Harrogate Press Information
Building the House of Your Dreams - How to find a Plot of Land
September 2007
According to a recent survey, two-thirds of Britons would like to build their own home. Yet last year only around 20,000 of us managed it - so why are so few of us realising our dreams? The biggest problem is finding the land. "Demand out-strips supply and has done for several years," says Jason Orme, Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine. "When plots come onto the market, there is always considerable interest and the prime spots go very quickly."
Knowing how difficult it is to find a plot, the organisers of The Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show, on at Harrogate's International Centre from 9 to 11 November, have come up with some great tips to assist all those would-be self-builders ...
LOOK IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD
Before starting your search, take a look at your own back garden - could it make a suitable plot? If it backs onto another road, a new access could be created. Visit your local planning department to get an idea of what might be suitable.
LEARN WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look around your local area as you may be walking past a possible plot without realising. A steeply sloping site, tiny infill plots between buildings or sites in a sensitive area may at first glance seem unsuitable but a little imagination and a good architect could result in a unique and innovative house that meets all your needs.
DEMOLISH AND REBUILD
Buying a run-down property to demolish and rebuild may seem an expensive option but it has many advantages. Services are already on site, access should be in place and you may inherit a nice mature garden. Consult your local authority guidelines about replacing existing dwellings as some do accept a different design to the original.
VISIT PROPERTY AUCTIONS
Plots of land and conversion opportunities are often sold at auction, usually by property-owning companies, or sometimes by bankrupt businesses. Notification times before the auction are long enough to arrange finances and carry out any surveys but don't forget you have to pay the deposit immediately and the balance within a short space of time. Also consider approaching the vendor before the auction to make an offer.
MAKE FRIENDS WITH OTHER SELF-BUILDERS
There are now many self-build associations, clubs and discussion forums and, besides lots of advice, you may pick up a plot that doesn't suit one builder or meet self-builders who might be interested in plot sharing. The Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine website (www.homebuilding.co.uk) has a discussion forum and www.self-builder.org.uk is another useful place to start.
CONSIDER 'UGLY' BROWNFIELD SITES
Land which has been previously developed - for example petrol stations and electricity transformers - may not immediately seem attractive but can offer real possibilities. Planners are usually pretty keen to see these sites tidied up and would prefer a nice self-build than any current monstrosity. Do remember that plots such as these may be contaminated or difficult to develop due to existing pipes and equipment so take some advice before proceeding.
USE H.M. LAND REGISTRY AND GOOGLE EARTH
Looking at Ordnance Survey maps can help you to spot plots by showing up gaps in the street scene. They can also be a way of identifying where infill or backland development has taken place. Jump in the car and take a look - maps really are no substitute for seeing the plot yourself. If you don't know who owns the land look on the HM Land Registry website (www.landreg.gov.uk). Google Earth is a great tool for would-be developers. Use it to �fly' over your desired area to look at the size of back and side gardens.
MAKE USE OF ESTATE AGENTS
This should be the most obvious place to start. However, knowing how to deal with agents in this situation can be tricky. Some agents have arrangements with local builders or developers, so you will be at the end of the queue if something good comes up. To increase your chances, telephone and visit the office regularly for updates and make yourself known to the staff; check their adverts on the internet and in the local paper and generally do anything that stops you from being just another name on their mailing list.
ASK YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY FOR HELP
Local councils are required to keep a register of all plots measuring more than half an acre and, if you are lucky, yours might be one of the councils that also holds information on land specifically intended for self-builders. Find about more about this through English Partnership (www.englishpartnerships.co.uk). Your local council planning office publishes planning applications every week. Have a look to see if you can identify any land awaiting outline planning permission and then approach the landowner before it goes up for sale.
USE A LANDFINDING DATABASE
You could join a landfinding agency, such as Plotfinder.net (www.plotfinder.net), which holds details of over 6,000 plots or renovation opportunities at any one time. You can put in your requirements and they will keep you updated should anything become available. They will also give you a good idea of the going rate for plots in your area.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU START
Visit The Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show at Harrogate's International Centre from 9 to 11 November where you can get advice from a number of plotfinding agencies and attend free seminars and masterclasses on how to find a plot of land and build your own home. The Show also features over 170 exhibitors and 54 free seminar and masterclass sessions over the three days. Tickets are £5 in advance or £8 on the door (children under 16 go free). For more information visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk or call 0870 906 2002.
For more press information, photography or logos, please contact Shaker PR:
Jacqui Freeman
01206 322263
jacqui@shakerpr.co.uk
Karina Wallace or Philippa King
01435 884808
info@shakerpr.co.uk
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