Commercial and industrial sites wanted in Folkestone
We want to hear from owners of commercial and industrial sites in Folkestone. There is nothing to pay us, and you are under no obligation.
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
The commercial and industrial sites that interests us around Folkestone
In Folkestone, industrial land that has drifted out of use can often be reimagined as homes, subject to the council's view on employment land. Folkestone lies about 31 miles south-east of Maidstone in Kent. We also cover Dover, Ashford, Deal and the villages between them.
- Industrial units and yards within residential areas
- Commercial land that is vacant or underused
- Builders' yards, depots and storage land
- Land where employment use has been marketed without success
Kent ranges from the Medway towns, Dartford and Gravesend on the Thames to Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells and the coastal towns of Margate, Ramsgate, Folkestone and Dover. West Kent is largely Metropolitan Green Belt, while the Kent Downs and High Weald National Landscapes cover much of the countryside. Sites typically include edge-of-town fields, orchards and farmland, farm buildings, infill plots and brownfield land in the towns.
What usually makes or breaks it
Employment land protection
Councils often protect business land; evidence of marketing or lack of demand can matter.
Contamination
Past industrial uses usually need investigation.
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 166 miles away), distance is no barrier: we look at land across England and Wales.
Four ways to sell to us
Outright purchase
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
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 agreementJoint venture
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
Joint ventureWhat 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.
Questions owners in Folkestone ask
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.
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 Folkestone?
Yes. We buy commercial and industrial sites in Folkestone and throughout Kent, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
How quickly can you look at a site in Folkestone?
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.
