A-Z of Self Build Guides How To Find A Plot Of Land For Sale

Date Published:

02/06/2008

When a TV show like Grand Designs begins to follow a new build, believe it or not, a lot of the really difficult decisions about the direction of the build have already been made.

Before you can even begin to look at a plot you must have a clear idea in your head which of the two developmental paths you wish to take. Start by asking yourself the following questions, and use those answers to govern the types of plot you are going to look for.

The answers to these questions will inform and to some degree limit how and where you start looking for a plot on which to build you land.

With the first option you are probably going to need to avoid trying to buy a plot in an area with any great architectural heritage. A vacant plot between cutesy chocolate box-style thatched cottages is not a viable plot for a glass and metal townhouse. No matter how good you think your design is, and no matter how well you think it would look in that environment, you will never gain planning permission, or the approval of the people who will become your neighbours.

In a plot shadowed by existing vernacular, architectural compromise is your best and really only solution.

The same is true for the second option to some degree. If you require a blissful location, you may still need to curb some of your more imaginative obsessions to comfortably fit in with your surroundings. You may also have to think ahead - if a landowner is willing to sell you a portion of field with a fabulous view, who is to say they won't sell off more land in the future, possibly damaging that uninterrupted view? If location and in particular privacy is more important to you then beware of plots on the edge of popular villages that may grow around you as demand increases.