Joint venture for land in Greater Manchester
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 Greater Manchester
We use joint ventures for suitable land across Greater Manchester. Greater Manchester is a dense conurbation centred on Manchester and Salford, ringed by towns such as Bolton, Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Stockport and Altrincham. Green Belt separates many of these towns and covers the moorland fringe, so most housing land is previously developed: former mills, industrial estates, yards and town-centre sites. Grey belt and small edge-of-settlement fields can also come forward on the urban fringe.
Most of the city-region is covered by a joint strategic plan, and Metrolink and rail corridors are a focus for higher-density homes. The eastern edge around Saddleworth includes part of the Peak District National Park, where landscape is a significant constraint on development.
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.
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.
Some land in Greater Manchester 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 Greater Manchester fall within Peak District National Park. 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 Greater Manchester that often suits a joint venture
WantedBrownfield land
In Manchester, the brownfield sites we look at are often tucked behind main roads or alongside older housing, close to services. Can work where the owner wants to share in a redevelopment.
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WantedInfill plots
We look for infill plots across Manchester and the surrounding villages, particularly where there is room for parking off the road. Possible if you would like a share of the sale of the new home.
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WantedStrategic land
Larger landholdings on the approaches to Manchester 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
Small sites in and around Manchester are central to what we look for, from corner plots to the odd field on the edge of a nearby village. Possible if you want a share of the finished homes.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
In Manchester, 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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WantedBarns and rural buildings
We look at barns and rural yards around Manchester and give a straight view on whether conversion or replacement is realistic. Possible for larger farmyards.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Garage courts tucked behind homes in Manchester are often ideal for a small number of new houses or bungalows. Possible for groups of courts.
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WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
We read the planning history of sites across Manchester closely; a past refusal often points straight to the fix. Possible where owners want to share the upside of a better scheme.
Learn moreTowns we cover in Greater Manchester
- Manchester
- Oldham
- Wigan
- Bolton
- Stockport
- Salford
- Rochdale
- Sale
- Bury
- Altrincham
- Middleton
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Leigh
- Stretford
- Urmston
- Chadderton
- Eccles
- Tyldesley
- Hyde
- Walkden
- Prestwich
- Radcliffe
- Cheadle Hulme
- Heywood
- Denton
- Stalybridge
- Ashton-in-Makerfield
- Westhoughton
- Farnworth
- Saddleworth
- Hindley
- Golborne
- Whitefield
- Swinton
- Royton
- Atherton
- Dukinfield
- Hazel Grove
- Irlam
- Horwich
- Bramhall
- Ramsbottom
- Bredbury
- Hale
Joint venture: questions
How are profits shared?
By agreement. Common models include a priority return for the land followed by a share of profit.
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 Greater Manchester?
Yes. We use joint ventures across Greater Manchester and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.