Residential development land wanted in Derby
We are actively looking for residential development land in Derby and the surrounding area, with or without planning permission.
Residential development land is any site where new homes could reasonably be built, whether it already has planning permission or not. We look at land of every size across England and Wales and give owners a straight answer on whether housing is realistic.
- Size
- Any — single plots to 50+ homes
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- All four
Is your land in Derby the kind we want?
Around Derby, the residential land that tends to work is close to existing homes, shops and transport rather than out on its own. Derby is the county town of Derbyshire. Nearby places we also cover include Belper, Ilkeston and Heanor.
- Sites with a road frontage or a clear route to one
- Land outside the highest flood risk zones, or where flood risk only affects part of the site
- Single plots, small sites, medium sites and larger strategic land
- Freehold land where the owner (or all the owners) can sell
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 usually makes or breaks it
Access
A safe vehicle access with adequate visibility is often the single biggest make-or-break item.
Flood risk
We check the official flood maps early; land in the highest-risk zones is rarely suitable for homes.
Development plan position
Whether the council has an up-to-date plan shapes how applications are judged; in England, housing land supply also matters.
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.
Some land in Derbyshire is designated Green Belt. If your land is within it, it may still qualify as grey belt or previously developed land under national policy, subject to the Golden Rules.
Our base is in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 32 miles away, and we buy land throughout England and Wales.
Ways to sell residential development land in Derby
Outright purchase
Best where planning is already granted or the route to it is clear.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
Common for land without planning: we agree a price now and complete once a suitable permission is granted.
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
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.
Residential development land in Derby: common questions
Can I sell part of my land and keep the rest?
Often, yes. We can look at selling an agreed area, with access and boundaries set out so the land you keep is not left landlocked.
Will you tell me if you think the land is not suitable?
Yes. If we think the site has no realistic route to homes we will say so and, where we can, explain why.
Is Derby too far from our Birmingham base?
No. We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 32 miles from Derby, and we look at land right across England and Wales.
Can an agent introduce land in Derby 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.