Outright purchase for land in East Sussex
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 East Sussex
Outright purchase is one of four ways we buy land in East Sussex. East Sussex runs from Brighton and Hove along the coast to Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings, with inland towns such as Lewes, Uckfield, Hailsham and Crowborough. There is no Green Belt, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald National Landscape cover a large share of the county, squeezing development between protected countryside and the sea. Typical sites are small edge-of-town fields, infill plots, garden land and urban brownfield sites.
Brighton and Hove has very limited land between the Downs and the sea, so redevelopment of commercial buildings, garages and yards is common there. Inland, the A22 and A26 towns and High Weald villages see smaller schemes, where ancient woodland and the historic field pattern are frequent considerations.
The August 2026 NPPF supports homes within reasonable walking distance (around 800 metres) of well-connected railway stations, with minimum densities of 35 homes per hectare, or 45 near higher-frequency stations.
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.
East Sussex has no designated Green Belt, so the main policy questions near Lewes are usually the settlement boundary, landscape and access.
Parts of East Sussex fall within South Downs National Park and High Weald 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 East Sussex that often suits an outright purchase
WantedInfill plots
Around Lewes, infill plots are often side gardens or gaps left between older houses; the street's character usually sets the design. Straightforward where consent exists or the case is strong.
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WantedGarden and backland plots
Backland development in Lewes turns on access and privacy; we look at both before suggesting whether an application is worth making. Possible where consent already exists.
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WantedFarmland and paddocks
Fields that wrap around the edges of Lewes and its neighbouring villages are the farmland we most want to talk about. Possible for land with a clear planning route.
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WantedSmall sites
In Lewes, small sites are often the leftover pieces: a side garden, an old garage block or a gap where a building once stood. Common where consent exists or the case is strong.
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WantedRedundant buildings
We are interested in buildings around Lewes that have outlived their original use, whether they would be converted or replaced. Common for empty buildings, with conversion costs reflected in the price.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
We look at barns and rural yards around Lewes and give a straight view on whether conversion or replacement is realistic. Possible where prior approval or consent exists.
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WantedSites with lapsed or refused planning
We read the planning history of sites across Lewes closely; a past refusal often points straight to the fix. Possible where the fix is clear and low risk.
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WantedAllocated and promoted land
We are interested in land around Lewes at any plan stage, from a first submission to an adopted allocation. Common for allocated land with a clear path to an application.
Learn moreTowns we cover in East Sussex
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 East Sussex?
Yes. We use outright purchases across East Sussex and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.