Option agreements for land in Wiltshire
Considering an option agreement for land in Wiltshire? This page sets out the terms that matter and the rules that apply in England.
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.
- Free appraisal and written offer
- No commission: we're the buyer
- Figures explained, so you can check them
Get an offer for land in Wiltshire
Send the postcode and a rough size.
Option agreements in Wiltshire at a glance
Salisbury Plain, the Cotswolds, North Wessex Downs and Cranborne Chase, with growth around Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury.
| County | Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Towns we cover here | 10 |
| Main town | Swindon |
| Example postcode districts | BA12, BA13, BA14, SN1, SN10 |
| 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.
How the money works
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.
Term
How long we have to secure permission and exercise the option.
Land an option agreement works for in Wiltshire
Land for affordable homes in Wiltshire
Useful while housing need is evidenced and a scheme is prepared.
Barns and rural buildings in Wiltshire
Less common for single buildings but can suit whole farmyards.
Infill plots and gap sites in Wiltshire
Seldom needed for single infill plots.
Garage sites in Wiltshire
Rarely needed unless several garage owners are involved.
Redundant commercial and industrial land in Wiltshire
Useful where vacant possession is some way off.
Inherited and probate land in Wiltshire
Can suit families who want to hold on while planning is explored.
How a sale works
Tell us about your land
Send the postcode or address and a rough size.
We check it properly
Title, planning history, access, flood maps and local policy.
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.
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.
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
- Your title number, if you know it
- Any planning applications or letters
- How soon you'd ideally like to sell
Your questions answered
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.
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.
Do you buy land in Wiltshire?
Yes. We consider land across Wiltshire, from Swindon 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 Wiltshire
Find out what we'd pay for your land in Wiltshire
Send the postcode and a rough size and we'll come back with a straight answer.