Strategic land wanted in Wiltshire
We are actively looking for strategic land in Wiltshire 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
Strategic land we are looking for in Wiltshire
Wiltshire includes Swindon, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Melksham, Devizes, Calne, Warminster and Westbury, with many villages and much open downland. Green Belt from the Bristol and Bath area reaches the west of the county, and the North Wessex Downs, Cranborne Chase and Cotswolds National Landscapes and part of the New Forest National Park cover large areas. Typical sites include edge-of-town fields, farm buildings, village infill and former military or industrial land.
- Sites that could form part of a local plan allocation
- Land near railway stations or good bus routes
- Holdings where neighbouring owners may collaborate
- Land with more than one possible access point
Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge bring military and World Heritage considerations, and nutrient neutrality advice has affected the River Avon catchment around Salisbury. The M4 corridor around Swindon and Chippenham and the rail lines through Westbury and Trowbridge focus much of the area's growth.
What usually makes or breaks it
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.
Promotion costs
Technical studies and plan representations cost money; under an option we pay them up front, and any recovery from the price is capped in the heads of terms.
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.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduced Environmental Delivery Plans and a Nature Restoration Levy in England, which over time may offer an alternative to site-by-site mitigation for some environmental issues.
Parts of Wiltshire 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.
Parts of Wiltshire fall within North Wessex Downs National Landscape, Cranborne Chase National Landscape, Cotswolds National Landscape and New Forest National Park. Protected landscapes carry strong policy protection, so land in or next to them needs particularly careful assessment.
Strategic land wanted in towns across Wiltshire
Ways to sell strategic land in Wiltshire
Outright purchase
We agree a price and buy the land, with no planning condition attached.
Outright purchaseSubject-to-planning contract
Possible for the first phase of a larger holding.
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 agreementHow a sale to us works
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.
Frequently asked in Wiltshire
How long does strategic land take?
Often several years, because it may need a local plan allocation and then an outline permission. We are honest about timing for each site.
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.
Can an agent introduce land in Wiltshire 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 Wiltshire?
As Wiltshire 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.