Land Option Agreements in Ashford (Kent)
A land option agreement in Ashford (Kent) 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.
Ashford (Kent) · TN24Free 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
Our coverage in Ashford (Kent)
About 18 miles south-east of Maidstone, Ashford (Kent) is part of our Kent coverage, centred on postcode district TN24. Nearby, we also cover Faversham, Canterbury and Folkestone, all within 13 miles. Ashford (Kent) is part of England’s South East region.
In and around Ashford (Kent), the land we appraise ranges from former garage blocks and yards to land that already has planning permission, including fields put forward or allocated in the local plan. In England, where Ashford (Kent) sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
Tell us where your land is around Ashford (Kent) and we will explain the routes open to you.
Our approach in Ashford (Kent)
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.
Planning funded by us
We commission the surveys, design work and planning application at our own cost, and keep you informed at each stage so you know how the planning case is progressing.
Right to buy, not obligation
The developer may buy if suitable planning is granted, but does not have to. You are bound not to sell elsewhere during the term, which is why its length and exit points matter so much.
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.
Planning and land rules in Ashford (Kent)
Whether a field or large garden could take homes depends mostly on the council's Local Plan and national policy. Under the National Planning Policy Framework, plans define settlement boundaries, and land just outside Ashford (Kent) may still come forward if it is allocated, previously developed or meets evidenced unmet housing need. Smaller housing schemes can also use Permission in Principle, an England-only route that settles location, use and amount first. Our free appraisal explains which route suits your land.
In England, an option is usually protected by a notice on your title at HM Land Registry. Planning is pursued through the Local Plan or an application judged against the NPPF, and price deductions often cover Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy and, where it applies, the cost of meeting biodiversity net gain.
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
|---|---|
| Who decides applications | The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority) |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
Common questions in Ashford (Kent)
Is an option payment taxable?
It can be. Receiving an option payment can have tax consequences when you receive it, not only when the land is finally sold, and the later sale may be looked at together with it. The position depends on your circumstances, so speak to an accountant before you sign.
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.
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.
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 Ashford (Kent)?
We do. We work with landowners in Ashford (Kent) and elsewhere in Kent, including Herne Bay, Faversham and Chatham. Send us a postcode and we will start with a free, no-obligation appraisal of what the land could take.
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