Planning expert Julia Riddle explains how to assess whether a plot can still be a viable prospect for development, even if it doesn’t have an existing planning approval

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Every self builder can imagine the scenario: you’ve seen a plot in what seems to be the perfect place – rural, sheltered, idyllic. It looks like great value for money, with a catch. It doesn’t have planning permission. But does this make it a complete non-starter? Or are there circumstances where a plot without planning consent is a perfectly reasonable prospect?

There are some things to look out for which might help to guide you as to whether a site without planning might be a viable opportunity. Here, I’ll run through how to tell if the land has potential and some red flags which might mean you’re better off steering clear.

Check the planning history

First, establish whether any planning applications have previously been made on the plot. This can usually be done fairly easily through an online search of the relevant local authority’s planning history. It can be trickier to track down this information if the site doesn’t have an existing address or postcode, but in this case contact the council and see if they can offer a map search.