Joint venture for land in Norfolk
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 Norfolk
Joint venture is one of four ways we buy land in Norfolk. Norfolk is largely rural, with Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn and Thetford and market towns such as Dereham, Diss, North Walsham and Downham Market. There is no Green Belt, but the Norfolk Coast National Landscape and the Broads cover sensitive areas. Nutrient neutrality advice has affected much of the county because of protected sites including the Broads and the River Wensum, so drainage is often a key issue for village and edge-of-town sites.
The A11 corridor from Thetford towards Norwich and the A47 east-west route carry much planned growth, with larger sites around Norwich. Rural villages see small schemes of farm buildings, paddocks and infill plots, while flood risk in the Fens near King's Lynn and on the coast shapes what is possible.
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.
Norfolk has no designated Green Belt, so the main policy questions near Norwich are usually the settlement boundary, landscape and access.
Parts of Norfolk fall within Norfolk Coast National Landscape and The Broads. 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 Norfolk that often suits a joint venture
WantedResidential development land
In and around Norwich we are interested in land that sits naturally alongside existing streets, where new homes would read as part of the place. For owners who want to share in the value of the finished homes.
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WantedLand without planning permission
For land on the edges of Norwich with no consent yet, the first questions are access, flood risk and how the council's current plan treats the area. For owners who want a bigger share of the upside in return for more risk.
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WantedInfill plots
Around Norwich, infill plots are often side gardens or gaps left between older houses; the street's character usually sets the design. Possible if you would like a share of the sale of the new home.
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WantedFarmland and paddocks
Fields that wrap around the edges of Norwich and its neighbouring villages are the farmland we most want to talk about. Suits owners who want to stay involved and share the upside.
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WantedSmall sites
Small sites in and around Norwich 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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WantedGarage courts and yards
Garage courts tucked behind homes in Norwich 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
Sites around Norwich with an old refusal can be worth a second look, especially where local or national policy has since changed. Possible where owners want to share the upside of a better scheme.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
Around Norwich, 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 Norfolk
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 Norfolk?
Yes. We use joint ventures across Norfolk and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.