Do you own land in Leicestershire with development potential.
Part of our East Midlands land development coverage.
Leicestershire Land Development
Do you own land or property in Leicestershire with development potential?
We provide free, independent land assessments to landowners across Leicestershire — including Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Coalville and the surrounding villages and rural areas. Find out what your land could realistically be worth — at no cost and with no obligation.
Get My Free Leicestershire Land Assessment →No cost · No obligation · Reviewed personally by our team
Land Development Opportunities in Leicestershire
Leicestershire is one of the most active counties in the East Midlands for residential land development. Strong population growth, significant housing demand across Leicester and the surrounding districts, and a diverse mix of land types — from agricultural farmland in Melton and Harborough to suburban plots around Leicester and Loughborough — create a wide range of development opportunities for landowners across the county.
The county contains significant Green Belt land surrounding Leicester, which has historically constrained development but now presents new opportunities following the December 2024 NPPF changes introducing Grey Belt. Sites previously considered undevelopable because of Green Belt designation may now warrant a much closer look.
At Revive Estates Group, we work with landowners across Leicestershire to identify development potential, understand the planning landscape, and find the most effective route to maximising the value of their land or property. Our initial assessment is completely free and comes with no obligation to proceed.
Why Is Leicestershire an Active Development Market?
Several factors make Leicestershire one of the most sought-after counties for residential land development in the Midlands:
- Strong and sustained housing demand across Leicester city, Charnwood, Blaby, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton and North West Leicestershire
- Multiple local planning authorities facing significant housing shortfalls and under pressure to identify and release new land for development
- Leicester's status as one of the largest cities in the East Midlands driving substantial demand for residential development on the urban fringe
- Excellent motorway and rail connections — M1, M69, A46 and direct rail services to London St Pancras — making the county attractive to commuters and driving housing demand
- A large rural hinterland with substantial agricultural, equestrian and previously developed land carrying latent development potential
- Active developer and housebuilder presence across the county with strong land buying activity around Leicester and Loughborough
What Types of Land Have Development Potential in Leicestershire?
We regularly assess all types of land and property across Leicestershire, including:
- Agricultural land — particularly fields adjoining Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough and the county's market towns, and land within or adjacent to identified growth areas
- Large residential gardens — suburban and semi-rural plots across Leicester and the county's towns and villages
- Equestrian properties — stable yards, livery businesses and riding schools across the county, particularly in the Green Belt around Leicester where existing buildings and infrastructure can create development opportunities
- Green Belt and Grey Belt land — sites within the Green Belt around Leicester that may qualify as Grey Belt following the December 2024 NPPF changes, particularly previously developed and equestrian sites
- Brownfield and previously developed land — former industrial sites, redundant commercial premises and derelict buildings across the county's towns and villages
- Roadside land — sites on the M1, M69, A46, A6 and other major routes suitable for EV charging, drive-thru, roadside retail or logistics uses
- Strategic land — larger greenfield sites with medium to long-term potential for allocation through the Local Plan process, particularly around Leicester's urban fringe
Own land or property in Leicestershire?
Whether you own agricultural land, a large garden, an equestrian property, a Green Belt site or a redundant commercial building — our free assessment gives you an honest, independent view of what your site could realistically achieve. No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
Get Your Free Leicestershire Land Assessment →The Leicestershire Planning Landscape
Leicestershire has a two-tier planning system with Leicestershire County Council and seven district and borough councils — Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby and Wigston — each responsible for their own Local Plans. Leicester City Council operates as a unitary authority.
Several of the county's local planning authorities are in the process of reviewing or preparing new Local Plans. During periods of plan review, the ability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply becomes particularly important — and where councils cannot demonstrate this, the presumption in favour of sustainable development under the NPPF applies, which can significantly improve planning prospects for suitable sites.
The Green Belt in Leicestershire surrounds Leicester and extends into parts of Charnwood and Blaby. Following the December 2024 NPPF update, Grey Belt land within this Green Belt — particularly previously developed sites, equestrian properties and land making only a limited contribution to Green Belt purposes — now carries meaningfully stronger development prospects than before.
