Sell barns and rural buildings in Portland
Thinking about whether to sell barns and rural buildings in Portland? A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and how we got there, with no obligation to go further.
Barns and rural buildings range from traditional brick and stone barns to modern steel-framed sheds. Many can be converted to homes or replaced with new ones, either through a full planning application or, in England, through prior approval under permitted development rights.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- Independent advice encouraged
Get an offer for land in Portland
Free, no-obligation appraisal.
Where Portland sits
Land around Portland falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Weymouth, 3 miles away, and Dorchester, 10 miles away, and Bournemouth is 27 miles away.
| Town | Portland |
|---|---|
| County | Dorset |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | DT5 |
| OS grid square | SY67 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Weymouth (3 mi), Dorchester (10 mi), Poole (23 mi) |
| Distance from Bournemouth | About 27 miles south-west |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |
What we look for around Portland
- Modern steel-framed agricultural buildings no longer needed
- Farmyards with several buildings and hardstanding
- Buildings already granted planning permission
- Buildings with Class Q prior approval in place
Redundant farm buildings can be worth far more as homes than as storage. The route to consent depends on the building, its location and whether you're in England or Wales.
The things that move our offer
Planning route
Full planning and, in England, Class Q prior approval follow different rules and limits.
Structural condition
Conversions generally need a building strong enough to convert without rebuilding.
Services
Water, power and drainage to remote buildings can be expensive.
Retained land
Selling buildings from a working farm needs rights carefully reserved.
Choosing how to sell
Outright purchase
Suits buildings with consent or prior approval already in place.
Subject-to-planning sale
We complete once planning consent is secured.
Option agreements
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Joint ventures
Worth considering for a larger yard you'd like to see developed well.
How a sale works
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
What England's rules mean for your land
Agricultural buildings (Class Q)
In England, Class Q permitted development can allow some agricultural buildings to become homes through prior approval, within limits on size and number of homes.
Heritage
Listed buildings and conservation areas are managed with Historic England and the council's conservation team.
Farm tenancies
Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and farm business tenancies have their own notice and compensation rules, which affect when land can be developed.
Awkward details we deal with
You're not sure Class Q applies
In England, Class Q has detailed limits and conditions. We check eligibility before assuming it.
The barn is listed
Listed barns can still be converted with consent, but the design must respect the building.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
- Your title number, if you know it
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Your questions answered
Will you buy a barn in poor condition?
Yes, but condition affects the planning route and the cost, so it affects the price.
Do I need surveys before selling?
No. We arrange what we need. If you already have structural or ecology surveys, they help.
What if bats are present?
Bat roosts don't usually stop a conversion, but they need surveys, licences and timing. We allow for this in the offer.
How do I get an offer for land in Portland?
Use the form on this page or call 0800 088 6248. Tell us the postcode, the rough size and anything you know about planning, and we'll come back to you.
More land we buy in Portland
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- Large strategic sites
- Green belt and grey belt land
- Land for affordable homes
- Farmland and agricultural land
- Paddocks and equestrian land
- Building plots
- Garden land and backland
- Infill plots and gap sites
- Small sites
- Garage sites
- Brownfield land
- Redundant commercial and industrial land
- Inherited and probate land
- Landlocked land and access problems
- Outright purchase
- Subject-to-planning sale
- Option agreements
- Joint ventures
- All land in Portland
- Barns and rural buildings in Dorset
Ready to talk about your land in Portland?
A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.