- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 7
- City
- Chichester
West Sussex: the planning picture
On a larger garden, the planning outcome can range from one home to several, and fixing a single price in advance would be a guess. Councils in West Sussex weigh density against the character of the street, garden sizes, parking and biodiversity net gain rules, and the answer often emerges only through pre-application advice or the application itself. A price formula linked to the permission actually granted, with a minimum underneath, shares that uncertainty fairly. It is the main reason options suit bigger plots more than small ones.
Planning authorities covering West Sussex include Adur District Council, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, Worthing Borough Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
We look at your title, the access, the planning history and the policies that apply, then tell you honestly whether an option, an outright sale or a conditional contract fits your plot best. It costs you nothing.
Heads of terms
We set out the option period, the price formula and minimum price, any option fee, our planning obligations and the cap on your reasonable legal fees, which we cover. Nothing is binding at this stage.
Sign the option
Your solicitor and ours agree the option agreement and the plan of the plot. Once it is signed, the option is noted on your title, and you carry on living in your house and using the garden as normal.
Planning work
We commission surveys, design the scheme and apply for planning, keeping you updated and showing you the drawings before submission. The council decides; if it refuses, the agreement sets out whether we revise, reapply or appeal.
Exercise or lapse
If an acceptable permission is granted, we serve notice, the price is fixed by the formula and the sale completes in the agreed time. If not, the option lapses, the entry comes off your title and the land stays yours.
Option agreement in towns across West Sussex
- Crawley
- Worthing
- Bognor Regis
- Littlehampton
- Horsham
- Haywards Heath
- Chichester
- Burgess Hill
- East Grinstead
- Shoreham-by-Sea
- Lancing
Questions about option agreement in West Sussex
Are my legal fees covered on an option in West Sussex?
Yes. We cover reasonable legal fees for your solicitor on an option agreement, up to a cap agreed in heads of terms. That lets you take proper independent advice on the agreement, which you should always do before granting an option over any part of your land.
Can I sell my house in West Sussex while an option runs on the garden?
Yes, but the option stays attached to the land it covers, and your buyer’s solicitor will see it on the title. Tell us early so the two can be handled together. The order of events can also affect Capital Gains Tax, so take advice from a tax adviser.
How is the price set under a garden plot option in West Sussex?
Usually by a formula based on the market value of the plot with the permission actually granted, less deductions agreed at the start, with a minimum price underneath. Some options use a fixed price instead. Either way, the method is written into heads of terms before anything is signed.
How long does planning take for a garden plot in West Sussex?
The council usually has eight weeks from validation to decide a small application, though extensions are often agreed, and the whole process takes longer. Surveys, design work, pre-application advice and amendments all add time, and some ecology surveys can only be done at certain times of year. We’ll give you a realistic timetable for your plot rather than a promise.