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Option agreements for land in Burnley

For owners in Burnley and the BB11 area, an option agreement is worth understanding before you talk to any buyer, including us.

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
  • We fund the planning work

Tell us about your land

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.

Land around Burnley

Burnley lies in Lancashire, about 19 miles east of Preston. Nearby, we also look at land around Nelson (3 miles), Colne (5 miles) and Accrington (6 miles).

TownBurnley
CountyLancashire
CountryEngland
Postcode districtBB11
OS grid squareSD83
Nearest towns we coverNelson (3 mi), Colne (5 mi), Accrington (6 mi)
Distance from PrestonAbout 19 miles 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

Is an option agreement right for your land?

  • Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
  • Land being considered in a local plan review
  • Owners happy to wait several years for a higher price
  • 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.

The terms that matter

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.

Your obligations

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

Land near Burnley that an option agreement suits

Development land in Burnley

Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.

Land with planning permission in Burnley

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

Farmland and agricultural land in Burnley

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

Redundant commercial and industrial land in Burnley

Useful where vacant possession is some way off.

What happens next

  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. Solicitors complete the sale

    Exchange and complete, or exchange now and complete when planning is granted.

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 plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Your title number, if you know it
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • Photos of the land and its access

Questions from landowners near Burnley

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.

Can I sell to someone else during the option?

Not usually. The option binds the land, and it's normally registered against your title.

Can you visit land near Burnley?

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.

Nearby towns

Other land in Burnley

Get a straight answer about your land

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

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248