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Option agreements for land in Maldon

Before you agree an option agreement on land near Maldon, it helps to know exactly when you'd be paid, who carries the planning risk and how the price is set.

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

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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

Where Maldon sits

Maldon (CM9) sits in OS grid square TL80, some 13 miles north of Southend-on-Sea. Sites between here and Witham or Rayleigh are just as much of interest to us.

Metropolitan Green Belt covers the south and west of the county, while mid and north Essex have larger areas of farmland around growing towns.

TownMaldon
CountyEssex
CountryEngland
Postcode districtCM9
OS grid squareTL80
Nearest towns we coverWitham (5 mi), Chelmsford (9 mi), Rayleigh (10 mi)
Distance from Southend-on-SeaAbout 13 miles north
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

Who an option agreement works best for

  • 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

If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.

How the money works

Option fee

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

Deductions

Which planning and infrastructure costs come off the price before you're paid.

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 Maldon that an option agreement suits

Land with planning permission in Maldon

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

Green belt and grey belt land in Maldon

Common for green belt land promoted through a local plan review.

Land for affordable homes in Maldon

Useful while housing need is evidenced and a scheme is prepared.

Paddocks and equestrian land in Maldon

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

What happens next

  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.

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.

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 plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • Photos of the land and its access

Questions from landowners near Maldon

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.

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 Maldon?

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

Other land types and routes

Ready to talk about your land in Maldon?

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248