Outright purchase for land in Dorset
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
An outright purchase is a straightforward sale: we agree a price, carry out due diligence, exchange contracts and complete, without waiting for planning permission. It gives a landowner certainty and speed, and suits land with planning permission or a clear planning route.
Outright purchase for land in Dorset
Outright purchase is one of four ways we buy land in Dorset. Dorset combines the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation with market towns such as Dorchester, Wimborne Minster and Ferndown and a large rural area. Green Belt surrounds the conurbation and extends inland, and the Dorset and Cranborne Chase National Landscapes cover much of the countryside. Typical sites include urban brownfield land, edge-of-town fields, farm buildings and infill plots in villages.
Heathland protection around the conurbation means many schemes contribute to mitigation for protected heaths, and Poole Harbour has been subject to nutrient neutrality advice. Weymouth, the wider coast and the river valleys add flood and coastal-change checks, while the A31 and A35 corridors link the main towns.
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.
Since 6 August 2026, non-major development on sites of 0.2 hectares or less in England has generally been exempt from mandatory biodiversity net gain, unless priority habitat is affected. That makes many small sites simpler to bring forward.
Some land in Dorset 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 Dorset fall within Dorset National Landscape and Cranborne Chase National Landscape. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
In short: we agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached. It usually suits land with outline or full planning permission; brownfield and redundant buildings with a clear route; owners who want certainty and a clean break. See how an outright purchase works for the full process, pros and cons.
Land in Dorset that often suits an outright purchase
WantedResidential development land
Around Dorchester, the residential land that tends to work is close to existing homes, shops and transport rather than out on its own. Best where planning is already granted or the route to it is clear.
Learn more
WantedLand with planning permission
For consented land around Dorchester, the first things we read are the decision notice, the conditions and any legal agreement attached to the permission. The usual route for consented land: an agreed price and a straightforward sale.
Learn more
WantedBrownfield land
Brownfield land in Dorchester tends to be well located for homes; the questions are usually about contamination, demolition and neighbours. Common for brownfield, with contamination and demolition allowed for in the price.
Learn more
WantedGarden and backland plots
In parts of Dorchester with long gardens or rear lanes, backland plots can work well if the access is wide enough and neighbours are treated fairly. Possible where consent already exists.
Learn more
WantedFarmland and paddocks
Around Dorchester, paddocks and fields beside existing homes can have real potential, even where they have been grazed or farmed for generations. Possible for land with a clear planning route.
Learn more
WantedSmall sites
Small sites in and around Dorchester are central to what we look for, from corner plots to the odd field on the edge of a nearby village. Common where consent exists or the case is strong.
Learn more
WantedCommercial and industrial sites
Older business land around Dorchester, especially units now surrounded by housing, is the kind of commercial site we would like to discuss. Common, with leases and remediation reflected in timing and price.
Learn more
WantedGarage courts and yards
Garage courts tucked behind homes in Dorchester are often ideal for a small number of new houses or bungalows. Common where the planning case is clear.
Learn moreTowns we cover in Dorset
Outright purchase: questions
Can I include overage in an outright sale?
Yes. If you want a share of any future uplift, for example if a larger scheme is later approved, an overage clause can be negotiated.
Do you need to survey the land first?
We usually carry out some checks before exchange, such as title review, searches and, where relevant, ground or ecology surveys.
Will you pay a deposit?
Deposits on exchange are common and are agreed as part of the heads of terms.
Do you use outright purchases for land in Dorset?
Yes. We use outright purchases across Dorset and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.