Option agreements for land in Bedfordshire
Considering an option agreement for land in Bedfordshire? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
Options are the usual way to bring larger sites forward. They let us invest in planning while you keep ownership and the use of your land.
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
- Independent advice encouraged
Get an offer for land in Bedfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Bedfordshire at a glance
Clay-vale farmland rises to the chalk of the Chilterns around Dunstable, and the Metropolitan Green Belt covers much of the south of the county around Luton.
| County | Bedfordshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Luton |
| Example postcode districts | LU1, LU6, LU7, MK40, MK42 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| When you're paid | Option fee now, price when the option is exercised |
| Timescale | Often several years |
Who an option agreement works best for
- Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
- Land being considered in a local plan review
- Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
- Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
- Sites with technical issues that need time to resolve
If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.
The terms that matter
Minimum price
A floor that protects you if values fall.
Term
How long we have to secure permission and exercise the option.
Exercise triggers
What has to happen before we can buy.
Your obligations
Agreements set what you can and can't do with the land in the meantime.
Land an option agreement works for in Bedfordshire
Land with planning permission in Bedfordshire
Rarely needed once consent exists, but can suit phased sites.
Barns and rural buildings in Bedfordshire
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Building plots in Bedfordshire
Rarely needed for single plots.
Small sites in Bedfordshire
Useful if land needs assembling from more than one owner.
Garage sites in Bedfordshire
Rarely needed unless several garage owners are involved.
Landlocked land and access problems in Bedfordshire
Useful while access is negotiated with neighbours.
How a sale works
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
Solicitors complete the sale
Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.
What England's rules mean for your land
Planning framework
Planning decisions in England follow the National Planning Policy Framework, revised in August 2026, and the local plan, prepared by the council or, in a national park, the park authority. Plans are reviewed periodically, which is when new housing sites are usually allocated.
Section 106 and CIL
Larger schemes often need a Section 106 agreement for affordable housing or contributions, and councils that have adopted the Community Infrastructure Levy charge it per square metre of new floorspace.
When the land isn't straightforward
You're worried about the deductions
Ask for a clear list and a cap on what can be deducted. We'll explain each one.
You'd like your advisers' costs covered
Many option agreements include a contribution to the landowner's legal and agent costs. We'll tell you if ours does.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
Your questions answered
What is an option agreement?
A contract that gives the buyer the right to buy your land within a set period, usually after planning permission is granted. You receive an option fee now and the purchase price if the option is exercised.
Can I sell to someone else during the option?
Not usually. The option binds the land, and it's normally registered against your title.
What's the difference between an option and a promotion agreement?
Under an option the buyer has the right to buy the land. Under a promotion agreement a promoter gets permission and then sells the land on the open market, taking a share of the proceeds. We offer options, not promotion agreements.
Do you buy land in Bedfordshire?
Yes. We consider land across Bedfordshire, from Luton to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Option agreements by town in Bedfordshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Bedfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.