Buying land to build on uk: Building your own home in the UK; Part 1, buying the land

Building your own home in the UK; Part 1, buying the land

Written By
Christopher Nye
on ·
18th June 2019
· Article, Buying, Property

In Part One of our Build Your Own Home series, we’re looking at buying land to build in the UK, what you need from a dream plot and where to find the professionals necessary to make a success of your build.

Did the latest series of Grand Designs: The Street ignite a spark inside to don a hard hat and a fluorescent waistcoat and build your own house? It’s certainly a wonderful idea – building a dream home, to your very own specifications. However, before you can get to work sketching out designs on napkins and working out where to put walk-in wardrobes and a personal library, it’s important to understand the steps involved if you want to buy land to build on in the UK.

Where will you find a plot to build in the UK?

Am I allowed to buy land in the UK?

The first question is the easiest to answer. You certainly are. Anyone can buy land to build on in the UK; you are not required to have UK citizenship to buy land here. However, getting permission to build on it is another matter. Overseas buyers may have the right to buy land, but land with planning permission to build can be hard to find. Do not buy land for building without having a very good lawyer in your corner.

Where do I find the land?

Begin your search for a plot on the internet via land sale portals. We would always recommend Rightmove, who have thousands of buildable plots available. Occasionally they feature vacant plots, but often the plots the auction houses sell will require demolition of current properties.

Additionally, contact estate agents in your chosen area, they will know about all the best plots on the market. Local architects and surveyors can also be a handy resource as they find out about plots for sale long before everyone else.

Furthermore, you can choose to adopt a more proactive approach to finding your perfect plot. Visit the area and have a look around – are there any sites with potential? How about if you were to knock down an existing property? Get chatting to locals – they might know where there is land for sale, who owns it, or who might be tempted to sell off some of their own.

Always contact your local council. They are a hugely valuable resource as every council in the UK publishes details of planning applications within their constituency. Those who are applying for planning permission aren’t necessarily applying for themselves. Many will be using their expertise in planning to find the plots to sell on to experts in building.

Who can help turn my dream to reality?

An estate agent registered with the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) should follow all industry standards. Likewise, your chartered surveyor – who you must employ to establish whether the land is fit to build on – should be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Check out their handy search portal.

You will also need an architect and a builder (unless you have the skills to complete the job yourself). Any architect you choose should be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and any builder should be listed with the Federation of Master Builders or the National Federation of Builders (NFB).

Before making any decisions about who to employ, source quotes for the required work from at least three different professionals. We know it’s easy to get carried away and just go with the first, but it really is worth shopping around. This will guarantee you secure a competitive price and it gives you a chance to see how well you gel with them. You will be working very closely – it’s important that you like them and approve of how they communicate.

When deciding on an architect and a builder, ask to see examples of their work and to speak to past customers. Anyone really good should have a hearty bank of satisfied customers happy to show you their homes. Also, it’s worth doing a little due diligence online before you sign on the dotted line. Read online reviews and ask around.

Is there a self-build community in the UK?

In 2016 Right to Build legislation was passed stating that councils have a duty to grant planning permission for enough plots to meet the demand outlined on their Right to Build registers. Since this law was passed, 33,000 have signed up. So yes, people are very interested in self-build and custom build. A number of online communities have popped up to share knowledge and to offer the support needed to those wanting to build their own home in the UK.

Build It is a popular resource – a great magazine and informative website. Also, check out Homebuilding & Renovating and Self-Build Portal – which is run by the folks at the National Custom & Self-Build Association (NaCSBA). Check out the Community Self Build Agency and the Local Self-Build Register – a service that connects self and custom builders with local authorities.

Taking shape: your home in the UK

Planning permission

You will need to be familiar with the types of plots available. Some plots are sold with planning permission in place. This may just be “outline” planning permission, which still requires you to finalise the details with your local planning authority. If planning permission isn’t in place, find the local planning officer – easy to find via the local council website  – and ask them how easy it will be to obtain.

The simple rules to follow with planning officials is, firstly, to remember that they are public servants whose job is to help you and to protect the environment and the public. They work within a legal framework and are not, unlike in some countries, able to be bribed!

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t persuade them to your way of thinking or present a legal argument that they may not have considered. So with any planning matter it can be sensible to employ a specialist in planning on your side. Just search for local planning consultants online or ask around locally.

Greenfield vs brownfield

Not all plots are in the countryside. Development land divides between “greenfield” and “brownfield” sites. Greenfield has never been built on before. Brownfield sites have been built on, or currently have buildings on them.

Getting planning permission for greenfield sites can be well-nigh impossible in certain areas. For example, most cities and towns have a “green belt” – a surrounding of open fields where building is legally prevented to avoid “urban sprawl”.

Brownfield sites might be previously industrial and require specialist clean up. Greenfield sites may have trees that cannot be removed whatever you want to build there.

Restrictions and easements

Some plots will allow building, but most will have restrictions, covenants and easements that affect what you can build and where. For example, planners will want new buildings to fit the local building style. Check restrictions on height, materials, which way the property must face etc. It’s important to establish that the plot you’re buying will meet your needs and will come within your budget.

A good independent solicitor will check all this for you. They will also check for “easements”.  For example, check access and rights of way. How you will access the plot once the property is built? The last thing you want is to be lumped with a “ransom-strip” where you have to pay a neighbour to use their land to access your property.

Also, you must check that there isn’t any endangered wildlife living on your plot. If someone doesn’t want you to build on that plot, they will certainly be looking for rare wildlife to persuade the council to prevent you building.

The same goes for ancient woodland, which is judged to be anything that was wooded by 1600.

Fit to build on?

