Commercial and industrial sites wanted in Ilford
Development Land Wanted buys commercial and industrial sites in Ilford and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
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
The commercial and industrial sites that interests us around Ilford
We look at yards and units across Ilford where the business use has run its course or the site sits awkwardly among houses. Ilford lies about 9 miles east of central London in Greater London. We also cover Barking, Dagenham, Walthamstow and the villages between them.
- Industrial units and yards within residential areas
- Commercial land that is vacant or underused
- Sites with tenants on short leases or approaching breaks
- Builders' yards, depots and storage land
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.
What decides whether a site in Ilford works
Employment land protection
Councils often protect business land; evidence of marketing or lack of demand can matter.
Neighbouring businesses
Homes next to noisy uses may need mitigation or may not be acceptable.
Permitted development (England)
Some changes from commercial to residential use can be made through prior approval rather than a full application.
Since 6 August 2026, non-major development on sites of 0.2 hectares or less in England has generally been exempt from mandatory biodiversity net gain, unless priority habitat is affected. That makes many small sites simpler to bring forward.
Though we are based in Birmingham (roughly 108 miles away), distance is no barrier: we look at land across England and Wales.
Four ways to sell to us
Outright purchase
Common, with leases and remediation reflected in timing and price.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
Used where a change of use 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 agreementWhat happens after you get in touch
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 Greater London
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.
Do you buy commercial and industrial sites in Ilford?
Yes. We buy commercial and industrial sites in Ilford and throughout Greater London, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
Is Ilford too far from our Birmingham base?
No. We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 108 miles from Ilford, and we look at land right across England and Wales.
