Farmland and paddocks wanted in Irlam
Development Land Wanted buys farmland and paddocks in Irlam and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
Farmland and paddocks can become development land when they sit beside a settlement that needs new homes. We look for fields on the edges of towns and villages across England and Wales and work with owners on options, conditional contracts and joint ventures.
- Size
- Paddocks to whole farms
- Planning
- Usually without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Option, conditional or JV
What farmland and paddocks we want near Irlam
We are looking for farmland near Irlam with a realistic access, ideally land the owner has already put forward to the local plan. In Greater Manchester, Irlam sits about 8 miles west of Manchester; Urmston and Sale are its nearest neighbours on our list.
- Fields and paddocks adjoining a town, village or suburb
- Parcels from a few acres to whole holdings
- Land put forward to a local plan or call for sites
- Land let on a farm business tenancy or grazing licence
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.
What usually makes or breaks it
Farm schemes
Environmental and payment schemes may have obligations to unwind or agree.
Landscape
Protected landscapes and sensitive views limit what may be acceptable.
Best and most versatile land
High-grade agricultural land can be a factor in planning decisions.
In England, the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August 2026 replaced the old "tilted balance" with new settlement policies: development within a settlement should normally be approved unless the harm substantially outweighs the benefits, while land outside a settlement can gain support in defined circumstances.
Some land in Greater Manchester is designated Green Belt. If your land is within it, it may still qualify as grey belt or previously developed land under national policy, subject to the Golden Rules.
We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, around 65 miles from Irlam, 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
Works well for smaller paddocks and edge-of-village fields.
Subject-to-planning contractOption agreement
The usual route for larger farmland: you keep farming and we promote the land.
Option agreementJoint venture
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
Joint ventureHow a sale to us works
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.
Questions owners in Irlam ask
Can I keep farming while you pursue planning?
Yes. Under an option or a conditional contract the land normally stays in your hands, and in use, until completion.
My land is let to a tenant. Can I still sell?
Usually, yes. The type of tenancy decides how and when possession can be obtained, so we look at the agreement early.
How quickly can you look at a site in Irlam?
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 Irlam assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.