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Option agreements for land in Chatham

For owners in Chatham and the ME4 area, an option agreement is worth understanding before you talk to any buyer, including us.

If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • No pressure to decide
  • We fund the planning work

Get an offer for land in Chatham

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

Land around Chatham

From Chatham, it's 1 mile to Gillingham and 1 mile to Rochester. We buy land across that whole stretch of Kent, not only within the town.

TownChatham
CountyKent
CountryEngland
Postcode districtME4
OS grid squareTQ76
Nearest towns we coverGillingham (1 mi), Rochester (1 mi), Strood (2 mi)
Distance from MaidstoneAbout 8 miles north
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
  • Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
  • 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.

How the money works

Option fee

A payment on signing, which you usually keep even if the option isn't exercised.

Purchase price

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

Minimum price

A floor that protects you if values fall.

Term

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

Land near Chatham that an option agreement suits

Large strategic sites in Chatham

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

Paddocks and equestrian land in Chatham

Useful where the paddock could form part of a wider site.

Barns and rural buildings in Chatham

Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.

Garage sites in Chatham

Rarely needed unless several garage owners are involved.

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.

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'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

  • The address or postcode
  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Photos of the land and its access
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

What people ask us about an option agreement

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.

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 you visit land near Chatham?

Yes. Once we've looked at the title and planning position, we arrange a site visit if the land looks suitable. Send the address or postcode to start.

Also near Chatham

More land we buy in Chatham

Find out what we'd pay for your land near Chatham

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248