Option agreements for land in Northamptonshire
For landowners in Northamptonshire, an option agreement is one of four ways to sell to us. Here's how it works there.
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
- No pressure to decide
- We fund the planning work
Get an offer for land in Northamptonshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Northamptonshire at a glance
Rolling farmland and expanding towns such as Northampton, Corby and Kettering, with no designated green belt.
| County | Northamptonshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 9 |
| Main town | Northampton |
| Example postcode districts | NN1, NN8, NN10, NN11, NN12 |
| 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
- Owners who want to keep farming until development
If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.
The terms that matter
Option fee
A payment on signing, which you usually keep even if the option isn't exercised.
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 an option agreement works for in Northamptonshire
Development land in Northamptonshire
Suits larger fields where the planning route may take several years.
Land without planning permission in Northamptonshire
We pay for the right to buy later and fund the planning work meanwhile.
Barns and rural buildings in Northamptonshire
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Building plots in Northamptonshire
Rarely needed for single plots.
Garage sites in Northamptonshire
Rarely needed unless several garage owners are involved.
Inherited and probate land in Northamptonshire
Can suit families who want to hold on while planning is explored.
What happens next
Send us the address
A postcode, a plan or a what3words location is enough to start.
We do the homework
We read the title and planning record and check flood risk and access.
You get a written offer
With the main figures behind it, so your adviser can check it.
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 want to be sure we'll actually pursue planning
Agreements can include obligations to use reasonable endeavours and set milestones.
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- Photos of the land and its access
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Your questions answered
Do I keep the option fee if you don't buy?
Normally, yes. The terms are set out in the agreement.
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 Northamptonshire?
Yes. We consider land across Northamptonshire, from Northampton 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 Northamptonshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Northamptonshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.