Green Belt and grey belt land wanted in Greater London
Development Land Wanted buys Green Belt and grey belt land in Greater London and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
If your land is in the Green Belt, it may still be worth assessing. National policy in England allows grey belt and some previously developed Green Belt land to be considered for housing, with higher affordable housing expectations under the Golden Rules.
- Size
- Any
- Planning
- Usually without
- Areas
- England only
- Ways we buy
- Option or conditional
What Green Belt and grey belt land we want near Greater London
Outer London, from Romford and Bexley to Uxbridge, Barnet, Croydon and Sutton, contains most of the capital's remaining land opportunities. Around the edge, the Metropolitan Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land protect open space, and a small part of the Kent Downs National Landscape lies in the south-east. Sites usually come forward as small infill plots, garage courts, backland, former commercial buildings and occasional grey belt land on the urban fringe.
- Previously developed land in the Green Belt, such as yards, nurseries or old buildings
- Green Belt land on the edge of towns that is already enclosed by development
- Land the council has identified in a Green Belt review
- Sites with a defensible boundary such as a road or railway
London planning is shaped by both the London Plan and borough plans, with higher densities expected near stations and town centres. Small sites, including garden land, yards and redundant commercial premises close to Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line or national rail stations, are the most common route to new homes in the outer areas.
Before we make an offer in Greater London
Green Belt purposes
Whether land strongly contributes to purposes (a), (b) or (d) decides if it can be grey belt.
Affordable housing
The requirement is typically higher than elsewhere, which affects land value.
Local plan reviews
Councils may release Green Belt through their plans; promotion can matter.
The August 2026 NPPF supports homes within reasonable walking distance (around 800 metres) of well-connected railway stations, with minimum densities of 35 homes per hectare, or 45 near higher-frequency stations.
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.
Parts of Greater London 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.
How we could buy your land in Greater London
Subject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractWhat 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.
Green Belt and grey belt land in Greater London: common questions
Why is affordable housing higher on Green Belt land?
Under the Golden Rules, major housing on released Green Belt land typically has to provide more affordable homes than the local norm, up to a cap of 50%.
Is previously developed Green Belt land treated differently?
Yes. Redeveloping previously developed land in the Green Belt can be appropriate in some circumstances; we check how national and local policy apply to your site.
Can an agent introduce land in Greater London 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.
Do I need to pay anything to have land in Greater London assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.