Option agreements for land in Cumbria
For landowners in Cumbria, an option agreement is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- Independent advice encouraged
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Cumbria
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Cumbria at a glance
Upland farming country. The Lake District National Park covers the central fells, so most growth is focused on Carlisle, Kendal and the west coast towns.
| County | Cumbria |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 9 |
| Main town | Carlisle |
| Example postcode districts | CA1, CA11, CA13, CA14, CA15 |
| 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 |
Is an option agreement right for your land?
- Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
- Land being considered in a local plan review
- Holdings where several owners need to work together
- Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
- Owners who want to keep farming until development
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.
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.
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 Cumbria
Paddocks and equestrian land in Cumbria
Useful where the paddock could form part of a wider site.
Barns and rural buildings in Cumbria
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Infill plots and gap sites in Cumbria
Seldom needed for single infill plots.
Brownfield land in Cumbria
Can suit larger brownfield sites with a longer planning route.
Inherited and probate land in Cumbria
Can suit families who want to hold on while planning is explored.
Landlocked land and access problems in Cumbria
Useful while access is negotiated with neighbours.
From first call to completion
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
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.
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.
Awkward details we deal with
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Photos of the land and its access
Common questions
Do I keep the option fee if you don't buy?
Normally, yes. The terms are set out in the agreement.
How long do options last?
It varies with the site. Several years is typical for land needing local plan allocation, often with extension rights.
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 Cumbria?
Yes. We consider land across Cumbria, from Carlisle 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 Cumbria
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Cumbria
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.