Brownfield land wanted in Saffron Walden
Looking to sell brownfield land near Saffron Walden? We assess every site on its merits and explain the options in plain English.
If your land has buildings, hardstanding or a past industrial use, it is likely to count as brownfield. Reusing these sites is a planning priority, and we are buyers for yards, depots and cleared plots across England and Wales.
- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
Is your land in Saffron Walden the kind we want?
Former works, depots and yards in and around Saffron Walden can make good housing sites once the ground and neighbouring uses are understood. Saffron Walden lies about 22 miles north-west of Chelmsford in Essex. We also cover Haverhill, Bishop's Stortford, Royston and the villages between them.
- Former industrial, commercial or depot sites
- Sites on a brownfield land register (England) or similar
- Land with buildings that would be demolished
- Sites with known contamination where the history is documented
Essex is one of the most varied counties for land, from Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester and Harlow to the Tendring coast and many rural villages. Much of the south and west is Metropolitan Green Belt, where grey belt and previously developed land are key, while north-east Essex, including Colchester and the Tendring coast, has none. Typical sites include edge-of-village fields, farmyards, former employment land and coastal-town brownfield sites.
What usually makes or breaks it
Contamination
Past uses can leave contamination; desk studies and site investigation show what remediation is needed.
Demolition and ground
Old foundations, tanks and services add cost, so we allow for them in our appraisal.
Neighbouring uses
Noise or smells from neighbouring businesses can affect whether homes are acceptable.
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.
Though we are based in Birmingham (roughly 98 miles away), distance is no barrier: we look at land across England and Wales.
Choosing how to sell
Outright purchase
Common for brownfield, with contamination and demolition allowed for in the price.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
Useful where the change from commercial to residential still needs consent.
Subject-to-planning contractOption agreement
You grant us the right to buy within a set period, usually for an option premium, while we pursue planning.
Option agreementJoint venture
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
Joint ventureHow a sale to us works
Tell us about the land
Use the form or call us with the location and a rough outline of the site.
Free appraisal
We review title, planning and constraints and tell you honestly what we think.
Written offer
If the site suits us, we set out an offer and the way we propose to buy.
Solicitors take over
Your solicitor and ours agree the contract; we keep you informed throughout.
Brownfield land in Saffron Walden: common questions
Will contamination stop a sale?
Not usually. It affects cost and the work needed, which we allow for. Any reports you already have help us give a firmer view sooner.
My site is still let to a tenant. Is that a problem?
It can be managed. Tell us about the lease terms and any break dates and we will factor them into the timing.
Do you buy brownfield land in Saffron Walden?
Yes. We buy brownfield land in Saffron Walden and throughout Essex, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
Is Saffron Walden too far from our Birmingham base?
No. We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 98 miles from Saffron Walden, and we look at land right across England and Wales.