Sell redundant commercial or industrial land in Swanley
We consider redundant commercial land in Swanley and across Kent, from sites close to the BR8 postcode district out towards Bexley and Dartford.
Councils sometimes protect employment land, so we check the policy position before assuming a site can change to housing.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
Selling land near Swanley?
We'll check the title and planning, then call you.
Swanley at a glance
Swanley lies in Kent, roughly 17 miles north-west of Maidstone. Nearby, we also look at land around Bexley (3 miles), Dartford (4 miles) and Welling (5 miles).
| Town | Swanley |
|---|---|
| County | Kent |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | BR8 |
| OS grid square | TQ56 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Bexley (3 mi), Dartford (4 mi), Welling (5 mi) |
| Distance from Maidstone | About 17 miles north-west |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |

What makes redundant commercial land near Swanley worth an offer
- Haulage yards, builders' yards and depots
- Sites a business is relocating from
- Commercial buildings with permitted development potential
- Sites with a mix of buildings and open storage
Councils sometimes protect employment land, so we check the policy position before assuming a site can change to housing.
How we arrive at a figure for land in Kent
Employment land policy
Some councils require evidence that commercial use is no longer viable before allowing homes.
Existing use value
A let or lettable commercial site has a value that a housing offer must exceed.
Leases
Occupational leases and security of tenure affect timing.
Access
Commercial access often works well for housing, which helps value.
Four routes to a sale
How a sale works
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
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.
What England's rules mean for your land
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
The council protects employment land
We look at marketing evidence and viability. Some sites won't qualify, and we'll say so.
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
- A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
- Your title number, if you know it
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
Questions from landowners near Swanley
Can a commercial site be redeveloped for housing?
Often, subject to the council's policies on protecting employment land, plus the usual planning tests.
Can I keep running my business after selling?
Yes, through a conditional contract or a short leaseback agreed as part of the deal.
What is prior approval for commercial to residential?
In England, permitted development rights allow some commercial buildings to change to homes through a prior approval process, within set limits.
Can you visit land near Swanley?
Yes. Once we've looked at the title and planning position, we arrange a site visit if the land looks suitable. Send the address or postcode to start.
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
- 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 Swanley
- Redundant commercial and industrial land in Kent
Get a straight answer about your land
A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.