Land we buyWays to sellAreasGuidesAbout Contact Get an offer

Option agreements for land in Berkhamsted

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

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
  • Independent advice encouraged

Selling land near Berkhamsted?

Send the postcode and a rough size.

Please enter your name.
Please enter a UK phone number.
Please enter a valid email address.
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.

Berkhamsted at a glance

Our appraisals for Berkhamsted start with the HP4 postcode district and the OS grid square SP90, then widen out to Chesham, Hemel Hempstead and Amersham on the Hill, all within about 6 miles.

TownBerkhamsted
CountyHertfordshire
CountryEngland
Postcode districtHP4
OS grid squareSP90
Nearest towns we coverChesham (4 mi), Hemel Hempstead (5 mi), Amersham on the Hill (6 mi)
Distance from WatfordAbout 10 miles north-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

  • Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
  • Land being considered in a local plan review
  • Holdings where several owners need to work together
  • Sites with technical issues that need time to resolve

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.

Deductions

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

Your obligations

Agreements set what you can and can't do with the land in the meantime.

How a sale works

  1. Send us the address

    A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.

  2. We do the homework

    We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.

  3. You get a written offer

    With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.

  4. The legal work

    Your solicitor and ours handle the contract through to completion.

Planning and legal points for land in Hertfordshire

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

  • The address or postcode
  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Questions from landowners near Berkhamsted

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.

How do I get an offer for land in Berkhamsted?

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.

Ready to talk about your land in Berkhamsted?

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