Green Belt and Grey Belt Land in Leicestershire
The Green Belt around Leicester has historically been one of the most significant constraints on land development in the county. Many landowners with Green Belt sites have assumed development is impossible — but this is not always the case, and the December 2024 NPPF changes have further opened up opportunities.
Previously developed land within the Leicestershire Green Belt — including commercial yards, former industrial buildings, redundant agricultural structures and equestrian facilities — has long carried stronger planning prospects than undeveloped greenfield Green Belt land. The introduction of Grey Belt now extends this principle further, creating new opportunities for sites that make only a limited contribution to the five purposes of the Green Belt.
If you own Green Belt land in Leicestershire — particularly a site with existing buildings, hardstanding or commercial use — it is worth getting an independent professional assessment to understand whether Grey Belt may apply and what development opportunities this could create.
Selling Land for Development in Leicestershire
If you own land with development potential in Leicestershire, there are several routes available — and choosing the right one can make a significant difference to the eventual outcome.
An outright sale to a developer is the simplest and fastest route but rarely achieves the maximum value. Option agreements and promotion agreements allow developers or promoters to fund the planning process at their own cost and risk, with the landowner receiving a share of the uplifted value once planning permission is secured.
For larger strategic sites in Leicestershire — particularly on the urban fringe around Leicester and Loughborough — land promotion through the Local Plan process can deliver significantly higher returns. The county's active developer market means that well-promoted sites with planning permission attract strong competitive interest from multiple housebuilders.
Areas We Cover in Leicestershire
We provide free land assessments to landowners across the whole of Leicestershire, including:
- Leicester and the surrounding urban fringe
- Loughborough, Shepshed and Charnwood
- Hinckley, Burbage and Hinckley and Bosworth
- Market Harborough and Harborough district
- Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir
- Coalville, Ashby-de-la-Zouch and North West Leicestershire
- Blaby, Lutterworth and surrounding villages
- Oadby, Wigston and the Leicester urban fringe
- Rural villages and agricultural land across the county
Find out what your Leicestershire land could be worth.
Many landowners across Leicestershire — including those with Green Belt sites — are sitting on development potential they don't know about. The December 2024 NPPF changes have created new opportunities for some Green Belt landowners that simply didn't exist before. Finding out if your land qualifies costs nothing.
We cover all land types across Leicestershire — agricultural land, garden plots, equestrian properties, Green Belt and Grey Belt sites, brownfield land and strategic greenfield sites. Takes 2 minutes to submit. Reviewed personally by our team.
Get My Free Land Assessment →Takes 2 minutes · No cost · No obligation · Reviewed personally by our team
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cover all areas of Leicestershire?
Yes. We provide free land assessments to landowners across the whole of Leicestershire — including Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Blaby and all surrounding villages and rural areas.
Can Green Belt land in Leicestershire be developed?
Not always — but Green Belt designation does not automatically prevent all development. Previously developed land, equestrian properties and Grey Belt sites within the Leicestershire Green Belt may all carry development potential depending on their specific characteristics, planning history and location. The December 2024 NPPF changes have further strengthened prospects for some Green Belt sites. A free assessment is the best way to find out what applies to your land.
What is Grey Belt land and does it apply in Leicestershire?
Grey Belt is a new category introduced by the December 2024 NPPF update. It refers to Green Belt land that makes a limited contribution to the five purposes of the Green Belt — such as land that is degraded, underused or previously developed. Grey Belt applies across England including Leicestershire, and sites within the Green Belt around Leicester that qualify may now carry stronger development prospects than before.
How do I find out if my Leicestershire land has development potential?
The fastest and most reliable way is a free professional assessment. Revive Estates Group provides a no-obligation assessment covering your land's location, planning designation, site characteristics and local planning context. We will give you an honest view of whether your land has potential and what the most appropriate route forward would be.
Do you work with landowners who have already been approached by a developer?
Yes — and this is one of the most common situations we encounter across Leicestershire. If a developer has approached you about your land, getting independent advice before responding or signing anything is essential. We can help you understand what your land is genuinely worth and whether the terms being offered are appropriate.
Is the assessment really free?
Yes. Our initial land assessment is completely free and comes with no obligation whatsoever. There are no upfront fees, no hidden charges and no commitment to proceed. We provide advice so you can make an informed decision about your land.