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Option agreements for land in York

Choosing how to sell matters as much as choosing who to sell to. For land near York, an option agreement trades certainty and timing in a particular way.

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.

  • Free appraisal and written offer
  • Independent advice encouraged
  • We fund the planning work

Get an offer for land in York

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.

Where York sits

The land we're most interested in near York sits on the edge of the built-up area or in the villages towards Selby (12 miles) and Harrogate (19 miles).

TownYork
CountyNorth Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Postcode districtYO1
OS grid squareSE65
Nearest towns we coverSelby (12 mi), Harrogate (19 mi), Goole (19 mi)
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 York

  • Larger fields and blocks on the edge of towns and villages
  • 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

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.

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.

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 York that an option agreement suits

Building plots in York

Rarely needed for single plots.

Infill plots and gap sites in York

Seldom needed for single infill plots.

Small sites in York

Useful if land needs assembling from more than one owner.

Landlocked land and access problems in York

Useful while access is negotiated with neighbours.

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. Solicitors complete the sale

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

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.

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 want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning

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

Useful to send us

  • The address or postcode
  • A rough size, in acres or hectares
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements

What people ask us about an option agreement

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.

What's the difference between an option and a promotion agreement?

Under an option the buyer has the right to buy the land. Under a promotion agreement a promoter gets permission and then sells the land on the open market, taking a share of the proceeds. We offer options, not promotion agreements.

How do I get an offer for land in York?

Use the form on this page or call 0800 088 6248. Tell us the postcode, the rough size and anything you know about planning, and we'll come back to you.

Nearby towns

More land we buy in York

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

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

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