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Option agreements for land in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Choosing how to sell matters as much as choosing who to sell to. For land near Ashton-in-Makerfield, an option agreement trades certainty and timing in a particular way.

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.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • We fund the planning work

Selling land near Ashton-in-Makerfield?

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

Ashton-in-Makerfield at a glance

Ashton-in-Makerfield lies in Greater Manchester, roughly 17 miles west of Manchester. Nearby, we also look at land around Golborne (2 miles), Newton-le-Willows (3 miles) and St Helens (4 miles).

A dense urban core where most new homes are on brownfield land, with green belt on the edges climbing towards the Pennines.

TownAshton-in-Makerfield
CountyGreater Manchester
CountryEngland
Postcode districtWN4
OS grid squareSJ59
Nearest towns we coverGolborne (2 mi), Newton-le-Willows (3 mi), St Helens (4 mi)
Distance from ManchesterAbout 17 miles 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

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
  • 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.

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.

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. Solicitors complete the sale

    Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.

Planning and legal points for land in Greater Manchester

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 want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning

Agreements can include obligations to use reasonable endeavours and set milestones.

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 plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Your questions answered

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.

Do you buy land in Ashton-in-Makerfield?

Yes. We consider land in and around Ashton-in-Makerfield and across Greater Manchester. 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

Send the postcode and a rough size. We'll check the title and planning position and come back to you.