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Finding and buying a building plot
If you have plans to build your home yourself then one of the first things you need to do after planning your budget and finances, is to find and buy a building plot. You need to survey the plot and ensure it meets your requirements.
Finding a plot of land
Some suggestions for finding a plot of land are:
- get together with a group of other potential self builders and buy a bigger development plot
- contact developers and ask whether they have any individual plots of land they would be willing to sell
- contact the local council in case they have any plots for sale
- contact other potential land sellers - sometimes utility organisations such as water, gas and electricity companies sell surplus land
- self build shared ownership schemes from the Housing Corporation
- contact local land and estate agents
- contact specialist land finding agencies and plot developers
- look out for plots with an existing low-quality or unslightly building which could be demolished
- assess the potential of building in a large back or side garden
Do as much research as you can, for example, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) provide property market reports twice a year and there is a section on residential building land which provides information such as prices and planning policy from around the UK. Land Register Online enables you to search for the register and title plan information of registered properties in England and Wales that can be identified by an address.
Assessing a plot of land
Here are tips from the National House Building Council (NHBC) on assessing a plot of land.
Before you buy a plot of land, make sure that it holds valid outline planning permission. But remember - planning permission does not mean that building will actually be possible. Land with consent can have restrictive covenants which may limit what you can do with the land. If the site lies above mineworks or old tunnels, then building on the land might well be expensive.
Organise a site appraisal of the land. This will assess the suitability of the land for building on, and will include evidence of potential problems of previous use, such as old foundations, wells, tipping operations, and so on.
Consider buying a plot of land that already contains a run-down building and then constructing a replacement dwelling. Although the initial cost of the site might be higher than an empty plot, you may benefit from existing access to services such as highways, electricity and gas. Mains drainage and water supply may be in place, which will save you significant sums of money.
Before you begin to spend any money or employ any contractors, turn yourself into an expert. Get as much information as you can about all aspects of self building by carrying out research. The more you know, the less likely you are to slip up.
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