Sites with lapsed or refused planning wanted in Derbyshire
We are actively looking for sites with lapsed or refused planning in Derbyshire and the surrounding area, with or without planning permission.
Land with a lapsed consent or a refusal is not a dead end. We read the decision, the officer's report and any appeal history to judge whether a fresh approach could work.

- Size
- Any
- Planning
- Lapsed, refused or withdrawn
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Conditional or outright
What sites with lapsed or refused planning we want near Derbyshire
Derbyshire stretches from the city of Derby and towns such as Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Belper and Ripley in the south and east to the Peak District uplands in the north-west. Green Belt covers land between Derby and Nottingham, near Swadlincote and on the edges of Sheffield and Greater Manchester, while the Peak District National Park covers much of the north. Former colliery and industrial land, edge-of-town fields and village infill are the usual sources of housing sites.
- Sites where planning permission has expired
- Sites where an appeal was dismissed on specific points
- Withdrawn applications
- Plots where policy has changed since the last decision
Much of eastern Derbyshire lies on the former coalfield, where a coal mining risk assessment is often needed before building. The M1 corridor towns such as Chesterfield, Alfreton and Ilkeston, and the Swadlincote area near Burton upon Trent, see steady demand for small and medium housing sites.
What decides whether a site in Derbyshire works
Reasons for refusal
The wording of each reason tells us what would need to change.
Appeal history
An inspector's decision carries weight in future applications.
Technical work
Some refusals turn on drainage, highways or ecology evidence that can be improved.
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.
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.
Sites with lapsed or refused planning wanted in towns across Derbyshire
Choosing how to sell
Subject-to-planning contract
The usual route: we make the revised application and complete on success.
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 agreementFrom first call to completion
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.
Frequently asked in Derbyshire
My application was refused. Should I appeal or re-apply?
It depends on the reasons and time limits. Sometimes a revised application is better than an appeal. We look at the decision and say what we would do.
Does a refusal make the land worth less?
It can affect value, but often the reasons can be addressed. Policy may also have changed since the decision.
Do you buy sites with lapsed or refused planning in Derbyshire?
Yes. We buy sites with lapsed or refused planning in Derbyshire and throughout Derbyshire, 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 Derbyshire?
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.
