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Option agreements for land in Washington

For owners in Washington and the NE37 area, an option agreement is worth understanding before you talk to any buyer, including us.

If your land could be allocated in a future local plan, an option keeps it moving towards development without you funding the work.

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

Selling land near Washington?

Send the postcode and a rough size.

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

Where Washington sits

Land around Washington falls under England's planning system. The closest towns we also cover are Chester-le-Street, 4 miles away, and Felling, 4 miles away, and Newcastle upon Tyne is 6 miles away.

TownWashington
CountyTyne and Wear
CountryEngland
Postcode districtNE37
OS grid squareNZ35
Nearest towns we coverChester-le-Street (4 mi), Felling (4 mi), Houghton-le-Spring (5 mi)
Distance from Newcastle upon TyneAbout 6 miles south-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?

  • 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
  • Owners who want to keep farming until development

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.

Minimum price

A floor that protects you if values fall.

Exercise triggers

What has to happen before we can buy.

Your obligations

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

Land near Washington that an option agreement suits

Development land in Washington

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

Land without planning permission in Washington

We pay for the right to buy later and fund the planning work meanwhile.

Farmland and agricultural land in Washington

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

Redundant commercial and industrial land in Washington

Useful where vacant possession is some way off.

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.

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
  • A plan, or a screenshot from an online map
  • Details of any tenants or grazing agreements
  • How soon you'd ideally like to sell

Questions from landowners near Washington

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.

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 Washington?

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 Washington

Ready to talk about your land in Washington?

Call 0800 088 6248 or send the details. There's no obligation.

Get an offerCall 0800 088 6248