Joint venture for land in West 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 West Sussex
Considering a joint venture for land in West Sussex? Here is how it works and where it fits. West Sussex includes Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Chichester and the coastal towns of Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing. It has only a very small area of Green Belt on the Surrey border, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald and Chichester Harbour National Landscapes cover large parts. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, infill plots and urban brownfield land.
Water neutrality advice that held up many schemes around Crawley, Horsham and Chichester was withdrawn from 1 November 2025, though water efficiency remains important. Chichester Harbour and the coastal plain bring flood risk and mitigation considerations, while the Brighton Main Line and A23 corridor focus growth around Crawley and Burgess Hill.
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.
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.
Parts of West Sussex 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 West Sussex fall within South Downs National Park, High Weald National Landscape and Chichester Harbour 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 West Sussex that often suits a joint venture
WantedBrownfield land
Former works, depots and yards in and around Chichester can make good housing sites once the ground and neighbouring uses are understood. Can work where the owner wants to share in a redevelopment.
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WantedInfill plots
Infill gaps in Chichester'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
If you own Green Belt land in West Sussex, its previous use and how enclosed it already is will shape whether a grey belt route exists. Possible for larger parcels where owners want to stay involved.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
We look at yards and units across Chichester 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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WantedBarns and rural buildings
In the countryside around Chichester, redundant barns and yards can sometimes become homes, depending on the building and the route available. Possible for larger farmyards.
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WantedGarage courts and yards
Garage courts tucked behind homes in Chichester 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
If a scheme near Chichester was refused or ran out of time, the officer's report usually shows what a better application would need. Possible where owners want to share the upside of a better scheme.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
We are interested in land around Chichester at any plan stage, from a first submission to an adopted allocation. For owners of larger allocations who want to share in delivery.
Learn moreTowns we cover in West 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.
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 West Sussex?
Yes. We use joint ventures across West Sussex and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.