Land, plans and permission
Always remember the need to reach agreement on the method of paying fees with at the start and whether expenses will be included within the agreed fee or charged separately.
Study the local plan, and keep your eyes and ears open. Financial problems, post Covid, could see businesses of all kinds, charitable organisations and trusts looking to raise funds by selling off land.
If you are planning to build, extend or convert in a conservation area, National Scenic Area, or Site of Special Scientific Interest, then extra consent must be applied for.
Get plotting!
Location, location, location is what they say but the formula for self-build should be location + affordability + feasibility = dream home. You have seen a plot in the right location but can you afford it? Does it need remedial work laying land drains or waste removal or excavating through thick rock before work can begin? How feasible is installing utilities; mains water, drains and National Grid or private supply, septic tank or self-generation. How strong are the broadband and mobile signals? How remote is the plot and ease of access, as these can also ramp up the build-price. What can you build there? Scotland’s planning laws are strict about designs in historic conservation areas and sites of environmental and landscape importance.
The importance of an architect
Be it land, plans or permissions, an architect is not just about design; they are one of your keys to success. They negotiate planning permissions and building warrants with ease; know the best and latest methods of insulating and heating and have far better contacts within in the building industry than you could ever hope to achieve. Architects’ fees are part of your house building project’s overall cost and are traditionally calculated in one of three ways.
• Percentage is based on the total
construction costs in the building contract.
• Lump sum fees are best when the
project can be clearly defined right from the start and has no surprises for either side.
• Time charged is the flip-side of that
coin and best where the amount of work cannot ‘reasonably’ be seen; an agreed upper limit is needed.
Perfect planning
Planning permission is needed for a new build or a major physical change to an existing property or a change of use from industrial, agricultural, commercial or retail to domestic.
Pre-application advice is available from your council’s planning officers; always talk to your local council first.
You might not need planning permission; there are also householder permitted development rights for smaller alterations to properties. So much can be done within this legislation – another reason why you should talk to the planners first.
Today’s planning system has an online service which is available around the clock for both professionals and members of the public alike, run by the Scottish Government in partnership with councils and planning authorities. You can do it all on the eDevelopment.scot website.