How to Find Land for Sale for Development
With so much land available to buy in the UK, it can be a minefield to properly identify which opportunities will turn out to be lucrative and which can lead to a waste of time and money.
In this article, we’ll break down the best ways to source land and ensure it’s suitable for building on. Let’s take a closer look at how to find land for sale for development.
Steps for Success
Here are some of the best strategies for finding land for housing development.
Make a Plan
Start by having a good outline of the sort of land yo’ŕe looking for and what you intend to do with it. Land broadly falls into one of five main categories: Agricultural Land, Brownfield Land, Industrial Land, Greenbelt Land and Contaminated Land.
Once you know the type, size and area to look in you can start to explore the development opportunities available. Having clear specifications also helps experts like development agents to find the perfect property for your needs quickly.
Do your online Research
Use the planning authority websites in the county you’re looking to develop in, as well as tools like Land Registry to find available plots. There are also tools like Brownfield Land Registry to find abandoned industrial space that’s appropriate to build on.
On some sites, you can set parameters to receive notifications when suitable plots come onto the market. This is a great feature with how competitive the development space can be.
Get out and about
Don’t underestimate getting out on foot or in the car to find potential development sites. Exploring neighbourhoods in person can lead to hidden gems and worthwhile finds that might not be listed on the internet yet. Be sure to take plenty of pictures and make notes of key features to refer back to later.
There’s also the right to contest where you can ask the government to sell property if you believe it’s vacant or underutilised.
Check out Planning History
Take it from us, plenty of people have bought land with grand ideas on what they’re going to build, only to find they can’t obtain planning permission to make their dreams a reality.
The Planning Register is an important place to check. Investigate the planning history of sites to assess whether your plans are feasible and highlight any potential pitfalls. Sites with existing planning permission mean you can start developing immediately.
Hire the right professionals
Finding a development specialist with a successful track record in the sector means you can avoid the hiccups that lead to lost time, wasted money, and unsuccessful ventures.
You can either present a detailed development and acquisition plan for something you’ve seen or give specialists a set of specifications to meet.
Remember to seek reputable, quality professionals with a long-standing history and a great reputation in the field. Daniel James Developments has been involved in property and construction for generations, working on some of the UK’s most iconic buildings.
Go to Auctions
Land auctions can be an excellent tool when looking at how to find land for sale for development. Like any auction, be prepared for a fast turnaround, ensure you go in with a clear-cut budget in mind, and don’t get drawn into bidding wars.
It’s also important to do your research beforehand and look into the properties being auctioned. Ensure they have the necessary planning history to enact your development plan and look out for any hidden gremlins.
Explore Public Land Opportunities
It’s well worth looking into public land sales due to the transparency regulations they have to stick to and the involvement of generally reputable professionals. Local council websites are a good place to start, but remember competition can be strong as these sites must be advertised.
Next Steps
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into getting property development right. Meticulous planning, seizing the right opportunities, and successful execution all need to be on point to generate the results you’re looking for.
At Daniel James Developments we have over 70 years of experience in acquiring and modernising large properties into some of the most desirable luxury locations on the map. Get in touch with us today if you have a development idea you’re looking to explore.
