Small sites wanted in St Albans
Looking to sell small sites near St Albans? We assess every site on its merits and explain the options in plain English.
A small site is usually land for fewer than ten homes, such as a corner plot, a side garden or a small field. Larger housebuilders often overlook them, but small sites are exactly the kind of land we want across England and Wales.
- 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 St Albans
Small sites in and around St Albans are central to what we look for, from corner plots to the odd field on the edge of a nearby village. St Albans is in Hertfordshire, about 11 miles west of Hertford. Nearby places include Harpenden, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead.
- Corner plots and side gardens with road frontage
- Small fields or paddocks next to villages
- Garage blocks and small yards
- Sites where an earlier application can be improved
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.
What usually makes or breaks it
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.
Drainage
Sustainable drainage and sewer connections can still be significant on small sites.
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.
Our base is in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 87 miles away, and we buy land throughout England and Wales.
Ways to sell small sites in St Albans
Subject-to-planning contract
Popular for small plots: you only sell once permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractFrom 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.
Questions owners in St Albans ask
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.
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.
How quickly can you look at a site in St Albans?
For most sites we can give an initial view once we have the location and a plan. Detailed checks follow if the land looks suitable.