| 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.
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 Plotsearch 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.
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