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Sell development land in Portland

We buy development land across Dorset. In Portland, as everywhere, the offer depends on the land itself: its access, its planning prospects and what can sensibly be built.

Development land is land where new homes or other buildings could realistically be built, either because it already has planning permission or because its location makes permission a reasonable prospect. We buy development land across England and Wales directly from the owner, so there is no agent's commission to pay.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • Figures explained, so you can check them

Get an offer for land in Portland

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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

Portland at a glance

From Portland, it's 3 miles to Weymouth and 10 miles to Dorchester. We buy land across that whole stretch of Dorset, not only within the town.

TownPortland
CountyDorset
CountryEngland
Postcode districtDT5
OS grid squareSY67
Nearest towns we coverWeymouth (3 mi), Dorchester (10 mi), Poole (23 mi)
Distance from BournemouthAbout 27 miles south-west
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 Portland

  • Sites from around a quarter of an acre upwards
  • Land outside the highest-risk flood zones, or where flood risk can be designed out
  • Mains water, drainage and electricity nearby
  • 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.

Access

A frontage onto an adopted road removes cost and uncertainty; a third party controlling access can cut value sharply.

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.

Choosing how to sell

Outright purchase

Best where permission is already granted and the title is clean.

Subject-to-planning sale

Lets you lock in a price now that is paid once we secure permission.

Option agreements

Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.

Joint ventures

Worth discussing if you want a share of the finished development value.

How a sale works

  1. Tell us about your land

    Send the postcode or address and a rough size.

  2. We do the homework

    We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.

  3. You get a written offer

    With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.

  4. The legal work

    Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.

Planning and legal points for land in Dorset

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.

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.

Biodiversity net gain

Under the Environment Act 2021, most developments in England must deliver at least a 10% gain in biodiversity. Since 6 August 2026, sites of 0.2 hectares or less are exempt unless priority habitat is affected.

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

  • The address or postcode
  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Your questions answered

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.

Will I pay any fees to you?

No. We are the buyer, not an agent, so there is no commission. You will normally pay your own solicitor unless we agree otherwise in writing.

How long does it take to sell development land?

With permission and clean title, a sale can move as fast as the solicitors can complete the legal work. Without permission, timing depends on the planning process, which commonly takes many months and sometimes years for larger sites.

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.

Development land near Portland

Other land in Portland

Get a straight answer about your land

Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248