Small sites wanted in Berkhamsted
We are actively looking for small sites in Berkhamsted and the surrounding area, with or without planning permission.
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
Is your land in Berkhamsted the kind we want?
We want to hear about plots for a few homes anywhere around Berkhamsted, including ones a larger builder has already turned down. Sitting about 21 miles west of Hertford, Berkhamsted is within Hertfordshire, with Chesham and Hemel Hempstead close by.
- 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
The M1, A1(M), M25 and several commuter rail lines into London make many Hertfordshire villages well connected to stations, which revised English planning policy treats as a factor in favour of development. Former employment sites, garages, yards and paddocks on town edges are common sources of smaller housing land.
What usually makes or breaks it
Design fit
A small scheme has to suit the street and the neighbours.
Access
Even small sites need a safe access and parking.
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 79 miles from Berkhamsted, and we travel to see sites across England and Wales.
Choosing how to sell
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 agreementJoint venture
You contribute the land, we fund and manage planning and delivery, and the proceeds are shared as agreed.
Joint ventureThe next steps
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.
Your questions answered
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.
Do small sites need affordable housing?
In England, affordable housing is generally sought on major development of ten or more homes, though some rural areas set lower thresholds. In Wales, many Local Development Plans seek contributions from smaller sites, sometimes from a single home.
Can an agent introduce land in Berkhamsted 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.
Which planning rules apply to land in Berkhamsted?
As Berkhamsted 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.