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For landowners · Greater London

Sell Brownfield Land in Wimbledon

Can I sell brownfield land for housing in Wimbledon?

Brownfield land in Wimbledon 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.

Grass field bordered by a hedgerow, with the backs of a housing estate along one sideWimbledon · SW19

Free 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

Land we look at around Wimbledon

Wimbledon (SW19) is one of the Greater London towns we cover, about 7 miles south-west of London. The nearest other places we cover are Morden (2 miles), Mitcham (2 miles) and Putney (3 miles). Wimbledon is in the London region of England.

In and around Wimbledon, the land we appraise ranges from corner plots and side gardens to redundant commercial buildings, including backland plots with a workable access. Because Wimbledon is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

If you own land near Wimbledon, the first step is a free, no-obligation appraisal.

What you get in Wimbledon

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.

Direct purchase of brownfield sites

Where a brownfield site suits us, we can buy it ourselves, with or without planning and with no onward chain, subject to survey, title and contract.

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.

Loss of employment land

Councils may resist losing business land to housing. Policies vary, so we check whether marketing evidence or a viability case is likely to be needed before any application is made.

Rules that apply in Wimbledon

Selling development land in Wimbledon usually starts with heads of terms, a short written summary of price, conditions and fees, before solicitors draft the contract. In England the sale becomes binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, with the title then registered at HM Land Registry. The buyer normally pays Stamp Duty Land Tax. On option and promotion agreements with Land to Homes, your reasonable legal fees are covered, with the amount agreed in the heads of terms.

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.

Key rules in Wimbledon
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingA land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry.

Sell Brownfield Land in Wimbledon: questions

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.

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.

Is it easier to get planning permission on brownfield land?

Usually it has stronger policy support than greenfield land, because national policy in each UK nation encourages the reuse of previously developed land. Permission is still not automatic: loss of employment land, heritage, flood risk, neighbours and design all matter, and a site in an area protected for business use may still struggle.

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 you work with landowners in Wimbledon?

We do. We work with landowners in Wimbledon and elsewhere in Greater London, including Leytonstone, Finchley and Wood Green. 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

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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