Redundant buildings wanted in St Albans
We want to hear from owners of redundant buildings in St Albans. There is nothing to pay us, and you are under no obligation.
If you own a building that no longer works for its original purpose, it may suit residential conversion or redevelopment. We consider offices, retail, pubs, community and religious buildings, and more.
- Size
- Any
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
Redundant buildings we are looking for in St Albans
We are interested in buildings around St Albans that have outlived their original use, whether they would be converted or replaced. St Albans lies about 11 miles west of Hertford in Hertfordshire. We also cover Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead and the villages between them.
- Vacant offices and commercial buildings
- Shops with upper floors or whole retail buildings
- Former pubs, halls, chapels and churches
- Sites where demolition and rebuilding may be better than conversion
Hertfordshire is a county of medium-sized towns, including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Hitchin, with many villages between them. Most of the county lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Chilterns National Landscape covers the west, so grey belt, previously developed land and infill sites are especially important. Larger growth is usually planned as urban extensions and new communities through local plans.
Checks we make on redundant buildings in St Albans
Community value
Pubs and community buildings may be listed as assets of community value or protected by policy.
Heritage
Listed buildings and conservation areas need careful design and extra consents.
Prior approval (England)
Some changes of use can be made through permitted development with prior approval.
National policy in England now recognises "medium development" of 10 to 49 homes on sites up to 2.5 hectares, and asks councils to allocate at least 10% of their housing on sites of one hectare or less and a further 10% on sites of one to 2.5 hectares.
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.
We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, around 87 miles from St Albans, and we travel to see sites across England and Wales.
How we could buy your land in St Albans
Outright purchase
Common for empty buildings, with conversion costs reflected in the price.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
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.
Your questions answered
Can a former pub be converted to homes?
Sometimes. Pubs are often protected by local policy, and the August 2026 NPPF aims to avoid loss of valued community facilities, so evidence about viability and need matters.
My building is listed. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily, but it means listed building consent as well as planning permission, and design must respect the building's significance.
Is St Albans too far from our Birmingham base?
No. We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 87 miles from St Albans, and we look at land right across England and Wales.
Which planning rules apply to land in St Albans?
As St Albans 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.