Sell development land in Manchester

Thinking about whether to sell development land in Manchester? A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and how we got there, with no obligation to go further.

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
Independent advice encouraged

Selling land near Manchester?

Send the postcode and a rough size.

Land around Manchester

Manchester lies in Greater Manchester, where it is the main town we cover. Nearby, we also look at land around Salford (2 miles), Old Trafford (3 miles) and Failsworth (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	Manchester
County	Greater Manchester
Country	England
Postcode district	M1
OS grid square	SJ89
Nearest towns we cover	Salford (2 mi), Old Trafford (3 mi), Failsworth (3 mi)
Planning system	National Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sell	Outright, 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

Is your land near Manchester a good fit?

Land that adjoins an existing town, village or housing estate
Sites from around a quarter of an acre upwards
Mains water, drainage and electricity nearby
Land with a planning history we can build on, even if earlier applications were refused

If you own a field or site on the edge of a settlement, you may be sitting on land a homebuilder wants. We look at the planning history, access and services, then tell you plainly whether we can make an offer and on what basis.

What affects the price

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.

Ecology and trees

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

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.

From first call to completion

Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
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.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.

Planning and legal points for land in Greater Manchester

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.

Flood risk

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

Awkward details we deal with

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.

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

The address or postcode
Your title number, if you know it
Any planning applications or letters
Details of any tenants or grazing agreements

Questions from landowners near Manchester

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.

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 do I get an offer for land in Manchester?

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.

Ready to talk about your land in Manchester?

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

Get an offer Call 0800 088 6248