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Option agreements for land in St Austell

For owners in St Austell and the PL25 area, an option agreement is worth understanding before you talk to any buyer, including us.

An option agreement gives a buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy land within a set period, usually once planning permission is obtained. The landowner receives an option fee up front and, if the option is exercised, a price normally based on market value with permission, less agreed deductions.

  • No pressure to decide
  • Independent advice encouraged
  • We fund the planning work

Tell us about your land

We'll check the title and planning, then call you.

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Free and no obligation. We're the buyer, so there's no commission.

Where St Austell sits

St Austell lies in Cornwall, roughly 13 miles north-east of Truro. Nearby, we also look at land around Bodmin (9 miles), Truro (13 miles) and Newquay (14 miles).

A mostly rural county with much of its coast inside the Cornwall National Landscape. New homes are concentrated in and around the main towns.

TownSt Austell
CountyCornwall
CountryEngland
Postcode districtPL25
OS grid squareSX05
Nearest towns we coverBodmin (9 mi), Truro (13 mi), Newquay (14 mi)
Distance from TruroAbout 13 miles north-east
Planning systemNational Planning Policy Framework and local plan
When you're paidOption fee now, price when the option is exercised
Planning costsOurs, sometimes recoverable from the price
Two people in outdoor jackets walking along a hedgerow, one pointing across the field

Is an option agreement right for your land?

  • 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

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.

The terms that matter

Option fee

A payment on signing, which you usually keep even if the option isn't exercised.

Minimum price

A floor that protects you if values fall.

Term

How long we have to secure permission and exercise the option.

Your obligations

Agreements set what you can and can't do with the land in the meantime.

Land near St Austell that an option agreement suits

Development land in St Austell

Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.

Land without planning permission in St Austell

We pay for the right to buy later and fund the planning work meanwhile.

Small sites in St Austell

Useful if land needs assembling from more than one owner.

Garage sites in St Austell

Rarely needed unless several garage owners are involved.

How a sale works

  1. Tell us about your land

    Send the postcode or address and a rough size.

  2. We do the homework

    We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.

  3. We put an offer in writing

    It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.

  4. 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.

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
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • Photos of the land and its access
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Questions from landowners near St Austell

Do I keep the option fee if you don't buy?

Normally, yes. The terms are set out in the agreement.

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.

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.

Can you visit land near St Austell?

Yes. Once we've looked at the title and planning position, we arrange a site visit if the land looks suitable. Send the address or postcode to start.

Nearby towns

More land we buy in St Austell

Ready to talk about your land in St Austell?

Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248