Sell development land in Chelmsford
We consider development land in Chelmsford and across Essex, from sites close to the CM1 postcode district out towards Billericay and Witham.
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 pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Land around Chelmsford
From Chelmsford, it's 8 miles to Billericay and 9 miles to Witham. We buy land across that whole stretch of Essex, not only within the town.
| Town | Chelmsford |
|---|---|
| County | Essex |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | CM1 |
| OS grid square | TL70 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Billericay (8 mi), Witham (9 mi), Maldon (9 mi) |
| Distance from Southend-on-Sea | 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 |
Land we're keen to see around Chelmsford
- A safe point of access onto a public road, or a realistic way to create one
- 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
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.
What affects the price
Planning status
Land with an implementable permission is worth far more than land with none, because the biggest risk has gone.
Planning obligations
Affordable housing, Section 106 contributions and, in some areas, CIL reduce what a buyer can pay for the land.
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.
Four routes to a sale
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
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.
Planning and legal points for land in Essex
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.
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.
Part of the field floods
We map the flood zones and look at whether homes can sit on the drier part, with the rest used as open space.
Useful to send us
- A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
- 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.
Do you cover the villages around Chelmsford?
Yes. Villages between Chelmsford, Billericay and Witham often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.
Other land types and routes
- 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
- 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 Chelmsford
- Development land in Essex
Find out what we'd pay for your land near Chelmsford
Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.