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Option agreements for land in Swanley

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

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
  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • Independent advice encouraged

Tell us about your land

We'll check the title and planning, then call you.

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

Swanley at a glance

Swanley lies in Kent, roughly 17 miles north-west of Maidstone. Nearby, we also look at land around Bexley (3 miles), Dartford (4 miles) and Welling (5 miles).

TownSwanley
CountyKent
CountryEngland
Postcode districtBR8
OS grid squareTQ56
Nearest towns we coverBexley (3 mi), Dartford (4 mi), Welling (5 mi)
Distance from MaidstoneAbout 17 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

Is an option agreement right for your land?

  • Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
  • Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
  • Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
  • Owners who want to keep farming until development

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

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.

Deductions

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

Land near Swanley that an option agreement suits

Land with planning permission in Swanley

Rarely needed once consent exists, but can suit phased sites.

Large strategic sites in Swanley

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

Land for affordable homes in Swanley

Useful while housing need is evidenced and a scheme is prepared.

Brownfield land in Swanley

Can suit larger brownfield sites with a longer planning route.

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. 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.

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

  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Questions from landowners near Swanley

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.

How long do options last?

It varies with the site. Several years is typical for land needing local plan allocation, often with extension rights.

Do you cover the villages around Swanley?

Yes. Villages between Swanley, Bexley and Dartford often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.

Also near Swanley

Other land in Swanley

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

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248