Option agreements for land in Berkshire
For landowners in Berkshire, an option agreement is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
An option can capture more of your land's value where it needs a long planning journey, but the details matter. We explain every term before you commit.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No commission: we're the buyer
- No pressure to decide
Get an offer for land in Berkshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Berkshire at a glance
The Thames valley towns are under steady pressure for new homes. Much of east Berkshire is Metropolitan Green Belt, and the west takes in part of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
| County | Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 11 |
| Main town | Reading |
| Example postcode districts | GU47, RG1, RG6, RG12, RG14 |
| 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 |
When an option agreement suits land in Berkshire
- Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
- Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
- Holdings where several owners need to work together
- 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.
What to check in an option agreement
Purchase price
Often a percentage of market value with permission, less agreed costs.
Minimum price
A floor that protects you if values fall.
Deductions
Which planning and infrastructure costs come off the price before you're paid.
Exercise triggers
What has to happen before we can buy.
Land an option agreement works for in Berkshire
Development land in Berkshire
Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.
Paddocks and equestrian land in Berkshire
Useful where the paddock could form part of a wider site.
Garden land and backland in Berkshire
Useful when several neighbours' gardens are being assembled.
Infill plots and gap sites in Berkshire
Seldom needed for single infill plots.
Brownfield land in Berkshire
Can suit larger brownfield sites with a longer planning route.
Redundant commercial and industrial land in Berkshire
Useful where vacant possession is some way off.
How a sale works
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
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.
Rules that apply in England
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 want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning
Agreements can include obligations to use reasonable endeavours and set milestones.
Useful to send us
- The address or postcode
- A rough size, in acres or hectares
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
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.
How is the price set?
Usually as a percentage of the land's market value once permission is granted, minus agreed costs, with a minimum price. The percentage and deductions are negotiated.
How long do options last?
It varies with the site. Several years is typical for land needing local plan allocation, often with extension rights.
Do you buy land in Berkshire?
Yes. We consider land across Berkshire, from Reading 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 Berkshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Berkshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.