Sell strategic land and large sites in Hertford
We consider strategic land in Hertford and across Hertfordshire, from sites close to the SG13 postcode district out towards Hoddesdon and Welwyn Garden City.
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
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Tell us about your land
Free, no-obligation appraisal.
Hertford at a glance
Hertford lies in Hertfordshire, roughly 17 miles north-east of Watford. Nearby, we also look at land around Hoddesdon (4 miles), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles) and Hatfield (7 miles).
Most of the county is Metropolitan Green Belt, which makes land with genuine development prospects scarce and keenly contested.
| Town | Hertford |
|---|---|
| County | Hertfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Postcode district | SG13 |
| OS grid square | TL31 |
| Nearest towns we cover | Hoddesdon (4 mi), Welwyn Garden City (6 mi), Hatfield (7 mi) |
| Distance from Watford | About 17 miles north-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 Hertford
- Sites that can be reached from a main road or a new junction
- Land being considered in a local plan review
- Sites close to schools, shops and public transport
- Land where a phased scheme could start on a smaller first phase
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.
How we arrive at a figure for land in Hertfordshire
Local plan timing
A site that can be put forward at the next plan review has a clearer route to permission.
Infrastructure
New roads, schools or drainage on a large scheme are paid for out of land value.
Price mechanism
Options and conditional contracts usually pay a share of market value at the time permission is granted.
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
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.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.
Planning and legal points for land in Hertfordshire
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.
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.
Farm tenancies
Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies and farm business tenancies have their own notice and compensation rules, which affect when land can be developed.
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.
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
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Your title number, if you know it
- Photos of the land and its access
Your questions answered
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.
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.
Do you buy land in Hertford?
Yes. We consider land in and around Hertford and across Hertfordshire. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.
Other land types and routes
- 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 Hertford
- Large strategic sites in Hertfordshire
Ready to talk about your land in Hertford?
Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.