Build It

Beginner's guide to finding land

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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

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