Land Option Agreements in Enniskillen
A land option agreement in Enniskillen gives a developer the right, but not the obligation, to buy your land within a fixed period, normally once planning permission is granted. The developer pays for the planning work. When the option is exercised, the price is usually market value with that permission, less an agreed discount and agreed costs.
Enniskillen · BT74Free site appraisal
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- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Land and sites near Enniskillen
Enniskillen (BT74) anchors our coverage of County Fermanagh, which takes in 1 other places. The nearest other places we cover are Lisnaskea (10 miles), Omagh (22 miles) and Strabane (34 miles).
Typical sites we review near Enniskillen include small holdings and pony paddocks, large and long rear gardens and corner plots and side gardens. As Enniskillen is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Send us a postcode in or near BT74 and we will start with a free desktop appraisal.
How we work in Enniskillen
Longstop dates and extensions
The option usually ends on a fixed date, sometimes with an extension if an application or appeal is still running. Clear limits stop your land being tied up for longer than you agreed.
Option premium on signing
Many options include a payment when the agreement is signed, in return for tying up the land. Whether it is deducted from the final price is a point to settle in the heads of terms.
Your legal fees paid
On option agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees, with the amount agreed up front in the heads of terms, so you can instruct your own solicitor to review every clause.
Deductions agreed in advance
Costs such as planning obligations, abnormal ground works or infrastructure are often deducted from the price. The agreement should list exactly what can be deducted, so the price cannot be eroded later.
How the rules work in Enniskillen
In Northern Ireland, planning applications for new homes around Enniskillen are decided by the local district council, one of 11, while the Department for Infrastructure decides regionally significant schemes. Councils apply the Strategic Planning Policy Statement and their Local Development Plan, together with retained planning policy statements until their Plan Strategy is adopted. Land to Homes offers a free site appraisal and can buy suitable land directly or promote it through planning.
In Northern Ireland, the option term should reflect where the council has reached in preparing its local development plan, since land is zoned for housing at the local policies plan stage. Price deductions may include Section 76 planning agreement obligations and road works required by DfI Roads. Stamp Duty Land Tax applies on the eventual purchase.
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
|---|---|
| Land registration | Land & Property Services (Land Registry and Registry of Deeds) |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding when contracts signed by both parties are exchanged and finishes on completion, with the title registered in the Land Registry at Land & Property Services. |
| Developer contributions | Section 76 planning agreements under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (there is no Community Infrastructure Levy) |
Your questions answered for Enniskillen
What happens if planning is refused during an option?
The developer can usually appeal, submit a revised scheme or wait for a new local plan, as long as the option term allows. If no suitable permission is secured by the end date, the option lapses and you are free to deal with the land again, normally keeping any premium already paid.
What discount do developers take on a land option?
Options usually include a discount from market value to reflect the developer's cost and risk in securing planning. The level is negotiated case by case and there is no standard figure. Compare it alongside the deductions, minimum price and term, because a modest discount can be undone by wide deductions.
Can I sell my land while it is under option?
Not without dealing with the option first. The developer's rights are normally protected against your title, so a buyer would take the land subject to them. Selling to the option holder or negotiating a release are the usual routes. Your solicitor will explain the effect where your land is.
How does an option agreement work for land?
The landowner grants a developer the exclusive right to buy the land within a set term. The developer spends its own money seeking planning permission. If suitable permission is granted, the developer serves notice and buys at a price worked out under a formula in the agreement, usually market value less a discount and agreed costs.
Do you work with landowners in Enniskillen?
We do. We work with landowners in Enniskillen and elsewhere in County Fermanagh, including Lisnaskea. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
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