Mike Dade shares his top tips for ensuring what looks like your ideal self-build site is the real deal

This picturesque patch of land in West Sussex was on sale at the incredibly low price of £15,000. However, it didn’t have any permission to build in place and the chances of obtaining planning looked slim. Learn more about why it would be a risky purchase at www.self-build.co.uk/planningwoodland-bargain

Finding the right plot on which to fulfil your self-building aspirations requires careful thought, preparation and a certain amount of vision. The site needs to be suitable for your intended house and vice versa. Given the uncertainties of the planning process, you’re also going to need a clear understanding of your design priorities, as compromises may need to be made. So, let’s have a look at the key planning areas you need to think about to ensure the land you buy is right.

Getting started

The most suitable plot is the one that’s going to enable you to build the house you want. That sounds simple enough, but you’ll need to be certain that you can get the planning permission you require on it. You might be lucky enough to find a site with consent for your ideal property already in place, but in practice that’s pretty unlikely.

Pinning down your budget and area of search, plus the size and type of house you’d like to construct, are essential first steps. Do also think carefully about your priorities and what areas of your project you are happy to be flexible about. Having too rigid an idea of the precise size, shape and design of your future home is likely to prove restrictive when it comes to finding a plot to suit that vision.