Sell a small development site in Canterbury
Selling small development sites near Canterbury doesn't have to start with an agent and a marketing campaign. You can talk to a buyer first and still take independent advice before you decide.
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.
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Selling land near Canterbury?
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Canterbury at a glance
From Canterbury, it's 6 miles to Whitstable and 7 miles to Herne Bay. We buy land across that whole stretch of Kent, not only within the town.
Metropolitan Green Belt in the west, the Kent Downs and High Weald National Landscapes, and growth around Ashford, Maidstone and the Medway towns.
| Town | Canterbury |
|---|---|
| County | Kent |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | CT1 |
| OS grid square | TR15 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Whitstable (6 mi), Herne Bay (7 mi), Faversham (9 mi) |
| Distance from Maidstone | About 24 miles east |
| 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 Canterbury
- Sites for two to around nine homes
- Land at the end of cul-de-sacs
- Old yards, depots and lock-up sites
- Sites with an existing permission for a small scheme
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
Affordable housing thresholds
In England, schemes under ten homes usually fall below the national threshold; many Welsh plans seek affordable housing from smaller sites.
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.
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
How a sale works
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.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
Rules that apply in England
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.
The access is tight
We check whether it can serve the number of homes proposed.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Photos of the land and its access
Your questions answered
Do small sites need affordable housing?
In England, national policy generally doesn't seek affordable housing on schemes below ten homes, though some rural areas set lower thresholds. In Wales, many Local Development Plans seek contributions from smaller sites. We check the local policy.
Will you buy a site that needs demolition?
Yes. We price in demolition and any contamination clean-up.
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.
Do you buy land in Canterbury?
Yes. We consider land in and around Canterbury and across Kent. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.
Small sites near Canterbury
Other land in Canterbury
- 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 Canterbury
- Small sites in Kent
Ready to talk about your land in Canterbury?
Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.