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Option agreements for land in Newcastle upon Tyne

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

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.

  • No commission: we're the buyer
  • Figures explained, so you can check them
  • We fund the planning work

Tell us about your land

Free, no-obligation appraisal.

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

Where Newcastle upon Tyne sits

From Newcastle upon Tyne, it's 1 mile to Gateshead and 2 miles to Gosforth. We buy land across that whole stretch of Tyne and Wear, not only within the town.

Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and the surrounding boroughs, with brownfield land in the urban core and green belt on the fringe.

TownNewcastle upon Tyne
CountyTyne and Wear
CountryEngland
Postcode districtNE1
OS grid squareNZ26
Nearest towns we coverGateshead (1 mi), Gosforth (2 mi), Felling (2 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

Who an option agreement works best for

  • 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
  • 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.

How the money works

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.

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. We put an offer in writing

    It shows how we got there. There's no obligation to accept.

  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.

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
  • Any planning applications or letters
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • Photos of the land and its access

Common questions

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.

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 Newcastle upon Tyne?

Yes. Villages between Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and Gosforth often have the kind of edge-of-settlement land we're looking for.

Get a straight answer about your land

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