Outright purchase for land in Somerset
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 Somerset
Outright purchase is one of four ways we buy land in Somerset. Somerset, as used here, includes Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Portishead, Clevedon and Keynsham as well as Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater and Frome. Green Belt lies around Bath and Bristol in the north, and Exmoor National Park and the Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills, Blackdown Hills, Cranborne Chase and Cotswolds National Landscapes cover much of the rest. The Somerset Levels and Moors are at high flood risk, so sites on higher ground are often favoured.
Nutrient neutrality advice linked to the Somerset Levels and Moors protected sites has affected housing across much of the county. The M5 corridor through Bridgwater and Taunton, and growth linked to Hinkley Point C, have increased demand for land near those towns.
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.
National policy in England now recognises "medium development" of 10 to 49 homes on sites up to 2.5 hectares, and asks councils to allocate at least 10% of their housing on sites of one hectare or less and a further 10% on sites of one to 2.5 hectares.
Parts of Somerset 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 Somerset fall within Exmoor National Park, Mendip Hills National Landscape, Quantock Hills National Landscape, Blackdown Hills National Landscape, Cranborne Chase National Landscape and Cotswolds 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 Somerset that often suits an outright purchase
WantedResidential development land
In and around Taunton we are interested in land that sits naturally alongside existing streets, where new homes would read as part of the place. Best where planning is already granted or the route to it is clear.
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WantedLand without planning permission
Near Taunton, land without planning is worth discussing where it adjoins existing homes or has been put forward to the council's plan. Possible where we are comfortable taking the planning risk ourselves.
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WantedBrownfield land
Brownfield land in Taunton 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.
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WantedGarden and backland plots
Backland development in Taunton 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
Around Taunton, 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.
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WantedCommercial and industrial sites
In Taunton, industrial land that has drifted out of use can often be reimagined as homes, subject to the council's view on employment land. Common, with leases and remediation reflected in timing and price.
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WantedRedundant buildings
We are interested in buildings around Taunton 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
Farm buildings near Taunton that have fallen out of use may suit conversion, particularly traditional barns with a good access. Possible where prior approval or consent exists.
Learn moreTowns we cover in Somerset
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.
Will you pay a deposit?
Deposits on exchange are common and are agreed as part of the heads of terms.
Is an outright purchase always quicker?
Usually, but timing still depends on title, searches and both sides' solicitors.
Do you use outright purchases for land in Somerset?
Yes. We use outright purchases across Somerset and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.