Development land wanted in West Sussex
Selling land in West Sussex? We buy directly and welcome local agents.
West Sussex includes Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Chichester and the coastal towns of Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing. It has only a very small area of Green Belt on the Surrey border, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald and Chichester Harbour National Landscapes cover large parts. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, infill plots and urban brownfield land.
What land do we want in West Sussex?
Water neutrality advice that held up many schemes around Crawley, Horsham and Chichester was withdrawn from 1 November 2025, though water efficiency remains important. Chichester Harbour and the coastal plain bring flood risk and mitigation considerations, while the Brighton Main Line and A23 corridor focus growth around Crawley and Burgess Hill.
In England, the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August 2026 replaced the old "tilted balance" with new settlement policies: development within a settlement should normally be approved unless the harm substantially outweighs the benefits, while land outside a settlement can gain support in defined circumstances.
Where an English council cannot show a five-year supply of housing land, or its Housing Delivery Test result falls below 75%, the August 2026 NPPF can give policy support to suitable housing outside settlement boundaries.
Some land in West Sussex 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 West Sussex fall within South Downs National Park, High Weald National Landscape and Chichester Harbour National Landscape. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
Land we want in West Sussex
WantedResidential development land
Around Chichester, 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
If you hold a consent in or near Chichester, 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
For land on the edges of Chichester with no consent yet, the first questions are access, flood risk and how the council's current plan treats the area.
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WantedBrownfield land
In Chichester, 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
We look for infill plots across Chichester and the surrounding villages, particularly where there is room for parking off the road.
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WantedGarden and backland plots
Backland development in Chichester turns on access and privacy; we look at both before suggesting whether an application is worth making.
Learn moreWantedFarmland and paddocks
We are looking for farmland near Chichester 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
If you own Green Belt land in West Sussex, its previous use and how enclosed it already is will shape whether a grey belt route exists.
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WantedStrategic land
Around Chichester, strategic sites tend to be the big fields between the built edge and the main roads, where a whole new neighbourhood could be planned.
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WantedSmall sites
We want to hear about plots for a few homes anywhere around Chichester, including ones a larger builder has already turned down.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
In Chichester, industrial land that has drifted out of use can often be reimagined as homes, subject to the council's view on employment land.
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WantedRedundant buildings
Across Chichester, 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
We look at barns and rural yards around Chichester and give a straight view on whether conversion or replacement is realistic.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Across Chichester, 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
Sites around Chichester with an old refusal can be worth a second look, especially where local or national policy has since changed.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
We are interested in land around Chichester at any plan stage, from a first submission to an adopted allocation.
Learn moreTowns we cover in West Sussex
How we could buy land in West 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
Get in touch
Tell us where the land is and what you know about it.
Site review
We look at the land, its planning position and anything that could affect it.
Proposal
We put our proposal in writing, with no obligation to accept.
Exchange and completion
If you go ahead, contracts are exchanged and the sale completes on the agreed terms.
Selling land in West Sussex: questions
Do you buy development land in West Sussex?
Yes. We buy land with and without planning permission across West Sussex, from single plots to larger sites, and we welcome introductions from local agents.
Which towns in West Sussex do you cover?
We look at land anywhere in West Sussex. Our town pages include Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Horsham and Haywards Heath, but land in any town or village is welcome.
Is there Green Belt in West Sussex?
Yes, parts of West Sussex 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.