Beginner's guide to finding land
Tracking down the right plot for your project is a little more complex than purchasing an existing house. The good news is over 13,000 people manage to find land and build every year – but if you want the best chance of identifying a viable site, it’s worth getting to grips with the process first. Here’s what you need to know.
LAND FINDING ROUTES
Few self builders simply stumble on a great plot by chance and end up building on it. Identifying the right opportunity can take considerable time and effort, so it pays to adopt a multipronged approach. So what are the best land hunting routes?
Use your contacts Tell your friends and co-workers that you are looking for a plot. They may have heard of someone selling in your preferred area, for instance, or even have a large garden they’d be willing to split at the right price.
Go exploring Walk around the locale to identify potential opportunities such as empty land between houses, garden plots or disused garages. If you spot a site you think has scope to build on, approach the owner and let them know you are interested. If the owner isn’t obvious and you can’t find out via the Land Registry, try speaking to the neighbour.
Talk to locals Head to pubs and shops in the area you’re considering to meet residents, as they may be able to tell you about opportunities not yet listed. Professionals such as architects, building surveyors or planning consultants in the region may be a useful source of leads, too – and you might want to use their services further down the line.
Speak to business owners Local farmers, breweries, universities and other organisations may have surplus land they want to sell (or would consider selling). Many do so via estate agents, but there’s no harm approaching them directly.
Sign up for your Right to Build Councils are now obliged to maintain official self build registers, thanks to the government’s Right to Build legislation. You can record your interest in obtaining a plot and state the type of project you are keen to pursue. If 200 people sign up, the council is then supposed to permission 200 viable sites within a three-year period. You aren’t guaranteed land, but the legislation should see the availability of build-ready plots improve dramatically. FURTHER READING www.self-build.co.uk/right-to-build
Visit the council’s website Local authorities list current planning applications online, usually under the ‘planning’ or ‘housing’ sections – with details of the scheme, who has applied and when. If you find a likely-looking opportunity and can get in touch with the owner before they get consent, you’ll be in a strong position to secure a purchase.
Use plot finding databases Buildstore’s Plotsearch (www.plotsearch.co.uk) lists thousands of sites with planning consent across the UK. Happily, it’s also free to use. As well
Bespoke homes can be constructed on a range of sites, and knowing about the opportunities can help you spot land with potential for your project. Here are some of the key options:
Brownfield sites This is basically previously-developed land that is or once was occupied by a permanent structure. Government policy supports the provision of new housing in such locations, so councils tend to look favourably on plans that have the potential to improve these plots. Plus, on a practical level, services are likely to be in place already.
Demolish & replace A type of brownfield opportunity where you could knock down an existing building, such as an old bungalow or former nonresidential structure, and construct a new (usually bigger and more attractive) home in its place. It’s often more cost-effective than tackling a renovation, as VAT can be reclaimed on a new build project.
Infill plots There’s no formal definition of this type of site, but many councils take it to mean a small gap between an otherwise built-up frontage or group of houses. Infilling is usually allowed within settlements’ development boundaries – and sometimes outside of these. Gaining consent will be more difficult in zones such as conservation areas.
Gardens Contrary to the ‘backland development’ and ‘garden-grabbing’ headlines of a few years ago, planners still allow schemes on garden plots – especially in places that are considered to be built-up. You may even be lucky enough to have a large space that could work as a viable site already; or know a friend who is willing to negotiate a fair price.
Edge-of-settlement Depending on the maps marked out in the relevant council’s Local Plan, this kind of site might fall within existing built-up area boundaries or it might not. Generally, policies will allow development within this zone – but control it very strictly outside. This undeveloped land is known as greenfield, and will typically only offer housing to serve the needs of agriculture, replacement dwellings and some infill.
Serviced plots A fairly new option on the market, this term refers to land that’s ready to build on – with utilities, highway access and possibly other infrastructure already in place, as well as at least outline planning consent. This route offers the benefit of more certainty over early-stage costs. FURTHER READING www.self-build.co.uk/serviced-plots