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Sell land for affordable homes in Stanley

We consider land for affordable housing in Stanley and across County Durham, from sites close to the DH9 postcode district out towards Chester-le-Street and Consett.

Many landowners like the idea of land helping local families. We explain how exception sites work, what the price is based on and how local need is shown.

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

Get an offer for land in Stanley

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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

Stanley at a glance

From Stanley, it's 5 miles to Chester-le-Street and 5 miles to Consett. We buy land across that whole stretch of County Durham, not only within the town.

Former coalfield villages in the east, the North Pennines National Landscape to the west, and green belt around Durham city linking with Tyne and Wear.

TownStanley
CountyCounty Durham
CountryEngland
Postcode districtDH9
OS grid squareNZ15
Nearest towns we coverChester-le-Street (5 mi), Consett (5 mi), Gateshead (8 mi)
Distance from DarlingtonAbout 24 miles north
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sellOutright, subject to planning, option or joint venture
Small group of new brick homes with slate roofs on the edge of a village

What we look for around Stanley

  • Small fields or paddocks adjoining a village
  • Land suitable for a handful of homes up to a small scheme
  • Parish councils open to a community-led scheme
  • Sites where a small share of market homes could help viability, where policy allows it

Exception sites work differently from normal housing land. The price is lower than open-market development land but well above agricultural value, and the homes stay affordable for the community.

The things that move our offer

Land price norms

Exception site land is typically priced well above farmland but below open-market housing land.

Tenure mix

Social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership homes produce different values.

Access and services

Costs of roads and drainage come out of a smaller budget than market housing.

Long-term control

Legal agreements keep the homes affordable, often with local occupancy rules.

What happens next

  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

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.

Rural exception sites

The National Planning Policy Framework supports small rural exception sites for affordable homes that meet a local need.

Common problems, and how we handle them

The village has no recent housing survey

Need can be evidenced through a new survey with the parish council and the council's housing team.

You're a charity or trust

Charity trustees usually need advice from a designated adviser before disposing of land. We'll work with your adviser.

Useful to send us

  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • Photos of the land and its access

Questions from landowners near Stanley

What is a rural exception site?

It is a small site, usually next to a village, where planning permission can be granted for affordable homes as an exception to normal policy, to meet a proven local need.

Will I get open-market land value?

No. Exception sites are priced below open-market housing land because the homes must stay affordable. The price is still usually well above agricultural value.

Do you plan affordable housing?

Yes. Affordable and social housing is part of the land-to-homes work the S&K Group is setting out to do, and we can talk through how a scheme on your land might work.

How do I get an offer for land in Stanley?

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.

Find out what we'd pay for your land near Stanley

Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.