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Option agreements for land in Brighton

For owners in Brighton and the BN2 area, an option agreement is worth understanding before you talk to any buyer, including us.

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.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • No pressure to decide
  • We fund the planning work

Get an offer for land in Brighton

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.

Brighton at a glance

The land we're most interested in near Brighton sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards Hove (1 mile) and Portslade (3 miles).

Much of the county lies in the South Downs National Park or the High Weald National Landscape, which limits greenfield development outside the towns.

TownBrighton
CountyEast Sussex
CountryEngland
Postcode districtBN2
OS grid squareTQ30
Nearest towns we coverHove (1 mi), Portslade (3 mi), Rottingdean (4 mi)
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
  • Land being considered in a local plan review
  • Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
  • Owners who want to keep farming until development

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

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.

Your obligations

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

Land near Brighton that an option agreement suits

Large strategic sites in Brighton

The usual route: an option fee now and a price based on market value later.

Paddocks and equestrian land in Brighton

Useful where the paddock could form part of a wider site.

Building plots in Brighton

Rarely needed for single plots.

Redundant commercial and industrial land in Brighton

Useful where vacant possession is some way off.

What happens next

  1. Send us the address

    A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.

  2. We check it properly

    Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.

  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.

Rules that apply in England

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.

When the land isn't straightforward

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
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • 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.

Can I sell to someone else during the option?

Not usually. The option binds the land, and it's normally registered against your title.

Can you visit land near Brighton?

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 Brighton

Other land in Brighton

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

A free appraisal tells you what we'd pay and why.

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