Joint venture for land in Hertfordshire
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 Hertfordshire
Joint venture is one of four ways we buy land in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire is a county of medium-sized towns, including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Hitchin, with many villages between them. Most of the county lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Chilterns National Landscape covers the west, so grey belt, previously developed land and infill sites are especially important. Larger growth is usually planned as urban extensions and new communities through local plans.
The M1, A1(M), M25 and several commuter rail lines into London make many Hertfordshire villages well connected to stations, which revised English planning policy treats as a factor in favour of development. Former employment sites, garages, yards and paddocks on town edges are common sources of smaller housing land.
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.
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.
Parts of Hertfordshire are Green Belt, though not every town has any nearby. We check early whether a site is inside it and, if so, whether a grey belt or previously developed land case could apply.
Parts of Hertfordshire fall within Chilterns 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 Hertfordshire that often suits a joint venture
WantedLand without planning permission
Near Hertford, land without planning is worth discussing where it adjoins existing homes or has been put forward to the council's plan. For owners who want a bigger share of the upside in return for more risk.
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WantedInfill plots
Infill gaps in Hertford'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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WantedGreen Belt and grey belt land
Green Belt edges in Hertfordshire vary a great deal, so we assess each parcel against the national tests before suggesting a deal. Possible for larger parcels where owners want to stay involved.
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WantedStrategic land
Larger landholdings on the approaches to Hertford 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
We want to hear about plots for a few homes anywhere around Hertford, including ones a larger builder has already turned down. Possible if you want a share of the finished homes.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
Farm buildings near Hertford that have fallen out of use may suit conversion, particularly traditional barns with a good access. Possible for larger farmyards.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Across Hertford, lock-up blocks that are half empty can be a better use of land as homes, with parking handled sensibly. Possible for groups of courts.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
If your land near Hertford appears in the council's plan or its site assessments, send us the reference; it changes the conversation. For owners of larger allocations who want to share in delivery.
Learn moreTowns we cover in Hertfordshire
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 Hertfordshire?
Yes. We use joint ventures across Hertfordshire and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.