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For landowners · Kent

Land Option Agreements in Faversham

How does a land option agreement work in Faversham?

Think of an option on land in Faversham as a reservation with conditions attached. You agree not to sell to anyone else for a set term. In return, Land to Homes funds the planning work and pays your reasonable legal fees, agreed up front in the heads of terms. If permission is granted, we can buy at the formula price you agreed.

Surveyor in hi-vis using a GPS rover pole in a grass field near a villageFaversham · ME13

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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

Selling land around Faversham

We cover Faversham as part of Kent. It is about 16 miles east of Maidstone, around postcode district ME13. Nearby, we also cover Whitstable, Sittingbourne and Canterbury, all within 9 miles. Within England, Faversham falls in the South East region.

In and around Faversham, the land we appraise ranges from brownfield land in and around Faversham to infill gaps along existing streets, including fields put forward or allocated in the local plan. As Faversham is in England, applications are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

A postcode and a rough boundary are enough for us to start a free appraisal of land near Faversham.

How we work in Faversham

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.

Keep using your land

You normally stay in possession during the option. Farming, grazing or existing lettings can usually continue, subject to access for surveys and limits on granting new long-term tenancies.

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.

Rules that apply in Faversham

Land with no planning permission can still be sold. Around Faversham, the usual routes in England are a direct sale, an option agreement or a promotion agreement, where the planning work is funded for you and the land is sold once consent is granted. Outline planning permission settles the principle, with reserved matters approved later. Section 106 obligations, the Community Infrastructure Levy where charged and biodiversity net gain all affect what a site is worth, so independent advice matters.

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.

Key rules in Faversham
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Questions about Land Option Agreements in Faversham

What is the difference between an option and a promotion agreement?

Under an option, the developer buys the land itself at a formula price, so it benefits from a lower valuation. Under a promotion agreement, the promoter sells the land on the open market with you and takes a fee from the proceeds, so both sides want the highest price. Our guide compares the two in detail.

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 long do land option agreements last?

The term is negotiated and depends on how much planning work is needed. Strategic sites waiting for a new local plan usually need longer terms than small sites with clear policy support. Look for a firm longstop date and sensible limits on any extensions, so the land cannot be tied up indefinitely.

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.

Is Faversham an area you cover for land?

Yes, we cover land in Faversham and elsewhere in Kent, including Deal, Canterbury and Ashford (Kent). Where a site suits us we can buy it directly, or set up an option or promotion agreement. On promotion there is nothing to pay upfront.

Read more: Land Option Agreements · Guide: Section 106 and affordable housing: what landowners should know

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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