Commercial and industrial sites wanted in Ely
We are actively looking for commercial and industrial sites in Ely and the surrounding area, with or without planning permission.
Older commercial and industrial land within towns is often better suited to homes than to modern business. We are interested in units, yards and estates where redevelopment for housing is realistic.
- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
What commercial and industrial sites we want near Ely
Older business land around Ely, especially units now surrounded by housing, is the kind of commercial site we would like to discuss. Ely is in Cambridgeshire, about 15 miles north-east of Cambridge. Nearby places include Newmarket, March and St Ives.
- Industrial units and yards within residential areas
- Sites with tenants on short leases or approaching breaks
- Builders' yards, depots and storage land
- Land where employment use has been marketed without success
Cambridgeshire combines the fast-growing Cambridge area and Peterborough with Fenland market towns such as Wisbech, March and Ely and the towns of St Neots, Huntingdon and St Ives. A Green Belt surrounds Cambridge, while much of the north lies in the low-lying Fens, where flood zone status is often the deciding factor. Typical sites include edge-of-village land, former agricultural yards and larger strategic land promoted for new communities.
Checks we make on commercial and industrial sites in Ely
Employment land protection
Councils often protect business land; evidence of marketing or lack of demand can matter.
Leases
Tenancies and their protection affect when the site can be redeveloped.
Permitted development (England)
Some changes from commercial to residential use can be made through prior approval rather than a full application.
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.
We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, around 92 miles from Ely, and we travel to see sites across England and Wales.
Choosing how to sell
Outright purchase
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractThe next steps
Send the basics
A postcode or plan and a few lines about the land are enough to start.
We do the homework
We check planning history, policy, flood maps and access at no cost to you.
We explain the options
You get a written proposal covering price, structure and timing.
Agree and proceed
Once you are happy, solicitors are instructed and the deal moves forward.
Frequently asked in Cambridgeshire
Will the council object to losing business land?
Some councils protect employment land. Evidence that the site is no longer needed or suitable for business can help.
Is permitted development an option?
In England, some commercial-to-residential changes can use prior approval. Whether it applies depends on the use, the building and local restrictions.
How quickly can you look at a site in Ely?
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 Ely assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.