Sell land for affordable homes in South Yorkshire
Owners of land for affordable housing in South Yorkshire can sell directly to us, whether the land is near Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster or in the villages between.
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.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Get an offer for land in South Yorkshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Land for affordable homes in South Yorkshire at a glance
Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, with green belt around the towns and part of the Peak District National Park in the west.
| County | South Yorkshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Sheffield |
| Example postcode districts | DN1, DN5, DN6, S1, S25 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
What makes land for affordable housing in South Yorkshire worth an offer
- Small fields or paddocks adjoining a village
- Villages with evidence of local housing need
- Sites with safe access and walking routes to village facilities
- Land owned by families, estates, churches or charities
- 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
Local policy
Each council sets its own rules for exception sites, including whether any market homes are allowed.
Land price norms
Exception site land is typically priced well above farmland but below open-market housing land.
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.
Four routes to a sale
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.
Outright purchase
Possible once an exception scheme has permission.
Subject-to-planning sale
The usual route: we agree a price and complete when permission is granted.
Option agreements
Useful while housing need is evidenced and a scheme is prepared.
Joint ventures
Can suit estates and charities that want an ongoing say in the homes.
From first call to completion
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We check it properly
Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.
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 South Yorkshire
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.
Awkward details we deal with
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
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
What people ask us about land for affordable housing
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.
Can some homes be sold on the open market?
Some councils allow a small number of market homes to make a scheme viable. It depends on local policy.
Who lives in the homes?
Usually people with a local connection who can't afford market housing, chosen under rules set in a legal agreement.
Do you buy land in South Yorkshire?
Yes. We consider land across South Yorkshire, from Sheffield to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Land for affordable homes by town in South Yorkshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in South Yorkshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.