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For landowners · Kent

Free Site Appraisal in Herne Bay

How do I get a free site appraisal in Herne Bay?

Before you spend money on surveys or advisers, find out whether your land in Herne Bay has realistic potential for new homes. Our free appraisal starts with a desktop review of official planning documents, maps and title records, and may lead to a site visit. You get a plain-English view on prospects, risks and next steps.

Misty paddock at sunrise on the edge of a market town with a church spireHerne Bay · CT6

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 Herne Bay

Herne Bay (CT6) is one of the Kent towns we cover, about 27 miles east of Maidstone. Nearby, we also cover Whitstable, Canterbury and Faversham, all within 11 miles. Within England, Herne Bay falls in the South East region.

Typical sites we review near Herne Bay include small holdings and pony paddocks, land that already has planning permission and infill gaps along existing streets. Because Herne Bay is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Tell us where your land is around Herne Bay and we will explain the routes open to you.

What we offer in Herne Bay

Access and highways

We look at road frontage, the likely junction position and visibility, and whether the adopted highway actually reaches your land or stops short of it.

Constraints mapped

Flood zones, conservation areas, listed buildings, protected trees, ecological designations and landscape protections are all checked against your boundary using official mapping and published public records.

Planning policy reviewed

We read the adopted development plan, its policies map and any emerging plan, and note how your land is treated: within a settlement boundary, allocated, protected or open countryside.

No obligation, no cost

The appraisal is free and there is no obligation to go any further. If your land is unlikely to suit new homes, we will tell you plainly and explain why.

Planning and land rules in Herne Bay

If your land near Herne Bay 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, we check the Local Plan and policies map, the Environment Agency's flood map for planning, Green Belt boundaries, designations shown on Defra's MAGIC map, and whether the site appears on the council's brownfield land register. Title comes from HM Land Registry. We also consider whether biodiversity net gain would apply to the likely scheme.

Key rules in Herne Bay
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Questions about Free Site Appraisal in Herne Bay

What information do I need to provide for a site appraisal?

A postcode or rough boundary is enough to start. It helps to add the title number if you know it, the current use, any planning history, any tenancies, and known issues such as drainage or access disputes. Photos and existing reports are useful but not essential.

Will you need to visit my land?

Often, if the desktop review shows realistic potential. We will arrange a visit at a time that suits you and explain what we want to look at, such as the access point, boundaries and ground conditions. Many sites can be ruled in or out without a visit.

Is the site appraisal really free?

Yes. The appraisal is free and carries no obligation. You do not have to sign anything to receive it, and asking for one does not commit you to selling or entering any agreement. If you later decide to go ahead, any terms are set out in writing first.

Can I ask for an appraisal on land I am selling for someone else?

Yes, if you are acting for the owner, for example as an executor, trustee, attorney or land agent. We will need to understand your authority before discussing terms. If you are a buyer looking at land, a planning consultant or surveyor can advise you independently.

Is Herne Bay an area you cover for land?

Yes, we cover land in Herne Bay and elsewhere in Kent, including Sevenoaks, Ashford (Kent) and Canterbury. Where a site suits us we can buy it directly, or set up an option or promotion agreement. On promotion there is nothing to pay upfront.

Read more: Free Site Appraisal · Guide: How to sell land for development

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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