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Sell land without planning permission in Littlehampton

Our interest in land without planning permission around Littlehampton is simple: we're buying land to build homes on, so we look for sites where homes are realistic and price them on that basis.

Land without planning permission is any land that has no current consent for building. You can still sell it: either outright at a price that reflects its present use and the chance of permission (hope value), or on a conditional or option basis that pays more if permission is granted.

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

Get an offer for land in Littlehampton

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

Where Littlehampton sits

Littlehampton (BN17) sits in OS grid square TQ00, about 26 miles south-west of Crawley. Sites between here and Bognor Regis or Chichester are just as much of interest to us.

TownLittlehampton
CountyWest Sussex
CountryEngland
Postcode districtBN17
OS grid squareTQ00
Nearest towns we coverBognor Regis (6 mi), Worthing (7 mi), Chichester (11 mi)
Distance from CrawleyAbout 26 miles south-west
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sellOutright, subject to planning, option or joint venture
Rolling pasture field seen over a galvanised five-bar gate with an oak tree beyond

What we look for around Littlehampton

  • Land inside or touching a settlement boundary in the local plan
  • Sites the council has assessed in its land availability study
  • Former orchards, nurseries and smallholdings
  • Grazing land with no tenancy or with a tenancy that can be ended

If you'd rather not wait for planning, an outright sale gives certainty now. If you can wait, a subject-to-planning or option deal usually pays more in the end.

What decides the value of land without planning permission near Littlehampton

Current use value

Agricultural or amenity value is the floor under any offer.

Hope value

The extra a buyer will pay for the chance of permission, which rises the closer the land is to existing homes.

Planning history

Past refusals and appeal decisions on the site and its neighbours shape the odds.

Constraints

Green belt, flood zones, heritage and landscape designations reduce the chance of consent.

What happens next

  1. Send us the address

    A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.

  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 West Sussex

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.

Farm tenancies

Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and farm business tenancies have their own notice and compensation rules, which affect when land can be developed.

Common problems, and how we handle them

The council says the land is outside the settlement

Settlement boundaries change when plans are reviewed. We look at the plan timetable and whether the site could be promoted at the next review.

You don't want to wait years

Then an outright sale at a lower, risk-adjusted price may suit you better, and we will say so.

Useful to send us

  • The address or postcode
  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Common questions

What is hope value?

Hope value is the premium a buyer pays above the current use value because there is a realistic prospect of planning permission. It is higher the more likely and closer that permission is.

What happens if planning is refused?

On a conditional contract or option, if permission is not granted within the agreed period the deal ends and you keep the land. Any option fee paid is usually yours to keep.

Do you buy land in the green belt?

Sometimes. Green belt land is hard to develop, though England's planning policy now recognises 'grey belt' land. We will tell you frankly whether your site has a realistic prospect.

Can you visit land near Littlehampton?

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.

Ready to talk about your land in Littlehampton?

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