Commercial and industrial sites wanted in Horwich
Development Land Wanted buys commercial and industrial sites in Horwich and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
Commercial and industrial sites can sometimes be redeveloped for housing, particularly when they sit among homes or are no longer needed for business. We assess whether a change to residential is realistic and buy suitable sites across England and Wales.

- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
Commercial and industrial sites we are looking for in Horwich
Older business land around Horwich, especially units now surrounded by housing, is the kind of commercial site we would like to discuss. Sitting about 15 miles north-west of Manchester, Horwich is within Greater Manchester, with Westhoughton and Chorley close by.
- Sites with tenants on short leases or approaching breaks
- Builders' yards, depots and storage land
- Garage, workshop and showroom sites
- Land where employment use has been marketed without success
Most of the city-region is covered by a joint strategic plan, and Metrolink and rail corridors are a focus for higher-density homes. The eastern edge around Saddleworth includes part of the Peak District National Park, where landscape is a significant constraint on development.
What decides whether a site in Horwich works
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.
Neighbouring businesses
Homes next to noisy uses may need mitigation or may not be acceptable.
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.
Our base is in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 77 miles away, and we buy land throughout 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 contractJoint venture
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
Joint ventureFrom first call to completion
Tell us about the land
Use the form or call us with the location and a rough outline of the site.
Free appraisal
We review title, planning and constraints and tell you honestly what we think.
Written offer
If the site suits us, we set out an offer and the way we propose to buy.
Solicitors take over
Your solicitor and ours agree the contract; we keep you informed throughout.
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.
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 Horwich?
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 Horwich assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.
