Option agreements for land in Cornwall
Considering an option agreement for land in Cornwall? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
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 pressure to decide
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Cornwall
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Cornwall at a glance
A mostly rural county with much of its coast inside the Cornwall National Landscape. New homes are concentrated in and around the main towns.
| County | Cornwall |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Truro |
| Example postcode districts | PL12, PL25, PL31, TR1, TR7 |
| 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
- Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
- Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
- Owners who want to keep farming until development
- 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.
How the money works
Purchase price
Often a percentage of market value with permission, less agreed costs.
Term
How long we have to secure permission and exercise the option.
Deductions
Which planning and infrastructure costs come off the price before you're paid.
Your obligations
Agreements set what you can and can't do with the land in the meantime.
Land an option agreement works for in Cornwall
Development land in Cornwall
Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.
Paddocks and equestrian land in Cornwall
Useful where the paddock could form part of a wider site.
Barns and rural buildings in Cornwall
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Garden land and backland in Cornwall
Useful when several neighbours' gardens are being assembled.
Infill plots and gap sites in Cornwall
Seldom needed for single infill plots.
Small sites in Cornwall
Useful if land needs assembling from more than one owner.
From first call to completion
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We check it properly
Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
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.
Awkward details we deal with
You want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning
Agreements can include obligations to use reasonable endeavours and set milestones.
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
- Any planning applications or letters
- 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 Cornwall?
Yes. We consider land across Cornwall, from Truro to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Cornwall
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.