Finding land
There are lots of ways to get access to land for rural sustainability purposes.
This page focuses on land for sale, although there may also be opportunities for working or volunteering on-site, joining a community group, getting an allotment, etc.
When seeking land for sale, many of us start off browsing property websites (on which note, see list of links down below).
Once you have a rough idea of what you’re after, here are some suggestions to take things further…
- Use your contacts – family, friends, work colleagues
- Talk to local people, landowners, tradespeople
- Sign up to property websites or plot-search websites
- Check property auctions
- Register your interest with agents
- Look on social media (e.g. Facebook groups
Site criteria and land evaluation
Rather than just go on gut feel, it’s useful to have some site selection criteria to guide your search. And to evaluate the relative merits of each option.
The following PDF relates to community farmland purchase, although it’s relevant for individuals wanting to acquire land as well:
Community Farmland Purchase – Looking for Land (PDF)
Other web resources include:
Build-It Magazine: Finding Land
Self-Build Portal: How to find a building plot
How to Rewild: A Complete Guide to Buying Land in the UK
Grand Designs Magazine: Self-build plots: how to find them
Buying land
Once you’ve settled on your dream property, land or plot, it’s a case of acquiring it, usually by buying, or leasing.
Again, the community farmland purchase website has a useful guide:
Community Farmland Purchase – Buying Land (PDF)
Some things to bear in mind are:
- The need for a solicitor to sort out the paperwork
- To arrange for the appropriate conveyancing searches and surveys
- Finances – including the need for a mortgage or commercial loan
- Overall purchase costs – including solicitors fees and Stamp Duty
- Overall purchase timescale – including exchange of contracts and completion
- The costs (and timescale) of any sub-division of land
- The need for further funds for improving the land/property
Other web resources include:
MoneySavingExpert: Buying a home – the timeline
Zoopla: Exchange and completion when buying a home
Groups buying land
If you are buying as part of a group, you may want to think about your land search and purchasing strategy – a group of people traipsing around a property can be off-putting to sellers. They are also likely to favour a single buyer (person, couple, company) rather than a group of individuals that would need a lot of time to align their financing (with the risk of one person pulling out at a crucial moment). And sellers and their solicitors will need proof of funds. All worth considering in advance and planning accordingly.
See also: Legal structures
Video
External links
Property websites
Movehut (commercial property)
The Smallholding Centre (South West Wales)
Auction websites
Investment Property Database Service
Development land / plots
Homes England Land Hub (public sector land)
PlotBrowser by Built-It magazine
PlotFinder by Homebuilding & Renovating
PlotSearch by Buildstore
Space Cymru (public sector land)
The Land Bank Partnership (S. England / Wales)
Related pages
This page provides general information only. It is not professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. The content may be incomplete, out of date, or omit important regulations, policies, or criteria. You should verify any information independently and seek appropriate professional advice before taking or refraining from any action. See website disclaimer / terms of use.
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