Residential development land wanted in West Sussex
If you own residential development land in or around West Sussex, we would like to hear about it. We buy directly and give a free, no-obligation appraisal.
If a piece of land could hold new houses or flats, it counts as residential development land. That might be a paddock on the edge of a village, a yard in a town, or a field next to an existing estate. We assess each one on its own merits and say plainly what we think.
- Size
- Any — single plots to 50+ homes
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- All four
Is your land in West Sussex the kind we want?
West Sussex includes Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Chichester and the coastal towns of Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing. It has only a very small area of Green Belt on the Surrey border, but the South Downs National Park and the High Weald and Chichester Harbour National Landscapes cover large parts. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, infill plots and urban brownfield land.
- 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
- Sites with or without planning permission, including land promoted in a local plan
- Freehold land where the owner (or all the owners) can sell
Water neutrality advice that held up many schemes around Crawley, Horsham and Chichester was withdrawn from 1 November 2025, though water efficiency remains important. Chichester Harbour and the coastal plain bring flood risk and mitigation considerations, while the Brighton Main Line and A23 corridor focus growth around Crawley and Burgess Hill.
Before we make an offer in West Sussex
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.
Utilities and drainage
Foul and surface water drainage, and power capacity, affect cost and timing more than most owners expect.
Where an English council cannot show a five-year supply of housing land, or its Housing Delivery Test result falls below 75%, the August 2026 NPPF can give policy support to suitable housing outside settlement boundaries.
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.
Some land in West Sussex 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.
Parts of West Sussex fall within South Downs National Park, High Weald National Landscape and Chichester Harbour National Landscape. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
Residential development land wanted in towns across West Sussex
Ways to sell residential development land in West Sussex
Outright purchase
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning 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 agreementThe next steps
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.
Residential development land in West Sussex: common questions
How small a site do you consider?
We look at single building plots as well as larger sites. Small sites can be very worthwhile, particularly infill land within towns and villages.
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.
Do you buy residential development land in West Sussex?
Yes. We buy residential development land in West Sussex and throughout West Sussex, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
Do I need to pay anything to have land in West Sussex assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.