Sell strategic land and large sites in Cambridge
We consider strategic land in Cambridge and across Cambridgeshire, from sites close to the CB21 postcode district out towards St Ives and Newmarket.
Strategic land is a larger site, usually several acres or more, whose development depends on being allocated in a local plan or winning a major planning permission. Because that can take years, strategic land is usually sold on an option or a conditional contract rather than outright.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
Get an offer for land in Cambridge
We'll check the title and planning, then call you.
Cambridge at a glance
Land around Cambridge falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are St Ives, 12 miles away, and Newmarket, 13 miles away, and Peterborough is 30 miles away.
Flat arable fenland in the north contrasts with a fast-growing Cambridge area in the south, where the Cambridge green belt surrounds the city.
| Town | Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | CB21 |
| OS grid square | TL45 |
| Nearest towns we cover | St Ives (12 mi), Newmarket (13 mi), Ely (15 mi) |
| Distance from Peterborough | About 30 miles south-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 Cambridge
- Blocks of land of several acres on the edge of towns and larger villages
- Land being considered in a local plan review
- Land without major heritage, ecology or flood constraints
- Sites close to schools, shops and public transport
Strategic land is a long game. We set out the planning route, who pays for what, and how the final price is worked out before you commit to anything.
The things that move our offer
Local plan timing
A site that can be put forward at the next plan review has a clearer route to permission.
Price mechanism
Options and conditional contracts usually pay a share of market value at the time permission is granted.
Minimum price
A floor price protects you if values fall during a long planning process.
Term length
Longer agreements give more time for planning but tie up your land for longer.
Choosing how to sell
Outright purchase
Rare on unallocated strategic land, but possible at a risk-adjusted price.
Subject-to-planning sale
A fixed or formula price paid once an acceptable permission is granted.
Option agreements
The usual route: an option fee now and a price based on market value later.
Joint ventures
Lets you share in the development value if you can wait for it.
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.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
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.
Green belt and grey belt
Green belt land is protected from inappropriate development. National policy in England also recognises 'grey belt': green belt land that doesn't strongly contribute to key green belt purposes, where housing can be acceptable if further tests are met.
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.
Common problems, and how we handle them
Several family members own the land
We can work with all owners and their advisers, and agreements can set out how payments are split.
You are worried about being tied up for years
We agree a term with clear milestones, so the agreement can end if planning stalls.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Any planning applications or letters
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Questions from landowners near Cambridge
What counts as strategic land?
There's no legal definition. In practice it means larger sites, often over five acres, whose route to development runs through the local plan or a major planning application.
How is the price worked out on an option?
Most options set the price as a percentage of market value once permission is granted, less agreed deductions, with a minimum price to protect you. We explain every deduction before you sign.
Can I farm the land while planning is pursued?
Usually, yes. Agreements normally let you keep using the land until the buyer needs it.
How do I get an offer for land in Cambridge?
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.
More land we buy in Cambridge
- Development land
- Land with planning permission
- Land without planning permission
- 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
- Small 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 Cambridge
- Large strategic sites in Cambridgeshire
Ready to talk about your land in Cambridge?
Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.