How can I kickstart my dream of moving to Scotland?

We are considering moving to Scotland’s west coast to run a B&B or a self-catering annexe or log cabin. We are looking at all options: self build, purchasing a property with an annexe in place or buying a house with land to construct one. Our budget is approximately £300,000, which we would raise via the sale of one of our houses. We would then live off the proceeds of the sale of our second home, likely around £130,000, until we get established.

We have been researching, but the information available is vast – can you suggest any resources to help us work out the costs of relocating to Scotland? We want to use two rooms as a B&B or one or two self-catering units. Would this be classed as a business? We have registered with various Scottish estate agents, but what else can we do? What questions do we need to be asking?

ere are many opportunities for self build in Scotland’s beautiful west coast, with several areas working to encourage people into the area. Dumfries and Galloway, North Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute councils, in particular, are all trying to promote self-provided housing by piloting Simplified Planning Zones.

Aside from these schemes, there are still many competitively priced plots out there in some fantastic locations. ey do tend to be fairly remote – which is wonderful for peace and quiet, views and avoiding tourism, but also means that servicing and transport costs may be high. It’s also important to look at the ceiling price of properties in the area so you build a dwelling you could sell in the future if required. House prices vary widely.

I think it would be a good idea, initially, to identify the area you want to live in and then to get in touch with the relevant local authority (LA) to see if there are any council led opportunities in their jurisdictions. I can help you with this if you wish to contact me via Build It. e LA should also be able to advise if the B&B/ self catering units would be classed as a business use.

Even if there aren’t any council led schemes (these are still rare in Scotland as we do not have the Right to Build legislation) they may be able to point you in the direction of smaller local estate agents you can register with, who can keep you informed of potential sites. Of course, you should also search on Rightmove and register on databases like Plotsearch. But sometimes, having local knowledge turns out to be the key.

Financially, it might be an idea to contact Buildstore, who can advise on lending and whether or not you can remain in your house during the construction process.