Sell a small development site in York
If you want to sell a small development site in York, you can deal with the buyer directly. We look at the land, explain what it's worth and why, and leave the decision with you.
Government policy has repeatedly emphasised the role of small sites in housing supply. We'll check how your council's plan supports them.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
Selling land near York?
We'll check the title and planning, then call you.
York at a glance
York lies in North Yorkshire, where it is the main town we cover. Nearby, we also look at land around Selby (12 miles), Harrogate (19 miles) and Goole (19 miles).
England's largest county, taking in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks, with green belt around York.
| Town | York |
|---|---|
| County | North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | YO1 |
| OS grid square | SE65 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Selby (12 mi), Harrogate (19 mi), Goole (19 mi) |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| Ways to sell | Outright, subject to planning, option or joint venture |

Land we're keen to see around York
- Sites for two to around nine homes
- Corner plots, odd-shaped parcels and leftover land
- Sites with an existing permission for a small scheme
- 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.
What affects the price
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.
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.
Build costs
Small sites cost more per home to build, which the land price reflects.
Ways to sell this land
What happens next
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.
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
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
Questions from landowners near York
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.
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 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.
Do you buy land in York?
Yes. We consider land in and around York and across North Yorkshire. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.
Nearby towns
Other land in York
- 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 York
- Small sites in North Yorkshire
Ready to talk about your land in York?
Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.