Sell a small development site in St Albans

We consider small development sites in St Albans and across Hertfordshire, from sites close to the AL1 postcode district out towards Harpenden and Hatfield.

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.

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

Get an offer for land in St Albans

We'll check the title and planning, then call you.

Land around St Albans

St Albans lies in Hertfordshire, some 7 miles north of Watford. Nearby, we also look at land around Harpenden (5 miles), Hatfield (5 miles) and Hemel Hempstead (5 miles).

Most of the county is Metropolitan Green Belt, which makes land with genuine development prospects scarce and keenly contested.

Town	St Albans
County	Hertfordshire
Country	England
Postcode district	AL1
OS grid square	TL10
Nearest towns we cover	Harpenden (5 mi), Hatfield (5 mi), Hemel Hempstead (5 mi)
Distance from Watford	About 7 miles north
Planning system	National Planning Policy Framework and local plan
Ways to sell	Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture

Small grassy corner plot with mature trees at the end of a cul-de-sac of brick houses

What we look for around St Albans

Old yards, depots and lock-up sites
Sites with an existing permission for a small scheme
Land within a settlement boundary
Small sites in villages where policy supports limited growth

Government policy has repeatedly emphasised the role of small sites in housing supply. We'll check how your council's plan supports them.

How we arrive at a figure for land in Hertfordshire

Access

A short private drive can serve a few homes; more need an adoptable road.

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.

Choosing how to sell

Outright purchase

Simple where permission exists or you need certainty now.

Subject-to-planning sale

The most common route for small unconsented sites.

Option agreements

Useful if land needs assembling from more than one owner.

Joint ventures

Can suit owners who'd like to share in the homes' sale value.

From first call to completion

Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
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.

When the land isn't straightforward

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

The address or postcode
A rough size, in acres or hectares
Any planning applications or letters
Photos of the land and its access

Common questions

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.

How do I get an offer for land in St Albans?

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 St Albans

A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.

Get an offer Call 0800 088 6248