Sell strategic land and large sites in Chester
If you own strategic land near Chester, we can usually tell you quite quickly whether it suits us, and if it doesn't, we'll say why.
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.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
Get an offer for land in Chester
Free, no-obligation appraisal.
Land around Chester
The land we're most interested in near Chester sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards Hawarden (6 miles) and Deeside (6 miles).
Dairy farmland and market towns, with green belt separating Cheshire's towns from the Merseyside and Manchester conurbations.
| Town | Chester |
|---|---|
| County | Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | CH1 |
| OS grid square | SJ46 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Hawarden (6 mi), Deeside (6 mi), Ellesmere Port (6 mi) |
| Distance from Warrington | About 19 miles south-west |
| 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 Chester
- Blocks of land of several acres on the edge of towns and larger villages
- Sites that can be reached from a main road or a new junction
- Land being considered in a local plan review
- Holdings in a single ownership, or neighbours willing to work together
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
Infrastructure
New roads, schools or drainage on a large scheme are paid for out of land value.
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.
Phasing
Large sites are often bought in phases, with payments staged to match.
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.
How a sale works
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.
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.
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.
Awkward details we deal with
Several family members own the land
We can work with all owners and their advisers, and agreements can set out how payments are split.
The land is farmed by a tenant
Tenancies need managing before building can start. We look at notice periods and compensation early.
Useful to send us
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
Common questions
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.
Can I farm the land while planning is pursued?
Usually, yes. Agreements normally let you keep using the land until the buyer needs it.
Should I take independent advice?
Yes. Strategic land agreements are complex and you should have your own solicitor and, ideally, a land agent or surveyor. Some agreements contribute to those costs; we will say up front whether ours does.
Can you visit land near Chester?
Yes. Once we've looked at the title and planning position, we arrange a site visit if the land looks suitable. Send the address or postcode to start.
More land we buy in Chester
- 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 Chester
- Large strategic sites in Cheshire
Ready to talk about your land in Chester?
Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.