Brownfield land wanted in Guildford
We want to hear from owners of brownfield land in Guildford. There is nothing to pay us, and you are under no obligation.
Brownfield land is land that has been developed before, such as a former factory, depot, yard or cleared building plot. National policy in both England and Wales supports reusing it, and we buy brownfield sites of all sizes for new homes.
- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
The brownfield land that interests us around Guildford
Former works, depots and yards in and around Guildford can make good housing sites once the ground and neighbouring uses are understood. As the county town of Surrey, Guildford anchors the area we cover here, along with Godalming, Woking and Aldershot.
- 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
Heathland protection in the west of the county means many schemes contribute to mitigation for the Thames Basin Heaths, and flood risk from the Thames and Mole affects riverside towns. Stations on the lines into Waterloo and Victoria matter, as English planning policy now gives weight to locations near well-connected stations.
What decides whether a site in Guildford works
Contamination
Past uses can leave contamination; desk studies and site investigation show what remediation is needed.
Employment land policy
Some councils protect employment land; we check whether a change to housing would be resisted.
Existing floorspace
Vacant buildings can reduce affordable housing requirements in some cases (vacant building credit, England).
The August 2026 NPPF supports homes within reasonable walking distance (around 800 metres) of well-connected railway stations, with minimum densities of 35 homes per hectare, or 45 near higher-frequency stations.
Some land in Surrey is designated Green Belt. If your land is within it, it may still qualify as grey belt or previously developed land under national policy, subject to the Golden Rules.
Though we are based in Birmingham (roughly 107 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 agreementHow a sale to us works
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.
Frequently asked in Surrey
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.
Do I have to clear the site first?
No. We can buy with buildings and hardstanding in place and deal with demolition ourselves.
How quickly can you look at a site in Guildford?
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.
Do I need to pay anything to have land in Guildford assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.