Joint venture for land in East Sussex
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
A landowner joint venture is a partnership where the owner contributes land and we fund and manage planning and delivery, with the proceeds shared on an agreed basis after agreed costs are recovered. It can unlock more value than a sale but involves more risk, longer timescales and closer involvement.
Joint venture for land in East Sussex
We use joint ventures for suitable land across East Sussex. 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.
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.
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.
English councils keep brownfield land registers, and some previously developed sites can be granted permission in principle, a quicker way of establishing whether housing is acceptable before technical details are settled.
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.
In short: you contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed. It usually suits owners of larger or well-located sites; landowners who want a long-term interest; sites where a sale would undervalue the long-term potential. See how a joint venture works for the full process, pros and cons.
Land in East Sussex that often suits a joint venture
WantedResidential development land
Sites on the edge of Lewes or the villages nearby can be worth a conversation, especially where they are well connected by road and bus or rail. For owners who want to share in the value of the finished homes.
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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. Possible if you would like a share of the sale of the new home.
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WantedFarmland and paddocks
Around Lewes, paddocks and fields beside existing homes can have real potential, even where they have been grazed or farmed for generations. Suits owners who want to stay involved and share the upside.
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WantedStrategic land
Larger landholdings on the approaches to Lewes are where strategic land usually comes from, particularly near transport links. For owners who want a closer partnership and a share of the profit.
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WantedSmall sites
In Lewes, small sites are often the leftover pieces: a side garden, an old garage block or a gap where a building once stood. Possible if you want a share of the finished homes.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
In Lewes, industrial land that has drifted out of use can often be reimagined as homes, subject to the council's view on employment land. Can suit owners who want to share in a redevelopment.
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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. Possible for groups of courts.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
Around Lewes, 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. For owners of larger allocations who want to share in delivery.
Learn moreTowns we cover in East Sussex
Joint venture: questions
Do I need to put money in?
Not usually. In most landowner joint ventures the land is the owner's contribution and we fund the costs, which are recovered from the proceeds before profit is shared. Structures vary.
What if the venture does not get planning?
The agreement sets out what happens. In a simple contractual joint venture the land usually stays yours, but company or partnership structures, or a lender's charge, can change that, so take advice on the structure.
Is a joint venture right for me?
It suits owners comfortable with more risk and a longer timescale. We will say if a sale or option looks a better fit.
Do you use joint ventures for land in East Sussex?
Yes. We use joint ventures across East Sussex and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.