Searchland analysed the number of Class Q sites available across England, the total building area they occupy, and their current market value.

Class Q sites are a form of permitted development designed to ease the pressure with respect to housing in rural areas and allow the reclassification of buildings from agricultural to residential use, providing these buildings meet the required criteria.

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The analysis by Searchland highlighted:

• there are some 10,373 Class Q titles found across England, with the majority of these sites located across the South East (19%), East of England (15%), East Midlands (15%), Yorkshire and the Humber (14%), North West (11%) and West Midlands (11%) 
• Class Q buildings cover an estimated 4,363,056 sq ft across England and the average building size sits at 421 sq ft, with developed land currently commanding £300 per sq ft, creating a total market value of just over £1.3bn
• the South East houses the largest proportion of Class Q buildings, which Searchland estimates could be worth £347.1m
• the East of England is home to the second highest average potential market value per building at £192,178 and has an estimated £301.5m worth of Class Q buildings
• the East Midlands (£149m), Yorkshire and the Humber (£131m) and South West (£116.3m) also rank within the top five regions with the highest potential market value of Class Q development opportunities

Co-founder and CEO of Searchland, Mitchell Fasanya, commented: “The repurposing of agricultural land is becoming increasingly more common, and we’ve seen a sharp uptick in the number of commercial ventures looking to underutilised farmland in order to develop logistical hubs.

“However, there are also a wealth of existing agricultural buildings that are ripe and ready for redevelopment into residential housing and, in the current market, they are worth a considerable sum.”