Sell Brownfield Land in Aberdeen
If you own a redundant commercial site in Aberdeen, selling it for housing can turn an ongoing cost into a sale. Buyers will ask about past uses, contamination reports, asbestos in buildings and drainage. Land to Homes can buy suitable sites directly, subject to survey, title and contract, and builds clearance and remediation into a clear offer.
Aberdeen · AB10Free 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
Our Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire coverage is centred on Aberdeen, postcode district AB10, and reaches 4 other places. Close by, our coverage also takes in Stonehaven, Inverurie and Peterhead.
Sites worth a conversation around Aberdeen: backland plots with a workable access, infill gaps along existing streets and paddocks on the edge of Aberdeen. Because Aberdeen is in Scotland, land titles are registered with Registers of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland) and transfers attract Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
Send us a postcode in or near AB10 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
What we offer in Aberdeen
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.
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.
Neighbouring uses considered
New homes next to workshops, busy roads or late-night venues need protection from noise and smells. In England and Wales, the agent of change principle can put the cost of mitigation on the new development.
Contamination assessed in stages
Ground investigation is usually staged: a desk study of past uses, intrusive sampling if needed, then a remediation strategy and verification. Existing reports save time and cost, so share any you hold.
Rules that apply in Aberdeen
If you own land on the edge of Aberdeen, its prospects in Scotland depend largely on the Local Development Plan, which allocates sites for housing, and on NPF4 policies such as those on local living, infrastructure and quality homes. An option or promotion agreement lets a partner fund the planning case while you keep ownership until a sale. With Land to Homes, your reasonable legal fees on these agreements are covered, with the amount agreed in the heads of terms.
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) |
| Developer contributions | Section 75 planning obligations, with Section 69 agreements sometimes used for simple one-off payments |
Questions about Sell Brownfield Land in Aberdeen
Do I need a contamination report before selling?
Not necessarily, but it helps. A desk study of past uses is relatively inexpensive and gives buyers confidence. If you hold older reports, share them. Buyers will usually carry out their own investigations anyway, both as part of their due diligence and because planning conditions often require them.
What counts as brownfield land?
Brownfield, or previously developed land, is land that is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the land around it. Former yards, depots, garage blocks and commercial buildings usually qualify. Definitions vary by nation, and some exclude private gardens, agricultural buildings or sites where earlier remains have blended into the landscape.
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.
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.
Do you work with landowners in Aberdeen?
We do. We work with landowners in Aberdeen and elsewhere in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, including Stonehaven, Inverurie and Peterhead. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
Read more: Sell Brownfield Land · Guide: Green Belt and grey belt land explained