Finding the Perfect Self-Build Plot

Finding a plot for your dream home is not easy if you aren’t a property professional and when you do find a possible plot its easy to make costly mistakes and take un-calculated risks if you haven’t consulted with a planning professional first. Common risks can include land without planning permission, land in a flood risk zone, land with difficult access and land with planning permission but not for the dream home you want. Firstly, it’s unlikely you will find that ‘perfect’ plot but, with some compromises and clever design, it could be the perfect plot for you. Research is key, and the more avenues you pursue, the more likely you are to find the plot that works for you. Assuming you have narrowed down the location for where you want to build your dream home, there are generally two options for siting a new house: either you are lucky enough to find a ‘virgin’ undeveloped plot that has a chance of gaining planning permission or you find an existing house or agricultural building that can be demolished and replaced. 

An undeveloped plot

Undeveloped plots are not easy to come by and require perseverance, good timing and good fortune. It's worth talking to local estate agents as they may possibly have a building plot on their books. Although it’s true they usually pass undeveloped plot opportunities on to local developers who they have a relationship with, the plot may not be suitable for a developer so could be marketed alongside their other properties.

If time is on your side, it could be advantageous to develop relationships with estate agents and put yourself at the top of their priority list when land does come up. 

Land databases such as Plotsearch are a good resource that could yield a lead to a potential plot as are land auctions which are a speedy way to secure a plot, but you will need your finance in place before the bidding starts. 

Another avenue worth exploring is the Right to Build legislation which places a legal duty on local councils in England to make plots available for people wishing to build their own homes. There can be a lengthy wait for an opportunity and it may not end up being the exact type of plot you want.

Building on a garden plot could be the ideal solution if you have a sizeable garden or intend buying a property with a sizeable garden. Usually this is only an option in urban or suburban areas and doesn’t often present itself as an option in more rural settings. The huge benefit of building on a garden plot is that you’ll have somewhere to live during the project, you can oversee the build easily and there will be utilities on the site you can connect to.

Generally the benefit of an undeveloped plot is lower cost. With an empty plot you will only be paying for the land, however you will need to factor-in the cost of bringing utilities onto the plot and, depending on accessibility, this could represent a sizeable portion of the build cost.

A replacement dwelling

With the limited availability of undeveloped plots and their high asking prices you may want to consider buying an existing detached property in your ideal location to knock down and rebuild. More and more homeowners are turning to this option which may be more expensive than buying a vacant build plot, but offers many benefits that may outweigh that extra cost. Although not an obvious choice, buying an existing house to replace with your new dream home will give you far more opportunity to find the ideal location and any financial drawbacks can be overcome by clever design and by maximising the potential of the site with a bigger building footprint for instance.

The main advantages of replacing an existing property are that you’ll have far more choice of location, the utilities will already be on site to connect to and often planning approval will be easier and quicker to achieve.

Experience and reliable advice

Over the years we have helped many clients wanting a new build home and have designed dream homes for undeveloped plots, garden plots and replacement dwellings. Every plot and every design has been different but one thing that they all have in common is our dedication to maximising the potential of the plot, achieving planning permission and delivering a home that is healthy, comfortable and energy efficient.

If you’ve found a potential plot or a property you want to demolish and replace, and you’d like to discuss your thoughts with us, we’ll be happy to give you our advice and opinion before you commit to a purchase.

To ask for advice please contact us at: info@koruarchitects.co.uk or call us on: 01273 204065

You can find the third chapter of our guide here: 'Finding Somewhere To Build Your Dream Home'