Commercial and industrial sites wanted in Atherton
Looking to sell commercial and industrial sites near Atherton? We assess every site on its merits and explain the options in plain English.
If you own industrial units, a business yard or commercial land that is surrounded by housing or underused, it may be worth more as a residential site. We look at employment land policy, tenancies and ground conditions before making an offer.

- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
The commercial and industrial sites that interests us around Atherton
In Atherton, industrial land that has drifted out of use can often be reimagined as homes, subject to the council's view on employment land. Sitting about 11 miles west of Manchester, Atherton is within Greater Manchester, with Tyldesley and Westhoughton close by.
- Industrial units and yards within residential areas
- Sites with tenants on short leases or approaching breaks
- Builders' yards, depots and storage land
- Garage, workshop and showroom sites
Greater Manchester is a dense conurbation centred on Manchester and Salford, ringed by towns such as Bolton, Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Stockport and Altrincham. Green Belt separates many of these towns and covers the moorland fringe, so most housing land is previously developed: former mills, industrial estates, yards and town-centre sites. Grey belt and small edge-of-settlement fields can also come forward on the urban fringe.
Checks we make on commercial and industrial sites in Atherton
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.
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 72 miles from Atherton, and we travel to see sites 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
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractFrom first call to completion
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 Greater Manchester
My units are still let. Can you buy?
Yes, in many cases. We look at the leases and break dates and can plan a purchase around them.
Do I need to market the site first?
Not to sell to us. Marketing evidence can, however, support a planning case for change of use.
How quickly can you look at a site in Atherton?
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 Atherton assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.
