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Looking for small plots of land for sale? Small parcels of land can be suitable for a wide range of purposes, from building a home or small development to grazing, equestrian use, recreation, investment or other land-based uses.
The challenge is finding a small plot that is actually suitable for what you want to do. Size alone does not determine whether a piece of land is useful or developable. Location, planning status, access, services, restrictions and the permitted use of the land can all be important.
Where can I find small plots of land for sale?
Small plots of land for sale can be found through specialist land agents, property portals, auction platforms, local agents and direct approaches to landowners. The best search depends on what you want the land for.
If you are looking for a particular type of small plot, registering your requirements with Your Landstore gives you another way to search. You can tell us the location, land type, size and other requirements you are looking for, and we can consider those requirements when suitable land comes to market.
What counts as a small plot of land?
There is no single definition of a “small plot”. A small plot could be a fraction of an acre, one or two acres, or several acres depending on the intended use.
For example, a buyer looking for a small building plot may only need enough land for one house, while someone looking for grazing land may regard several acres as a small parcel.
This is why it is usually more useful to start with what you want to use the land for rather than simply searching for the smallest parcel available.
Think about use as well as size
Before searching, decide what you want the land to achieve. Your requirements might include a building plot, agricultural land, grazing land, equestrian land, a smallholding, woodland, amenity land or another specific use.
Why are buyers looking for small plots?
Small plots can appeal to buyers for several different reasons.
- Building a single home or self-build project
- Looking for a small residential development opportunity
- Buying grazing land for livestock
- Looking for land for horses or other equestrian purposes
- Expanding an existing agricultural holding
- Creating or extending a smallholding
- Buying woodland or amenity land
- Looking for land for leisure or recreational purposes
- Holding land as an investment
Different uses create very different requirements. A plot that looks attractive to one buyer may be unsuitable for another.
Where to search for small plots of land for sale
Specialist land agents
Specialist land agents can be useful when you are looking for land rather than a conventional residential property. Their listings may include smaller parcels, development opportunities, agricultural land and other land types that do not always appear in the same places as houses for sale.
It is worth checking agents that operate in the geographical area you are interested in as well as agents specialising in the particular type of land you want.
Property and land portals
Online property portals can provide a useful starting point because you can search by location, price and other listing criteria.
However, small plots can be described in many different ways. A listing might be advertised as a building plot, parcel of land, paddock, field, amenity land, woodland, development site or agricultural land rather than simply as a “small plot”.
Land auctions
Land is also sold through auctions, including smaller parcels and sites that may have particular characteristics or restrictions.
If you are considering an auction purchase, make sure you understand the legal pack, title, planning position, access and any special conditions before bidding. The fact that a plot is being offered at auction does not remove the need for due diligence.
Local agents and landowners
Some small parcels of land are marketed locally or directly by owners. This can include paddocks, agricultural parcels, woodland, amenity land and development opportunities.
Local knowledge can therefore be useful if your search is concentrated on a particular town, village or county.
What should I look for when buying a small plot?
Finding a small plot is only the first step. Before deciding whether a particular parcel is suitable, you should investigate the characteristics of the land and any restrictions affecting it.
1. Planning position
If you want to build on the land, the planning position is particularly important.
A small parcel being advertised as a “building plot” does not by itself mean that you can build whatever you want on it. Check whether planning permission exists, whether an application has previously been made, whether permission has expired and what development is actually permitted.
If there is no planning permission, you should establish what planning prospects may exist rather than assuming that permission will be granted.
2. Access
Consider how you will physically access the land and whether you have a legal right to do so.
A plot may appear accessible from a road but still have complicated access arrangements. Check the title and any rights of way or access rights that affect the land.
3. Location
The location of a small plot can have a major effect on its suitability and value.
Think about proximity to settlements, roads, services, neighbouring properties and other land uses. If development is your objective, planning policy and the relationship of the site to existing development may also be important.
4. Services and utilities
If you intend to develop the land, establish how electricity, water, drainage and other services might be provided.
A small plot can become considerably more complicated if there is no straightforward connection to existing infrastructure.
5. Boundaries and title
Make sure you understand exactly what land is being sold.
Check the title, boundaries, rights and restrictions before committing to the purchase. Physical fences and hedges do not necessarily correspond exactly with legal boundaries.
6. Restrictions and covenants
The title may contain covenants, rights or other restrictions affecting how the land can be used.
These can be particularly important when buying a small parcel because a restriction affecting a relatively small piece of land may significantly limit its usefulness.
Does a small plot of land need planning permission?
Not necessarily. Whether planning permission is required depends on what you intend to do with the land and the circumstances of the proposed use or development.
Simply owning a small plot does not give you an automatic right to develop it. If your objective is to build a house, create a development or substantially change the use of the land, the planning position should be investigated before purchase.
For more information about land without planning permission, see our guide to selling land without planning permission.
How much do small plots of land cost?
There is no standard price for a small plot of land.
Value can vary significantly according to location, size, planning status, access, services, permitted use, development potential and local demand.
For example, a small parcel with residential planning permission can have a very different value from a similarly sized piece of agricultural or amenity land.
This means that comparing plots purely by price per acre can sometimes be misleading. The underlying characteristics and potential use of the land need to be considered as well.
Small does not always mean cheap
A small plot with significant development potential can be worth considerably more than a much larger parcel of land with limited permitted uses. When comparing opportunities, look at what the land can realistically be used for as well as its size.
How to make your search more specific
The more clearly you define your requirements, the easier it is to identify potentially suitable opportunities.
Consider specifying:
- Location: the county, town, village or wider area you are prepared to consider
- Land type: building plot, agricultural, grazing, equestrian, woodland, smallholding or another type
- Size: the minimum and maximum acreage you would consider
- Budget: your maximum purchase price
- Planning: whether you require planning permission or are prepared to consider land without it
- Access: whether you need direct road access or have other requirements
- Intended use: what you actually want to use the land for
This can help prevent you from spending time looking at land that does not meet your basic requirements.
Can Your Landstore help me find a small plot?
Yes. If you are looking for small plots of land for sale, you can register your requirements with Your Landstore for free.
Tell us what type of land you are looking for, where you want it and the requirements that matter to you. We can then use those requirements when considering land that comes to market through Your Landstore.
Where there is a suitable match, you can receive an email alert from the day the relevant land is listed.
Looking for a small plot of land?
Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll use your requirements to help identify suitable land opportunities.
TELL US WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR →Frequently asked questions
What is classed as a small plot of land?
There is no fixed size that defines a small plot. What counts as small depends on the intended use. A fraction of an acre may be suitable for one purpose, while several acres may be considered a small parcel for another.
Where can I find small plots of land for sale in the UK?
Small plots can be found through specialist land agents, property portals, auction platforms, local agents and direct landowner sales. You can also register your land requirements with Your Landstore.
Can I build a house on a small plot of land?
Possibly, but the size of a plot does not determine whether you can build on it. Planning policy, the site’s location, access, services and other factors need to be considered.
Are small plots of land cheaper than larger plots?
Not necessarily. Land value depends on factors such as location, planning status, permitted use, access and development potential as well as size.
Can I buy a small plot of agricultural land?
Yes, agricultural land can be sold in relatively small parcels. However, you should check the permitted use, access, title and any restrictions before purchasing.
Can I register a search for a small plot with Your Landstore?
Yes. Buyer registration is free. You can provide your preferred location, land type, size, budget and other requirements so that your search can be considered against suitable land opportunities.
