Sell Brownfield Land in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Brownfield land in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire is land that has been built on or used before, such as a former yard, depot, garage block, workshop or car park. Planning policy across the UK generally favours reusing it for homes, but ground contamination, demolition, old services and neighbouring uses all affect value. Land to Homes assesses each of these before making an offer.
Aberdeen & AberdeenshireFree site appraisal
Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Selling land around Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Our Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire coverage takes in 5 towns and cities, centred on Aberdeen and including Stonehaven, Peterhead and Fraserburgh. Next door, we also cover Moray, Angus & Dundee and Perth & Kinross.
Around Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire we look at large and long rear gardens, land that already has planning permission and former garage blocks and yards. As Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire is in Scotland, applications are judged against National Planning Framework 4, and the buyer of land pays Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
Send us a postcode in or near AB10 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
How we work in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
VAT on commercial sites
If you have opted to tax the property, VAT may be chargeable on the sale, which affects what a buyer pays. Your accountant should confirm the position before a price is agreed.
Demolition and asbestos
Older buildings often contain asbestos, which must be surveyed and removed by licensed specialists where required before demolition. These costs feed into the price, so an early survey supports a firmer offer.
Flood risk and drainage
Some brownfield sites sit in flood zones or rely on old drainage. Flood policy may require a sequential test, showing that no suitable sites at lower risk are reasonably available.
Tenants and leases
If business tenants remain, their lease terms and any statutory protection affect when the site can be cleared. We review the leases before agreeing timing with you.
Planning and land rules in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Planning obligations in Scotland are made under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and can cover affordable housing and infrastructure. Once registered against the title, they can bind future owners. Under NPF4, national and major developments must also leave biodiversity in a demonstrably better state. These costs shape what development land near Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire is worth, which is why our free appraisal explains them before any offer or promotion terms are agreed.
In Scotland, NPF4 supports the reuse of vacant and derelict land, and councils record such land in the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey. Flood risk is assessed against NPF4 and SEPA's flood maps. Former mining areas may need a Coal Authority report, and ground conditions affect the building warrant as well as planning.
| National planning policy | National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP) |
| Who decides applications | The council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area) |
| In-principle consent | Planning permission in principle (PPP), followed by approval of matters specified in conditions |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) |
| Land registration | Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) |
| How a sale becomes binding | Land sales are concluded through missives, formal letters exchanged between solicitors that become a binding contract once concluded, followed by settlement on the date of entry and registration in the Land Register of Scotland. |
| Developer contributions | Section 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments |
Questions about Sell Brownfield Land in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
Who pays for contamination clean-up when I sell?
It is negotiated. Usually the buyer allows for remediation in the price it offers, so the cost is reflected in the land value. Contract terms can also deal with environmental liabilities after the sale. Where contamination is serious, environmental law can in some cases leave liability with whoever caused it, so take legal advice.
Will VAT apply when I sell my brownfield site?
It may. If you have opted to tax the land or buildings, VAT can apply to the sale price. Whether the option can be disapplied depends on what the buyer intends to do with the property, and the rules are technical. Ask your accountant before agreeing a price, because it affects what the buyer pays.
What is a garage block worth for development?
It depends on how many homes the plot could take once the garages are cleared, how the garages are currently used, the width of the access and whether any are let. Some garage sites suit a small group of homes or bungalows. We cannot give a value without seeing the site, but our appraisal explains the factors.
Can I sell a commercial site that still has tenants?
Yes. Many sites sell with tenants in place, and the buyer manages the leases coming to an end. Business tenants can have statutory rights to stay in some cases, so the lease terms and any notices matter. We review the leases and agree timing that works for you and, where possible, for the tenants.
Do you buy land in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire?
Yes. Land to Homes looks at land across Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, including Peterhead, Aberdeen and Inverurie. Every enquiry starts with a free site appraisal, and on option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
Read more: Sell Brownfield Land · Guide: Green Belt and grey belt land explained