Brownfield land wanted in Freshwater
Development Land Wanted buys brownfield land in Freshwater and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
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
The brownfield land that interests us around Freshwater
Brownfield land in Freshwater tends to be well located for homes; the questions are usually about contamination, demolition and neighbours. On the Isle of Wight, Freshwater sits about 10 miles west of Newport; New Milton and Newport are its nearest neighbours on our list.
- Former industrial, commercial or depot sites
- Yards and builders' compounds within towns
- Land with buildings that would be demolished
- Sites with known contamination where the history is documented
The Isle of Wight has no Green Belt, but the Isle of Wight National Landscape covers much of the coast and downland. Housing is concentrated around Newport, Ryde, Cowes and East Cowes, Sandown and Shanklin, with many villages elsewhere. Typical sites are edge-of-town fields, infill plots, former holiday or commercial premises and farm buildings, with coastal change and ground instability relevant on parts of the coast.
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.
Employment land policy
Some councils protect employment land; we check whether a change to housing would be resisted.
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.
We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, around 130 miles from Freshwater, and we travel to see sites across England and Wales.
Four ways to sell to us
Outright purchase
Common for brownfield, with contamination and demolition allowed for in the price.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractHow 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.
Questions owners in Freshwater ask
Do I have to clear the site first?
No. We can buy with buildings and hardstanding in place and deal with demolition ourselves.
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 Freshwater?
Yes. We buy brownfield land in Freshwater and throughout the Isle of Wight, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
Can an agent introduce land in Freshwater to you?
Yes. Estate agents, land agents and planning consultants can introduce sites with the owner's consent. Any fee is agreed in writing before details are shared, confirmed by the owner in writing and paid only on completion.
