Sell redundant commercial or industrial land in Westhoughton
Thinking about whether to sell redundant commercial or industrial land in Westhoughton? A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and how we got there, with no obligation to go further.
Redundant commercial and industrial land is a business site no longer needed for its original use, such as a small industrial unit, haulage yard or showroom. Where the site sits among homes, redevelopment for housing is often the best long-term use, subject to planning policy on employment land.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Land around Westhoughton
Westhoughton lies in Greater Manchester, some 13 miles west of Manchester. Nearby, we also look at land around Atherton (2 miles), Hindley (3 miles) and Tyldesley (3 miles).
A dense urban core where most new homes are on brownfield land, with green belt on the edges climbing towards the Pennines.
| Town | Westhoughton |
|---|---|
| County | Greater Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | BL5 |
| OS grid square | SD60 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Atherton (2 mi), Hindley (3 mi), Tyldesley (3 mi) |
| Distance from Manchester | About 13 miles west |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |
Land we're keen to see around Westhoughton
- Former showrooms, garages and workshops
- Sites a business is relocating from
- Sites with a mix of buildings and open storage
- Businesses looking for a sale and short leaseback
Councils sometimes protect employment land, so we check the policy position before assuming a site can change to housing.
What affects the price
Existing use value
A let or lettable commercial site has a value that a housing offer must exceed.
Demolition and contamination
Industrial uses can leave contamination that needs investigating.
Leases
Occupational leases and security of tenure affect timing.
Access
Commercial access often works well for housing, which helps value.
Ways to sell this land
What happens next
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
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.
Rules that apply in England
Planning framework
Planning decisions in England follow the National Planning Policy Framework, revised in August 2026, and the local plan, prepared by the council or, in a national park, the park authority. Plans are reviewed periodically, which is when new housing sites are usually allocated.
Brownfield first
National policy gives substantial weight to reusing suitable brownfield land for homes. Councils keep brownfield land registers, and some sites can gain permission in principle.
Tax on the sale
The buyer pays Stamp Duty Land Tax. As the seller you may owe capital gains tax, and some commercial land carries VAT. Take advice from an accountant.
When the land isn't straightforward
You still need the premises for now
A conditional deal or a short leaseback lets you keep operating until you're ready to move.
There are underground tanks
Fuel tanks are common on old garage and depot sites. We arrange removal as part of the works.
Useful to send us
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
Your questions answered
Can a commercial site be redeveloped for housing?
Often, subject to the council's policies on protecting employment land, plus the usual planning tests.
Do you buy sites with tenants in place?
Yes. We review the leases and allow for the time and cost of obtaining vacant possession.
Do I pay VAT on the sale?
Commercial property can be subject to VAT if an option to tax has been made. Ask your accountant and tell your solicitor early.
Do you cover the villages around Westhoughton?
Yes. Villages between Westhoughton, Atherton and Hindley often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.
More land we buy in Westhoughton
- 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
- Barns and rural buildings
- Building plots
- Garden land and backland
- Infill plots and gap sites
- Small sites
- Garage sites
- Brownfield land
- Inherited and probate land
- Landlocked land and access problems
- Outright purchase
- Subject-to-planning sale
- Option agreements
- Joint ventures
- All land in Westhoughton
- Redundant commercial and industrial land in Greater Manchester
Get a straight answer about your land
Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.