Sell a small development site in County Durham
We buy small development sites across County Durham, including around Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees. You deal with the buyer directly and there's no commission to pay.
A corner of land, an old yard or a large garden can make a small site for a few homes. We buy them, and our aim is to take them through planning to new homes.
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Get an offer for land in County Durham
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Small sites in County Durham at a glance
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.
| County | County Durham |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 12 |
| Main town | Darlington |
| Example postcode districts | DH1, DH3, DH8, DH9, DL3 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
Land we're keen to see in County Durham
- Sites for two to around nine homes
- Corner plots, odd-shaped parcels and leftover land
- Old yards, depots and lock-up sites
- Sites with an existing permission for a small scheme
- Small sites in villages where policy supports limited growth
A corner of land, an old yard or a large garden can make a small site for a few homes. We buy them, and our aim is to take them through planning to new homes.
The things that move our offer
Number of homes
Each additional home a site can take adds value, if the layout works.
Trees and boundaries
Mature trees and hedges on small sites have a big effect on layout.
Drainage
Sustainable drainage must fit within the site.
Build costs
Small sites cost more per home to build, which the land price reflects.
Ways to sell this land
Government policy has repeatedly emphasised the role of small sites in housing supply. We'll check how your council's plan supports them.
What happens next
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.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
Planning and legal points for land in County Durham
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.
Biodiversity net gain
Under the Environment Act 2021, most developments in England must deliver at least a 10% gain in biodiversity. Since 6 August 2026, sites of 0.2 hectares or less are exempt unless priority habitat is affected.
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.
Common problems, and how we handle them
The site is an awkward shape
Odd shapes often still work for a short terrace or a pair of homes. We test layouts before offering.
There's a protected tree
We design around it and allow for root protection areas.
Useful to send us
- A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
- Your title number, if you know it
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
Questions from landowners in County Durham
How do you value a small site?
We work out what the homes would sell for, then deduct build costs, fees, finance, planning costs and a profit margin. What's left is the land value.
Will you build the homes yourselves?
That's the aim of the land-to-homes work we're setting out to do: buying the land, getting permission and building the homes.
Can I see your appraisal?
We'll explain the main figures behind our offer so you can compare it with independent advice.
Do you buy land in County Durham?
Yes. We consider land across County Durham, from Darlington to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Small sites by town in County Durham
Find out what we'd pay for your land in County Durham
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.