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Option agreements for land in Romford

If you own land near Romford, you may be wondering whether an option agreement would suit you. The answer depends on your land's planning prospects and how soon you want to be paid.

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
  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • We fund the planning work

Tell us about your land

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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Please enter a postcode, or at least the first half.
Please tick the box so we can contact you.

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

Romford at a glance

From Romford, it's 2 miles to Hornchurch and 2 miles to Dagenham. We buy land across that whole stretch of Greater London, not only within the town.

Land is scarce and mostly brownfield. The outer boroughs contain Metropolitan Green Belt and metropolitan open land, both closely protected.

TownRomford
CountyGreater London
CountryEngland
Postcode districtRM1
OS grid squareTQ58
Nearest towns we coverHornchurch (2 mi), Dagenham (2 mi), Becontree (3 mi)
Distance from central LondonAbout 14 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

Who an option agreement works best for

  • Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
  • Holdings where several owners need to work together
  • Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
  • Owners who want to keep farming until development

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

The terms that matter

Option fee

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

Minimum price

A floor that protects you if values fall.

Term

How long we have to secure permission and exercise the option.

Exercise triggers

What has to happen before we can buy.

Land near Romford that an option agreement suits

Large strategic sites in Romford

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

Green belt and grey belt land in Romford

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

Paddocks and equestrian land in Romford

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

Infill plots and gap sites in Romford

Seldom needed for single infill plots.

From first call to completion

  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. 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.

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.

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'd like your advisers' costs covered

Many option agreements include a contribution to the landowner's legal and agent costs. We'll tell you if ours does.

Useful to send us

  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • 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 long do options last?

It varies with the site. Several years is typical for land needing local plan allocation, often with extension rights.

How do I get an offer for land in Romford?

Use the form on this page or call 0800 088 6248. Tell us the postcode, the rough size and anything you know about planning, and we'll come back to you.

Nearby towns

Other land types and routes

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

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248