Sell barns and rural buildings in Washington
We consider barns and rural buildings in Washington and across Tyne and Wear, from sites close to the NE37 postcode district out towards Chester-le-Street and Felling.
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
- No pressure to decide
Tell us about your land
Free, no-obligation appraisal.
Where Washington sits
Our appraisals for Washington start with the NE37 postcode district and the OS grid square NZ35, then widen out to Chester-le-Street, Felling and Houghton-le-Spring, all within about 5 miles.
Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and the surrounding boroughs, with brownfield land in the urban core and green belt on the fringe.
| Town | Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Tyne and Wear |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | NE37 |
| OS grid square | NZ35 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Chester-le-Street (4 mi), Felling (4 mi), Houghton-le-Spring (5 mi) |
| Distance from Newcastle upon Tyne | About 6 miles south-east |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |

Is your land near Washington a good fit?
- Traditional brick, stone or timber barns
- Modern steel-framed agricultural buildings no longer needed
- Buildings already granted planning permission
- Former agricultural buildings in or near villages
We look at traditional barns and modern agricultural buildings, check the planning options and make an offer that reflects the realistic route.
What affects the price
Planning route
Full planning and, in England, Class Q prior approval follow different rules and limits.
Listed status
Listed and curtilage-listed buildings need listed building consent and careful design.
Protected species
Bats and barn owls are common in old barns and surveys may be needed.
Agricultural use history
Class Q rights depend on the building's past agricultural use.
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
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
We check it properly
Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.
Rules that apply in England
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Common questions
Will you buy a barn in poor condition?
Yes, but condition affects the planning route and the cost, so it affects the price.
Can I sell buildings and keep the land around them?
Yes. We can agree a boundary that suits both of us, with access rights protected.
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.
Do you cover the villages around Washington?
Yes. Villages between Washington, Chester-le-Street and Felling often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.
Other land types and routes
- 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 Washington
- Barns and rural buildings in Tyne and Wear
Ready to talk about your land in Washington?
Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.