Development land wanted in East Sussex
We buy development land across East Sussex, with or without planning permission.
East Sussex runs from Brighton and Hove along the coast to Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings, with inland towns such as Lewes, Uckfield, Hailsham and Crowborough. There is no Green Belt, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald National Landscape cover a large share of the county, squeezing development between protected countryside and the sea. Typical sites are small edge-of-town fields, infill plots, garden land and urban brownfield sites.
What land do we want in East Sussex?
Brighton and Hove has very limited land between the Downs and the sea, so redevelopment of commercial buildings, garages and yards is common there. Inland, the A22 and A26 towns and High Weald villages see smaller schemes, where ancient woodland and the historic field pattern are frequent considerations.
In England, a planning permission normally has to be implemented within three years unless the council sets a different period, and councils aim to decide minor applications within eight weeks and major ones within thirteen.
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.
East Sussex has no designated Green Belt, so the main policy questions near Lewes are usually the settlement boundary, landscape and access.
Parts of East Sussex fall within South Downs National Park and High Weald National Landscape. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
Land we want in East Sussex
WantedResidential development land
Around Lewes, the residential land that tends to work is close to existing homes, shops and transport rather than out on its own.
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WantedLand with planning permission
For consented land around Lewes, the first things we read are the decision notice, the conditions and any legal agreement attached to the permission.
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WantedLand without planning permission
Near Lewes, land without planning is worth discussing where it adjoins existing homes or has been put forward to the council's plan.
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WantedBrownfield land
In Lewes, the brownfield sites we look at are often tucked behind main roads or alongside older housing, close to services.
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WantedInfill plots
Infill gaps in Lewes's established streets can be among the easiest small sites to bring forward when the design respects the neighbours.
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WantedGarden and backland plots
In parts of Lewes with long gardens or rear lanes, backland plots can work well if the access is wide enough and neighbours are treated fairly.
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WantedFarmland and paddocks
Fields that wrap around the edges of Lewes and its neighbouring villages are the farmland we most want to talk about.
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WantedStrategic land
If you own a substantial holding near Lewes, 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 Lewes, including ones a larger builder has already turned down.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
Older business land around Lewes, especially units now surrounded by housing, is the kind of commercial site we would like to discuss.
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WantedRedundant buildings
Across Lewes, empty offices, shops and former pubs can find a new life as homes when the building and the planning position line up.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
Farm buildings near Lewes that have fallen out of use may suit conversion, particularly traditional barns with a good access.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Garage courts tucked behind homes in Lewes are often ideal for a small number of new houses or bungalows.
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WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
We read the planning history of sites across Lewes closely; a past refusal often points straight to the fix.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
If your land near Lewes appears in the council's plan or its site assessments, send us the reference; it changes the conversation.
Learn moreTowns we cover in East Sussex
How we could buy land in East Sussex
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
Send the basics
A postcode or plan and a few lines about the land are enough to start.
We do the homework
We check planning history, policy, flood maps and access at no cost to you.
We explain the options
You get a written proposal covering price, structure and timing.
Agree and proceed
Once you are happy, solicitors are instructed and the deal moves forward.
Selling land in East Sussex: questions
Do you buy development land in East Sussex?
Yes. We buy land with and without planning permission across East Sussex, from single plots to larger sites, and we welcome introductions from local agents.
Which towns in East Sussex do you cover?
We look at land anywhere in East Sussex. Our town pages include Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Hove, Bexhill-on-Sea and Hailsham, but land in any town or village is welcome.
Is there Green Belt in East Sussex?
No. East Sussex has no designated Green Belt.
Do I pay anything for an appraisal?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.