Option agreements for land in Merseyside
For landowners in Merseyside, an option agreement is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
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.
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
- No pressure to decide
Get an offer for land in Merseyside
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Merseyside at a glance
Largely urban, with substantial brownfield land in Liverpool and the surrounding boroughs and green belt around the edges.
| County | Merseyside |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 18 |
| Main town | Liverpool |
| Example postcode districts | CH41, CH44, CH60, CH63, L1 |
| Planning system | National Planning Policy Framework and local plan |
| When you're paid | Option fee now, price when the option is exercised |
| Timescale | Often several years |
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
- Holdings where several owners need to work together
- Land needing access or infrastructure to be unlocked
- 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.
What to check in an option agreement
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.
Exercise triggers
What has to happen before we can buy.
Land an option agreement works for in Merseyside
Land without planning permission in Merseyside
We pay for the right to buy later and fund the planning work meanwhile.
Green belt and grey belt land in Merseyside
Common for green belt land promoted through a local plan review.
Farmland and agricultural land in Merseyside
Common for edge-of-town farmland promoted through the local plan.
Paddocks and equestrian land in Merseyside
Useful where the paddock could form part of a wider site.
Infill plots and gap sites in Merseyside
Seldom needed for single infill plots.
Brownfield land in Merseyside
Can suit larger brownfield sites with a longer planning route.
How a sale works
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
We put an offer in writing
It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.
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.
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 rough size, in acres or hectares
- Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
What people ask us about an option 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.
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 buy land in Merseyside?
Yes. We consider land across Merseyside, from Liverpool to the smaller towns and villages. Whether we can make an offer depends on the land itself, and we'll tell you either way.
Option agreements by town in Merseyside
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Merseyside
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.