Small sites wanted in Torquay
Development Land Wanted buys small sites in Torquay and right across England and Wales. Owners and agents are both welcome.
If your land could take a few homes rather than a few hundred, it is a small site. These plots are central to what we buy, and we can usually give a quick view on whether one is worth pursuing.
- Size
- About 1 to 9 homes
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
What small sites we want near Torquay
In Torquay, small sites are often the leftover pieces: a side garden, an old garage block or a gap where a building once stood. Torquay is in Devon, about 18 miles south of Exeter. Nearby places include Paignton, Brixham and Newton Abbot.
- Corner plots and side gardens with road frontage
- Garage blocks and small yards
- Sites where an earlier application can be improved
- Land within or touching a settlement boundary
Devon has no Green Belt, but Dartmoor and part of Exmoor National Parks and the East Devon, North Devon, South Devon, Blackdown Hills and Tamar Valley National Landscapes cover a large share of the county. Growth focuses on Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay and the market towns, with many villages beyond. Edge-of-town greenfield land, farm buildings and smaller infill plots are the usual sources of new housing sites.
Before we make an offer in Torquay
Access
Even small sites need a safe access and parking.
Affordable housing thresholds
In England affordable housing is usually only sought on schemes of ten or more homes; in Wales many councils seek contributions from smaller sites, sometimes a single home.
BNG (England)
From 6 August 2026 non-major sites of 0.2 ha or less are generally exempt from mandatory BNG unless priority habitat is affected.
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.
We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, around 160 miles from Torquay, and we travel to see sites across England and Wales.
Choosing how to sell
Subject-to-planning contract
Popular for small plots: you only sell once 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
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 Devon
Why do larger developers ignore small sites?
Large builders tend to focus on bigger schemes that suit their overheads. Small sites need a different approach, which is why we actively look for them.
How quickly can you give a view?
For a small site with a clear plan and photos, we can usually say quickly whether it is worth pursuing and how.
Do you buy small sites in Torquay?
Yes. We buy small sites in Torquay and throughout Devon, 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 Torquay assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.