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Option agreements for land in Ashford, Kent

If you own land near Ashford, Kent, 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.

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.

  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • No pressure to decide
  • We fund the planning work

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Land around Ashford, Kent

Land around Ashford, Kent falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Faversham, 12 miles away, and Canterbury, 13 miles away, and Maidstone is 18 miles away.

TownAshford, Kent
CountyKent
CountryEngland
Postcode districtTN24
OS grid squareTR04
Nearest towns we coverFaversham (12 mi), Canterbury (13 mi), Folkestone (13 mi)
Distance from MaidstoneAbout 18 miles south-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

When an option agreement suits land near Ashford, Kent

  • Land being considered in a local plan review
  • Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
  • Owners who want to keep farming until development
  • 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

Purchase price

Often a percentage of market value with permission, less agreed costs.

Minimum price

A floor that protects you if values fall.

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 near Ashford, Kent that an option agreement suits

Large strategic sites in Ashford, Kent

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

Green belt and grey belt land in Ashford, Kent

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

Farmland and agricultural land in Ashford, Kent

Common for edge-of-town farmland promoted through the local plan.

Inherited and probate land in Ashford, Kent

Can suit families who want to hold on while planning is explored.

How a sale works

  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. 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.

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 want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning

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

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
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements

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 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.

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 cover the villages around Ashford, Kent?

Yes. Villages between Ashford, Kent, Faversham and Canterbury often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.

Also near Ashford, Kent

Other land types and routes

Ready to talk about your land in Ashford, Kent?

Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248