Farmland and paddocks wanted in Hitchin
Development Land Wanted buys farmland and paddocks in Hitchin and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
A paddock or field next to a village or town may have development potential, even if it has always been farmed. We assess how the land relates to the settlement, its access and the local plan, then explain which deal would suit.
- 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 Hitchin
Fields that wrap around the edges of Hitchin and its neighbouring villages are the farmland we most want to talk about. Hitchin is in Hertfordshire, about 14 miles north-west of Hertford. Nearby places include Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Luton.
- Land with road frontage or a farm track to a road
- Parcels from a few acres to whole holdings
- Land put forward to a local plan or call for sites
- Farmland where the owner wants to keep farming meanwhile
The M1, A1(M), M25 and several commuter rail lines into London make many Hertfordshire villages well connected to stations, which revised English planning policy treats as a factor in favour of development. Former employment sites, garages, yards and paddocks on town edges are common sources of smaller housing land.
Checks we make on farmland and paddocks in Hitchin
Relationship to the settlement
Land that reads as an extension of a place is usually more promising than isolated fields.
Tenancies
Agricultural tenancies affect when vacant possession can be given; we check the type and terms.
Landscape
Protected landscapes and sensitive views limit what may be acceptable.
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.
Parts of Hertfordshire are Green Belt, though not every town has any nearby. We check early whether a site is inside it and, if so, whether a grey belt or previously developed land case could apply.
Though we are based in Birmingham (roughly 80 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
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 agreementWhat happens after you get in touch
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.
Your questions answered
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.
Will I lose my farm payments?
Development land may need to leave a scheme at some point. Check your agreements and take advice; we plan timing around them where we can.
Can an agent introduce land in Hitchin to you?
Yes. Estate agents, land agents and planning consultants can introduce sites with the owner's consent. Any fee is agreed in writing before details are shared, confirmed by the owner in writing and paid only on completion.
How quickly can you look at a site in Hitchin?
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.