Option agreements for land in Hertfordshire
We offer an option agreement on land across Hertfordshire, including sites around Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage.
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.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Hertfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Hertfordshire at a glance
Most of the county is Metropolitan Green Belt, which makes land with genuine development prospects scarce and keenly contested.
| County | Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 19 |
| Main town | Watford |
| Example postcode districts | AL1, AL5, AL8, AL10, CM23 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| When you're paid | Option fee now, price when the option is exercised |
| Timescale | Often several years |
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
- Holdings where several owners need to work together
- Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
- Sites with technical issues that need time to resolve
Options are the usual way to bring larger sites forward. They let us invest in planning while you keep ownership and the use of your land.
How the money works
Option fee
A payment on signing, which you usually keep even if the option isn't exercised.
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.
Exercise triggers
What has to happen before we can buy.
Land an option agreement works for in Hertfordshire
Land with planning permission in Hertfordshire
Rarely needed once consent exists, but can suit phased sites.
Large strategic sites in Hertfordshire
The usual route: an option fee now and a price based on market value later.
Land for affordable homes in Hertfordshire
Useful while housing need is evidenced and a scheme is prepared.
Barns and rural buildings in Hertfordshire
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Garden land and backland in Hertfordshire
Useful when several neighbours' gardens are being assembled.
Landlocked land and access problems in Hertfordshire
Useful while access is negotiated with neighbours.
From first call to completion
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
The legal work
Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.
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.
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 want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning
Agreements can include obligations to use reasonable endeavours and set milestones.
Useful to send us
- Any planning applications or letters
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
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.
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 Hertfordshire?
Yes. We consider land across Hertfordshire, from Watford to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Option agreements by town in Hertfordshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Hertfordshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.