Sell Brownfield Land in Shepherds Bush
If you own a redundant commercial site in Shepherds Bush, 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.
Shepherds Bush · W12Free 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
Our coverage in Shepherds Bush
About 4 miles west of London, Shepherds Bush is part of our Greater London coverage, centred on postcode district W12. Notting Hill is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 1 mile, followed by Chiswick and Fulham. Shepherds Bush is part of England’s London region.
Around Shepherds Bush we look at fields put forward or allocated in the local plan, backland plots with a workable access and land that already has planning permission. In England, where Shepherds Bush sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
Send us a postcode in or near W12 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
What we offer in Shepherds Bush
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rules that apply in Shepherds Bush
Whether a field or large garden could take homes depends mostly on the council's Local Plan and national policy. Under the National Planning Policy Framework, plans define settlement boundaries, and land just outside Shepherds Bush may still come forward if it is allocated, previously developed or meets evidenced unmet housing need. Smaller housing schemes can also use Permission in Principle, an England-only route that settles location, use and amount first. Our free appraisal explains which route suits your land.
In England, councils keep brownfield land registers, and sites on Part 2 of a register can be granted Permission in Principle. The NPPF gives substantial weight to using suitable brownfield land for homes. Contamination is normally handled through planning conditions, following the Environment Agency's land contamination risk management guidance, with Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as a backstop.
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
|---|---|
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Common questions in Shepherds Bush
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.
What is a sequential test for flood risk?
It is a planning test that steers new development to areas at the lowest risk of flooding. If a site is in a higher-risk area, the applicant may need to show there are no reasonably available sites at lower risk. England applies it through the NPPF; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own flood policies.
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.
Do you work with landowners in Shepherds Bush?
We do. We work with landowners in Shepherds Bush and elsewhere in Greater London, including Croydon, City of Westminster and Southall. 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