Small sites wanted in York
If you own small sites in or around York, we would like to hear about it. We buy directly and give a free, no-obligation appraisal.
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
The small sites that interests us around York
We want to hear about plots for a few homes anywhere around York, including ones a larger builder has already turned down. York lies about 30 miles south-east of Northallerton in North Yorkshire. We also cover Selby, Kippax, Harrogate and the villages between them.
- Corner plots and side gardens with road frontage
- Garage blocks and small yards
- Plots with consent for one to nine homes
- Land within or touching a settlement boundary
Teesside has substantial former industrial land and regeneration areas, while flooding from the Ouse, Foss and Derwent affects York, Selby and nearby villages. The A1(M) and East Coast Main Line corridor through Northallerton and Thirsk, and the Harrogate to York rail line, attract steady interest in housing land.
What decides whether a site in York works
Design fit
A small scheme has to suit the street and the neighbours.
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.
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.
Parts of North Yorkshire are Green Belt, though not every town has any nearby. We check early whether a site is inside it and, if so, whether a grey belt or previously developed land case could apply.
We are based in Great Barr, Birmingham, around 103 miles from York, and we travel to see sites across England and Wales.
Ways to sell small sites in York
Subject-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
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.
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.
Which planning rules apply to land in York?
As York 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.
Do I need to pay anything to have land in York assessed?
No. Our appraisal is free and there is no obligation to sell to us.