Outright purchase for land in the West Midlands
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 the West Midlands
We use outright purchases for suitable land across the West Midlands. The West Midlands county is a dense conurbation of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull, Walsall, Dudley and the Black Country towns. Green Belt surrounds and separates parts of the conurbation, including the Meriden Gap between Birmingham and Coventry, so most housing comes from previously developed land: former industrial and canal-side sites, yards, garage courts and town centres. Grey belt and small fringe sites around Sutton Coldfield, Solihull and Aldridge can also come forward.
Metro tram extensions, the High Speed 2 stations at Curzon Street and Interchange, and suburban rail lines are a focus for higher-density homes. Former industrial land often needs contamination and ground investigation, and the Black Country's mining and limestone legacy means ground stability checks are common.
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.
In England, a planning permission normally has to be implemented within three years unless the council sets a different period, and councils aim to decide minor applications within eight weeks and major ones within thirteen.
Parts of the West Midlands 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.
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 the West Midlands that often suits an outright purchase
WantedResidential development land
Around Birmingham, 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.
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WantedLand with planning permission
If you hold a consent in or near Birmingham, send us the decision notice and the approved drawings; that is usually enough for a first view. The usual route for consented land: an agreed price and a straightforward sale.
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WantedBrownfield land
Former works, depots and yards in and around Birmingham can make good housing sites once the ground and neighbouring uses are understood. Common for brownfield, with contamination and demolition allowed for in the price.
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WantedSmall sites
In Birmingham, 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
Across Birmingham, empty offices, shops and former pubs can find a new life as homes when the building and the planning position line up. Common for empty buildings, with conversion costs reflected in the price.
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WantedBarns and rural buildings
In the countryside around Birmingham, redundant barns and yards can sometimes become homes, depending on the building and the route available. 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 Birmingham 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
Around Birmingham, allocated sites and land put forward to the council are usually the furthest along, so they can often move faster than land at an earlier stage. Common for allocated land with a clear path to an application.
Learn moreTowns we cover in the West Midlands
Outright purchase: questions
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.
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 the West Midlands?
Yes. We use outright purchases across the West Midlands and the rest of England, where the structure suits the site and the owner.