The concept of designing and building your own home is becoming increasingly popular. With the introduction of the Self-Build Register in April 2016, it is also becoming easier to do. The Self-Build Register was introduced so local authorities across England could keep the details of everyone interested in a self-build home. They are then obliged to keep them informed of any suitable land that might become available in the area they are interested in. The aim is to create more opportunities for self builds across the country. Once you have got yourself on the register, there are some crucial things to consider when looking at purchasing land for your potential new home.
Restrictions and Planning Permission
When looking at a site, whether or not there are any restrictions on the area or whether planning permission will be hard to obtain should be first on your list of things to look at. It might be the case that the land already comes with planning permission in place for a certain house build. If you are happy to proceed with the plans already in place, then there’s not much to worry about.
However, if there are not already plans in place or you want to design your own home from scratch, then obtaining planning permission is going to be a must. It doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds but be aware of certain restrictions that may prevent you from obtaining planning permission. Finding out if any nearby planned developments could affect your plot is crucial. If the land is within a conservation area, on a site of a National Park or in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, then these things could hinder planning and should be considered.
Ecology and Wildlife
As well as considering the ground conditions and soil type of the plot of land, it is also important to consider the presence of trees and local wildlife. If there are trees that have a tree preservation order in force, this is something that could hinder development. It is a criminal offence to damage or destroy a protected tree. Even if there are not any trees with a preservation order, any old and established trees may also take precedence over your new home. You will also need to consider if there is visiting wildlife on the land or even the air above it!
For instance, bats are a protected species and cannot be moved. If you think bats may be present in the area or any current buildings on the plot of land, it may be the case that you have to conduct a bat survey. This article from 24housing provides insight into why you might need a bat survey and how you can get bat surveys done. You risk causing delays to the process if you go full steam ahead into asking for planning permission without providing surveys such as this and other ecological surveys.
Look for signs of any groundwater or streams nearby. They may be cause for concern if you have to consider raising foundations or installing special flood defences. Finding what nearby buildings have as their foundations can help you determine what foundations you need for your build. Make sure there are no steep slopes on the plot of land, too, as this will restrict your building options. Also, keep an eye out for Japanese Knotweed. This grows at a very fast rate and is nearly impossible to get rid of. But get rid, you must! It is an offence not to have this removed, and can lead to a fine or even a prison sentence if left to grow.
Are There Any Connecting Services?
If there are no mains services to the plot of land, such as water, gas, and electricity, then you must consider how much it would cost to connect these up. The same can be said for drainage too. Are there drains on site already? If so, are they public or private? You mustn’t forget surface water drains too. Make sure you can access a public sewer without crossing someone else’s land. Water is a great necessity, so make sure your draining and sewer pipes are intact. Working with a drain line repair company in Austin can ensure that you do not face any bigger problems in the long run, which can cost way more than having it checked.
There will be a charge to connect to mains water, electricity, and gas, so bear this in mind when considering the price of the site you are interested in. Find out if the electrical connection will be overhead or underground. There could also be a charge for connecting telephone services. Broadband is going to be a must, so see if you can ask around locally what the average broadband speeds are in the area.
How Is Access to the Site?
Finally, you should also assess the access to the plot you are looking at and determine whether or not it would be easy enough to get all the necessary vehicles and machinery to the site for carrying out your self-build. Is the land itself suitable for construction traffic, and is the road leading to the land suitable for construction traffic? You need to consider parking and turning circles for large vehicles and machinery. Is there access via a public highway? Do you need permission to go across someone else’s land to be able to get building materials to the site? Is there a ransom strip at the site? These are all important factors to be considered when viewing a potential plot of land.
In conclusion, whilst a self-build home that you have helped design yourself may seem appealing, it is important to remember all these factors above when choosing the plot of land on which your self-build home will reside. The idea of undertaking such a project may seem daunting at first, but having an architect on side can help. They will be able to talk you through such processes and decisions when choosing a plot of land for your new home.
