Sell a small development site in Stanley
We consider small development sites in Stanley and across County Durham, from sites close to the DH9 postcode district out towards Chester-le-Street and Consett.
A small site is a piece of land that could take a handful of homes, typically up to around nine. National housebuilders often overlook small sites, which is where a regional builder buying direct can offer a better route to sale.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Tell us about your land
We'll check the title and planning, then call you.
Stanley at a glance
Land around Stanley falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Chester-le-Street, 5 miles away, and Consett, 5 miles away, and Darlington is 24 miles away.
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.
| Town | Stanley |
|---|---|
| County | County Durham |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | DH9 |
| OS grid square | NZ15 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Chester-le-Street (5 mi), Consett (5 mi), Gateshead (8 mi) |
| Distance from Darlington | About 24 miles north |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |
What we look for around Stanley
- Sites for two to around nine homes
- Sites with an existing permission for a small scheme
- Land within a settlement boundary
- 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.
What decides the value of small development sites near Stanley
Affordable housing thresholds
In England, schemes under ten homes usually fall below the national threshold; many Welsh plans seek affordable housing from smaller sites.
Trees and boundaries
Mature trees and hedges on small sites have a big effect on layout.
Drainage
Sustainable drainage must fit within the site.
Biodiversity net gain
Since 6 August 2026, sites of 0.2 hectares or less are exempt unless priority habitat is affected; larger sites must still deliver at least a 10% gain.
Ways to sell this land
What happens next
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.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
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.
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.
The access is tight
We check whether it can serve the number of homes proposed.
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
Your questions answered
What is a small site?
Usually a site for fewer than ten homes. Definitions vary, but these are the sites larger builders often pass over.
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 Stanley?
Yes. We consider land in and around Stanley and across County Durham. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.
Other land types and routes
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- Large strategic sites
- Green belt and grey belt land
- Land for affordable homes
- Farmland and agricultural land
- Paddocks and equestrian land
- Barns and rural buildings
- Building plots
- Garden land and backland
- Infill plots and gap sites
- Garage sites
- Brownfield land
- Redundant commercial and industrial land
- Inherited and probate land
- Landlocked land and access problems
- Outright purchase
- Subject-to-planning sale
- Option agreements
- Joint ventures
- All land in Stanley
- Small sites in County Durham
Get a straight answer about your land
A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.