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Option agreements for land in Portland

If you own land in or around Portland, option agreements is one of four ways you can sell it to us. Here's how it works and when it makes sense.

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

Selling land near Portland?

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

Where Portland sits

Land around Portland falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Weymouth, 3 miles away, and Dorchester, 10 miles away, and Bournemouth is 27 miles away.

TownPortland
CountyDorset
CountryEngland
Postcode districtDT5
OS grid squareSY67
Nearest towns we coverWeymouth (3 mi), Dorchester (10 mi), Poole (23 mi)
Distance from BournemouthAbout 27 miles south-west
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

When an option agreement suits land near Portland

  • 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
  • Sites with technical issues that need time to resolve

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.

What to check in an option agreement

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 near Portland that an option agreement suits

Land with planning permission in Portland

Rarely needed once consent exists, but can suit phased sites.

Barns and rural buildings in Portland

Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.

Building plots in Portland

Rarely needed for single plots.

Inherited and probate land in Portland

Can suit families who want to hold on while planning is explored.

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. You get a written offer

    With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.

  4. Solicitors complete the sale

    Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.

Planning and legal points for land in Dorset

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

  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • Photos of the land and its access

Questions from landowners near Portland

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.

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.

Can you visit land near Portland?

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.

Option agreements near Portland

Other land in Portland

Find out what we'd pay for your land near Portland

Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248