Strategic land wanted in York
We are actively looking for strategic land in York and the surrounding area, with or without planning permission.
Strategic land is a larger site, usually for 50 or more homes, that is brought forward over several years through the local plan or a major application. We look at strategic land across England and Wales, usually under an option agreement or joint venture.
- Size
- 50+ homes
- Planning
- Usually without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Option or JV
Is your land in York the kind we want?
Around York, strategic sites tend to be the big fields between the built edge and the main roads, where a whole new neighbourhood could be planned. Sitting about 30 miles south-east of Northallerton, York is within North Yorkshire, with Selby and Kippax close by.
- Land for 50 or more homes next to a town or larger village
- Sites that could form part of a local plan allocation
- Holdings where neighbouring owners may collaborate
- Land with more than one possible access point
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 usually makes or breaks it
Infrastructure
Schools, roads, drainage and power capacity shape what a large site must provide.
Land assembly
Larger schemes often need several owners to agree a fair way to share value.
Station proximity (England)
The August 2026 NPPF gives new support to suitable development within reasonable walking distance of well-connected stations.
The August 2026 NPPF supports homes within reasonable walking distance (around 800 metres) of well-connected railway stations, with minimum densities of 35 homes per hectare, or 45 near higher-frequency stations.
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.
Our base is in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 103 miles away, and we buy land throughout England and Wales.
Choosing how to sell
Outright purchase
Rare before planning; more usual once an allocation or outline consent exists.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractThe 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.
Frequently asked in North Yorkshire
What if my neighbours own part of the best site?
We can help bring owners together under an equalisation arrangement so value is shared fairly, whoever ends up with the roads or open space.
Will I be paid anything before planning?
Under an option, owners are usually paid a premium on signing, with the main payment when the land is sold after planning.
Do you buy strategic land in York?
Yes. We buy strategic land in York and throughout North Yorkshire, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
How quickly can you look at a site in York?
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.