Brownfield land wanted in Greater London
If you own brownfield land in or around Greater London, we would like to hear about it. We buy directly and give a free, no-obligation appraisal.
A brownfield site is previously developed land, usually in or near a town. Old use can mean contamination, demolition or difficult ground, but these are often solvable. We look at the history, the ground and the planning position before making an offer.
- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
Brownfield land we are looking for in Greater London
Outer London, from Romford and Bexley to Uxbridge, Barnet, Croydon and Sutton, contains most of the capital's remaining land opportunities. Around the edge, the Metropolitan Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land protect open space, and a small part of the Kent Downs National Landscape lies in the south-east. Sites usually come forward as small infill plots, garage courts, backland, former commercial buildings and occasional grey belt land on the urban fringe.
- Former industrial, commercial or depot sites
- Cleared sites and land with hardstanding
- Sites on a brownfield land register (England) or similar
- Sites with known contamination where the history is documented
London planning is shaped by both the London Plan and borough plans, with higher densities expected near stations and town centres. Small sites, including garden land, yards and redundant commercial premises close to Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line or national rail stations, are the most common route to new homes in the outer areas.
Before we make an offer in Greater London
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.
Existing floorspace
Vacant buildings can reduce affordable housing requirements in some cases (vacant building credit, England).
Where an English council cannot show a five-year supply of housing land, or its Housing Delivery Test result falls below 75%, the August 2026 NPPF can give policy support to suitable housing outside settlement boundaries.
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 Greater London 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.
Brownfield land wanted in towns across Greater London
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 ventureWhat happens after you get in touch
Get in touch
Tell us where the land is and what you know about it.
Site review
We look at the land, its planning position and anything that could affect it.
Proposal
We put our proposal in writing, with no obligation to accept.
Exchange and completion
If you go ahead, contracts are exchanged and the sale completes on the agreed terms.
Questions owners in Greater London ask
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.
Is brownfield land easier to get planning on?
National policy in England and Wales supports making good use of previously developed land, but each site still needs to meet local policies.
How quickly can you look at a site in Greater London?
For most sites we can give an initial view once we have the location and a plan. Detailed checks follow if the land looks suitable.
Which planning rules apply to land in Greater London?
As Greater London is in England, national policy comes from the National Planning Policy Framework, revised in August 2026. Local policies in the council's development plan also apply.