Joint venture for land in South Yorkshire
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 South Yorkshire
Joint venture is one of four ways we buy land in South Yorkshire. South Yorkshire centres on Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley, with former mining towns such as Wath-upon-Dearne, Mexborough, Maltby and Thorne. Green Belt covers much of the open land between these towns, and the Peak District National Park extends into the west of Sheffield. Former colliery, steel and industrial land, town-centre sites and edge-of-settlement fields are typical sources of housing land, with grey belt now relevant on parts of the urban fringe.
Most of the area lies on the former coalfield, so mining risk assessments are common, and flood risk from the Don, Dearne and Rother affects low-lying sites around Doncaster and Rotherham. The M1 and M18 corridors, Supertram and the rail network influence where higher-density homes are supported.
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.
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.
Parts of South Yorkshire 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 South Yorkshire 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 South Yorkshire that often suits a joint venture
WantedLand without planning permission
Near Sheffield, 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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WantedBrownfield land
In Sheffield, 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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WantedFarmland and paddocks
Around Sheffield, 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
If you own a substantial holding near Sheffield, the council's plan timetable will shape when and how it could be promoted. For owners who want a closer partnership and a share of the profit.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
We look at yards and units across Sheffield where the business use has run its course or the site sits awkwardly among houses. Can suit owners who want to share in a redevelopment.
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WantedRedundant buildings
We are interested in buildings around Sheffield that have outlived their original use, whether they would be converted or replaced. Possible where the owner wants to share in the conversion.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
We look at barns and rural yards around Sheffield and give a straight view on whether conversion or replacement is realistic. Possible for larger farmyards.
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WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
Sites around Sheffield 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.
Learn moreTowns we cover in South Yorkshire
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.
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.
Do you use joint ventures for land in South Yorkshire?
Yes. We use joint ventures across South Yorkshire and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.