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Option agreements for land in Seaford

If you own land in or around Seaford, 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 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.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • Independent advice encouraged
  • We fund the planning work

Tell us about your land

Free, no-obligation appraisal.

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

Where Seaford sits

The land we're most interested in near Seaford sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards Rottingdean (8 miles) and Eastbourne (8 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.

TownSeaford
CountyEast Sussex
CountryEngland
Postcode districtBN25
OS grid squareTV49
Nearest towns we coverRottingdean (8 mi), Eastbourne (8 mi), Hailsham (9 mi)
Distance from BrightonAbout 11 miles 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

When an option agreement suits land near Seaford

  • Land being considered in a local plan review
  • Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
  • Holdings where several owners need to work together
  • 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.

The terms that matter

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.

Exercise triggers

What has to happen before we can buy.

Your obligations

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

Land near Seaford that an option agreement suits

Large strategic sites in Seaford

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

Barns and rural buildings in Seaford

Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.

Small sites in Seaford

Useful if land needs assembling from more than one owner.

Inherited and probate land in Seaford

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 check it properly

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

  3. We put an offer in writing

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

  4. 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.

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
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • 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.

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.

Do you buy land in Seaford?

Yes. We consider land in and around Seaford and across East Sussex. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, especially its access and planning prospects, and we'll tell you either way.

Also near Seaford

Other land types and routes

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

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248