Sites with lapsed or refused planning wanted in Chatham
We want to hear from owners of sites with lapsed or refused planning in Chatham. There is nothing to pay us, and you are under no obligation.
If your permission expired or an application was refused, the land may still be developable. A refusal often comes down to design, access or a specific technical issue that can be addressed in a new application.

- 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- Lapsed, refused or withdrawn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 Chatham
If a scheme near Chatham was refused or ran out of time, the officer's report usually shows what a better application would need. Sitting about 8 miles north of Maidstone, Chatham is within Kent, with Rochester and Gillingham close by.
- Sites where an appeal was dismissed on specific points
- Withdrawn applications
- Land with an old permission that was never started
- Plots where policy has changed since the last decision
Nutrient neutrality advice has affected the Stour catchment around Canterbury and Ashford because of the protected Stodmarsh wetlands. High Speed 1 stations and the M2, M20 and A2 corridors are a focus for growth, while coastal flood risk matters on the Thames and Swale estuaries and Romney Marsh.
What usually makes or breaks it
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.
Time since decision
The longer ago the decision, the more the context may have changed.
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.
Parts of Kent 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 131 miles away), distance is no barrier: we look at land across England and Wales.
How we could buy your land in Chatham
Subject-to-planning contract
The usual route: we make the revised application and complete on success.
Subject-to-planning contractThe next steps
Tell us about the land
Use the form or call us with the location and a rough outline of the site.
Free appraisal
We review title, planning and constraints and tell you honestly what we think.
Written offer
If the site suits us, we set out an offer and the way we propose to buy.
Solicitors take over
Your solicitor and ours agree the contract; we keep you informed throughout.
Questions owners in Chatham ask
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.
How do you decide if a site is worth another attempt?
We look at the reasons for refusal, any appeal, current policy and the technical evidence, then give a straight view.
Which planning rules apply to land in Chatham?
As Chatham is in England, national policy comes from the National Planning Policy Framework, revised in August 2026. Local policies in the council's development plan also apply.
Do I need to pay anything to have land in Chatham assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.
