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Sell development land in Bournemouth

We consider development land in Bournemouth and across Dorset, from sites close to the BH1 postcode district out towards Christchurch and Canford Heath.

Most development land starts life as an ordinary field. What makes it valuable is where it sits: next to existing homes, close to a road, inside or near a settlement boundary. We assess those things first and give you a straight answer.

  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • No pressure to decide
  • Independent advice encouraged

Tell us about your land

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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Free and no obligation. We're the buyer, so there's no commission.

Bournemouth at a glance

Land around Bournemouth falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Christchurch, 4 miles away, and Canford Heath, 4 miles away.

Chalk downland and coast, much of it inside the Dorset National Landscape, with the South East Dorset green belt around Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

TownBournemouth
CountyDorset
CountryEngland
Postcode districtBH1
OS grid squareSZ09
Nearest towns we coverChristchurch (4 mi), Canford Heath (4 mi), Poole (5 mi)
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sellOutright, subject to planning, option or joint venture
Grass field beside the back gardens of a modern housing estate, with a field gate onto the road

Land we're keen to see around Bournemouth

  • Land that adjoins an existing town, village or housing estate
  • A safe point of access onto a public road, or a realistic way to create one
  • Land outside the highest-risk flood zones, or where flood risk can be designed out
  • Sites allocated, or put forward, in the local plan

Most development land starts life as an ordinary field. What makes it valuable is where it sits: next to existing homes, close to a road, inside or near a settlement boundary. We assess those things first and give you a straight answer.

The things that move our offer

Planning status

Land with an implementable permission is worth far more than land with none, because the biggest risk has gone.

Ground and drainage

Poor ground, contamination or the need for a pumping station all add build cost that comes off the land price.

Local sale values

The price new homes will sell for nearby sets the ceiling on what the land is worth.

Ecology and trees

Protected species, ancient hedgerows and tree preservation orders can reduce the developable area.

How a sale works

  1. Tell us about your land

    Send the postcode or address and a rough size.

  2. We check it properly

    Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.

  3. We put an offer in writing

    It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.

  4. Solicitors complete the sale

    Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.

What England's rules mean for your land

Green belt and grey belt

Green belt land is protected from inappropriate development. National policy in England also recognises 'grey belt': green belt land that doesn't strongly contribute to key green belt purposes, where housing can be acceptable if further tests are met.

Section 106 and CIL

Larger schemes often need a Section 106 agreement for affordable housing or contributions, and councils that have adopted the Community Infrastructure Levy charge it per square metre of new floorspace.

Flood risk

Environment Agency flood maps and the sequential test steer new homes away from areas at highest risk of flooding.

Common problems, and how we handle them

The site has been refused planning before

A refusal tells us what the council objected to. We read the decision notice and judge whether a different scheme could answer it.

The access is over someone else's land

We check the title for rights of way and, where needed, factor in the cost of buying or negotiating access.

Useful to send us

  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Any planning applications or letters

Your questions answered

How do I know if my land is development land?

Ask three questions: does it sit next to existing homes, can a car get onto it safely from a public road, and is it outside the worst flood risk? If the answer to all three is yes, it is worth an appraisal. We will tell you honestly if we don't think homes are achievable.

Do you buy development land without planning permission?

Yes. Without permission we usually buy on a subject-to-planning contract or an option, so the price reflects value with permission rather than farmland value. If you need a quick, unconditional sale, we can also make an outright offer that reflects the planning risk.

What size of site do you buy?

We look at sites from around a quarter of an acre for a single plot up to large fields on the edge of towns. Size matters less than location, access and planning prospects.

Do you buy land in Bournemouth?

Yes. We consider land in and around Bournemouth and across Dorset. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.

Ready to talk about your land in Bournemouth?

A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.