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Option agreements for land in Surbiton

If you own land in or around Surbiton, 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
  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • No pressure to decide

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

Surbiton at a glance

The land we're most interested in near Surbiton sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards New Malden (2 miles) and Esher (3 miles).

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

TownSurbiton
CountyGreater London
CountryEngland
Postcode districtKT5
OS grid squareTQ16
Nearest towns we coverNew Malden (2 mi), Esher (3 mi), Hampton (3 mi)
Distance from central LondonAbout 11 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

Who an option agreement works best for

  • 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
  • Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked

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.

Minimum price

A floor that protects you if values fall.

Term

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

Deductions

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

From first call to completion

  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. 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.

Awkward details we deal with

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
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Your questions answered

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.

Do you buy land in Surbiton?

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

Get a straight answer about your land

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