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For landowners · Tyne and Wear

Sell Brownfield Land in Gateshead

Can I sell brownfield land for housing in Gateshead?

What a brownfield site in Gateshead is worth for homes depends less on its size than on what lies underneath and next door. Our free, no-obligation appraisal looks at former uses, likely ground conditions, flood risk, access and any business tenants, then explains whether a direct sale, conditional contract or promotion suits the site.

Aerial view of long rear gardens behind 1930s semi-detached houses backing onto a paddockGateshead · NE8

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 and sites near Gateshead

We cover Gateshead as part of Tyne and Wear. It is about a mile south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne, around postcode district NE8. The nearest other places we cover are Newcastle upon Tyne (1 mile), Felling (1 mile) and Gosforth (3 miles). Gateshead is part of England’s North East region.

Sites worth a conversation around Gateshead: redundant commercial buildings, backland plots with a workable access and land behind street frontages. As Gateshead is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Send us a postcode in or near NE8 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.

What you get in Gateshead

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.

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.

Planning in Gateshead: the English rules

If your land near Gateshead lies in the Green Belt, national policy still protects it, but England's planning framework now recognises grey belt: Green Belt land that is previously developed or does not strongly contribute to certain Green Belt purposes. Where there is evidenced unmet need and the location is sustainable, grey belt housing can be acceptable, with major schemes meeting the Golden Rules on affordable housing, infrastructure and green space. Planning is never guaranteed, so we check policy, access and constraints first.

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 Gateshead
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Common questions in Gateshead

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.

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.

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 Gateshead?

We do. We work with landowners in Gateshead and elsewhere in Tyne and Wear, including Gosforth, Whitley Bay and North Shields. 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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