industrial sites are common sources of housing land.
What land do we want in County Durham?
The East Coast Main Line and A1(M) run north to south through the area, linking Darlington and Durham with Newcastle. Much of the county is former coalfield, so mining risk checks are routine, and nutrient neutrality advice has applied in parts of the Tees catchment draining to Teesmouth.
National policy in England now recognises "medium development" of 10 to 49 homes on sites up to 2.5 hectares, and asks councils to allocate at least 10% of their housing on sites of one hectare or less and a further 10% on sites of one to 2.5 hectares.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduced Environmental Delivery Plans and a Nature Restoration Levy in England, which over time may offer an alternative to site-by-site mitigation for some environmental issues.
Some land in County Durham is designated Green Belt. If your land is within it, it may still qualify as grey belt or previously developed land under national policy, subject to the Golden Rules.
Parts of County Durham fall within North Pennines National Landscape. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
Land we want in County Durham
WantedResidential development land
Sites on the edge of Durham or the villages nearby can be worth a conversation, especially where they are well connected by road and bus or rail.
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WantedLand with planning permission
If you hold a consent in or near Durham, send us the decision notice and the approved drawings; that is usually enough for a first view.
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WantedLand without planning permission
Plenty of land around Durham has never had permission. What we look for first is whether new homes would fit with the existing pattern of the place.
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WantedBrownfield land
Former works, depots and yards in and around Durham can make good housing sites once the ground and neighbouring uses are understood.
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WantedInfill plots
Around Durham, infill plots are often side gardens or gaps left between older houses; the street's character usually sets the design.
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WantedGarden and backland plots
Backland development in Durham turns on access and privacy; we look at both before suggesting whether an application is worth making.
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WantedFarmland and paddocks
We are looking for farmland near Durham with a realistic access, ideally land the owner has already put forward to the local plan.
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WantedGreen Belt and grey belt land
Green Belt edges in County Durham vary a great deal, so we assess each parcel against the national tests before suggesting a deal.
Learn moreWantedStrategic land
If you own a substantial holding near Durham, the council's plan timetable will shape when and how it could be promoted.
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WantedSmall sites
We want to hear about plots for a few homes anywhere around Durham, including ones a larger builder has already turned down.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
We look at yards and units across Durham where the business use has run its course or the site sits awkwardly among houses.
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WantedRedundant buildings
We are interested in buildings around Durham that have outlived their original use, whether they would be converted or replaced.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
Farm buildings near Durham that have fallen out of use may suit conversion, particularly traditional barns with a good access.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Across Durham, lock-up blocks that are half empty can be a better use of land as homes, with parking handled sensibly.
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WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
If a scheme near Durham was refused or ran out of time, the officer's report usually shows what a better application would need.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
Around Durham, allocated sites and land put forward to the council are usually the furthest along, so they can often move faster than land at an earlier stage.
Learn moreHow we could buy land in County Durham
Outright purchase
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractOption agreement
You grant us the right to buy within a set period, usually for an option premium, while we pursue planning.
Option agreementJoint venture
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
Joint ventureWhat happens next
Tell us about the land
Use the form or call us with the location and a rough outline of the site.
Free appraisal
We review title, planning and constraints and tell you honestly what we think.
Written offer
If the site suits us, we set out an offer and the way we propose to buy.
Solicitors take over
Your solicitor and ours agree the contract; we keep you informed throughout.
Selling land in County Durham: questions
Do you buy development land in County Durham?
Yes. We buy land with and without planning permission across County Durham, from single plots to larger sites, and we welcome introductions from local agents.
Which towns in County Durham do you cover?
We look at land anywhere in County Durham. Our town pages include Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Chester-le-Street and Billingham, but land in any town or village is welcome.
Is there Green Belt in County Durham?
Yes, parts of County Durham are Green Belt, though not every town has any nearby. Some Green Belt land may qualify as grey belt or previously developed land under national policy.
Do I pay anything for an appraisal?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.