Brownfield land wanted in West Sussex
Development Land Wanted buys brownfield land in West Sussex and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
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
Is your land in West Sussex the kind we want?
West Sussex includes Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Chichester and the coastal towns of Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing. It has only a very small area of Green Belt on the Surrey border, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald and Chichester Harbour National Landscapes cover large parts. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, infill plots and urban brownfield land.
- Former industrial, commercial or depot sites
- Cleared sites and land with hardstanding
- Yards and builders' compounds within towns
- Land with buildings that would be demolished
Water neutrality advice that held up many schemes around Crawley, Horsham and Chichester was withdrawn from 1 November 2025, though water efficiency remains important. Chichester Harbour and the coastal plain bring flood risk and mitigation considerations, while the Brighton Main Line and A23 corridor focus growth around Crawley and Burgess Hill.
What decides whether a site in West Sussex works
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.
Existing floorspace
Vacant buildings can reduce affordable housing requirements in some cases (vacant building credit, England).
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.
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.
Parts of West Sussex 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 West Sussex
Choosing how to sell
Outright purchase
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
Useful where the change from commercial to residential still needs consent.
Subject-to-planning contractThe next steps
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.
Your questions answered
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.
How quickly can you look at a site in West Sussex?
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 West Sussex assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.