Option agreements for land in Cheshire
For landowners in Cheshire, an option agreement is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
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.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Cheshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Cheshire at a glance
Dairy farmland and market towns, with green belt separating Cheshire's towns from the Merseyside and Manchester conurbations.
| County | Cheshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 12 |
| Main town | Warrington |
| Example postcode districts | CH1, CH65, CW1, CW7, CW9 |
| 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
- Holdings where several owners need to work together
- Owners who want to keep farming until development
If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.
How the money works
Option fee
A payment on signing, which you usually keep even if the option isn't exercised.
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.
Land an option agreement works for in Cheshire
Development land in Cheshire
Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.
Land with planning permission in Cheshire
Rarely needed once consent exists, but can suit phased sites.
Land without planning permission in Cheshire
We pay for the right to buy later and fund the planning work meanwhile.
Farmland and agricultural land in Cheshire
Common for edge-of-town farmland promoted through the local plan.
Building plots in Cheshire
Rarely needed for single plots.
Inherited and probate land in Cheshire
Can suit families who want to hold on while planning is explored.
What happens next
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.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
Planning and legal points for land in Cheshire
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.
Common problems, and how we handle them
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- 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 long do options last?
It varies with the site. Several years is typical for land needing local plan allocation, often with extension rights.
Can I sell to someone else during the option?
Not usually. The option binds the land, and it's normally registered against your title.
Do you buy land in Cheshire?
Yes. We consider land across Cheshire, from Warrington 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 Cheshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Cheshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.