CLOSER LOOK: PLOTS WITH POTENTIAL

These sites are a small selection of those that have been recently assessed by Build It magazine’s land and planning expert, Mike Dade. For his latest in-depth plot investigation, turn to

This fenced-off former garden is level, clear and would provide good privacy for new housing. It currently benefits from two planning consents: one for a chalet bungalow; the other for a pair of semidetached homes. The former only has a few months left to run, so if the purchaser wanted to go for a single dwelling, they may need to get works underway (eg by digging a foundation trench) to keep the permission alive, and then apply to amend the design. FULL STORY www.self-build.co.uk/garden-site A secluded piece of woodland in West Sussex available for just £15,000. This plot’s particulars show an attractive-looking contemporary dwelling set amongst the trees and confirm it has the owner’s consent to construct a house or other buildings.

The trouble is, owner’s consent means nothing without formal planning permission – and the fact the vendor hasn’t sought this themselves, and bagged the uplift in value, suggests there’s little chance of achieving it. FULL STORY www.self-build.co.uk/woodland-bargain Two budding self builders discovered this overgrown potential infill site by searching for empty spaces in their hometown on Google Maps. It’s tucked behind high street shops, with a frontage to a side road – so it could have real potential for development. But its elevated position and retaining wall could present some challenges for any building work. Ground conditions, particularly in terms of stability, will need to be investigated and accounted for prior to making any offer.

FULL STORY www.self-build.co.uk/infill-potential