Employ a chartered surveyor to inspect the plot. They will be able to establish what category the ground is and whether it’s fit to build on. They will also check for the risk of flooding, pollution and subsidence. Just because a plot looks flat, doesn’t mean it will be an easy build.

How much will it cost?

The cost of a plot varies depending on size and location. Browse land sales website to get a feel for the going rate. When establishing your budget, set aside the cost of the plot plus legal fees and Stamp Duty. Additionally, before you buy the plot you must employ a surveyor, which typically costs £350 upwards. Legal fees will fall between £500-1000, and if you need to apply for planning permission, the cost is around £500, but can vary. Use this online calculator to get an estimate.

To find out how much it’s likely to cost to self-build the property itself, you can use this handy cost calculator from Build It. This article breaks down the costs of building your own home in detail. Do bear in mind that with projects of this nature, things rarely go without a hitch. And where there’s hitches, there’s unexpected costs. Homebuilding & Renovating recommend setting aside 10-15% of your total build budget to cover unexpected costs.

Finding a plot – Build It

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Start Your Project

Follow our guide to the basics of tracking down the right plot for your self build project

by Build It magazine

14th September 2020

Around 13,000 people successfully self build every year, so clearly the building plots are out there. However, unlike the normal housing market, individual building plots are not so obvious to find – you have to work that much harder to secure a good one.

How to find a building plot

In some cases, it can take years to find a plot – especially if you’re particular about elements such as size and the amount of work you’re willing to take on.

Learn more: Expert Plot Finding Articles 

But be prepared to revise your goals if your search isn’t going well. Flexibility, combined with the ability to focus your time and energy on the hunt, will give you the best chance of success.

Choose an area to buy property

A common mistake made when plot hunting is searching over too wide an area. If you don’t focus your search to a specific and manageable geographic location, don’t be surprised if the sheer scale of the task overwhelms you. It’s better by far to pick the area you want to be in and then blitz it.

Explore your preferred area

Drive or even better walk around your selected towns and villages looking for potential building plots. These could be infill sites, side gardens or disused garage blocks, but all may have potential.

Talk to locals

Knock on owners’ doors and enquire – or write them a letter introducing yourself as a potential purchaser. You just might find someone who hadn’t realised they were sitting on a potential source of revenue.

Ask the local council

Keep an eye on planning applications in your target region, too. Local authorities publish a register of these on their websites. It could be that the applicants are looking not to build, but to sell the plot on.

Write to the applicants and ask if they are interested in selling to you. If you are lucky you might just get a letter back inviting you to discuss the matter further.

Key plot finding routes

1 The internet

The web is one of the best sources of viable building plots. Websites such as Plotsearch feature thousands of land listings. General property-hunting portals such as Rightmove also allow you to refine your search to ‘land’ only.

2 Estate & land agents

Registering your interest with estate agents (especially independents) in the area you’re keen on remains an effective approach. Get in touch with local surveyors and architects too, as they’ll find out about new plots early.

3 Property auctions

Plots suitable for single houses are regularly sold at auction (often as demolition and rebuilds). Well-known online auction houses include Allsop and Savills.

4 Personal approach

Exploring the area you’re interested in gives you a chance to spot potential plots as well as get a better sense of what’s available. Get the locals on board and let them know you’re keen to join the community, too – the best plots are often snagged before they make it to the open market, so word-of-mouth is a powerful ally.

5 The Right to Build

The Right to Build is a game-changing piece of legislation that means councils in England have a duty to grant planning permission on enough serviced building plots to meet the demand indicated on their Right to Build registers.

6 Serviced plots

In recent years, thousands of sites suitable for one-off homes have become available across the UK via the new custom build route.

This is where a specialist developer, council or landowner enables the creation of individual homes – usually by providing building plots with services (eg electricity, water and drainage) and planning consent in place.

This takes a lot of the time and risk out of the process for self-builders, as you know you’re dealing with a viable site.

Graven Hill is a new development for self builders and sells serviced plots in Bicester.

FOLLOW A GRAVENHILL SELF BUILD

An aerial image of the Graven Hill site

What are the main barriers?

Plots are relatively scarce in the UK, due partly to an abundance of protected areas compared to other European countries. Currently 90 per cent of land in England can’t be built on, though the National Custom & Self Build Association’s efforts to secure the Right to Build is helping to ensure the release of more sites for self-builders.

Planning policies restrict most schemes to development boundaries around existing settlements. The government is trying to relax this under its Localism Bill, but building new houses (as opposed to replacement or conversion) in greenfield areas is still difficult.

New plots, then, tend to be within these development boundaries. But in high-demand areas the obvious sites have been picked clean by developers.

The plots that remain are often brownfield sites – meaning it’s land that has been previously developed – and it’s here that the most opportunities will lie.

How much does a building plot cost?

Your plot will be the biggest single purchase you make for your project.

In the past, the final value of a self build house could be roughly split into thirds – one third plot cost, one third build cost and the final third profit.

But in areas where plots are rare and prices higher, land may account for more like 50% of the total value of the completed house.

Although you will be looking for the perfect plot to go with your perfect house, you need to be realistic about what you can obtain within your budget.

The perfect plot, if such a thing even exists, is going to be both elusive and expensive. So, for the vast majority of people some form of compromise must be called for.

The perfect plot may not exist and you’ll likely have to make compromises

The trick is to see past what is there and spot the potential in the site. What looks like a tangled mess of brambles and rubbish at first glance can become a very nice plot after a few hours of work with a JCB.

If you can realistically change what you don’t like then do so, but if the compromise needed is too much to bear, then move on to the next plot.

What are the main types of self build plot?

1 Brownfield land

The government focuses much new housing on brownfield sites (previously developed land), so local councils should look favourably on plans for these plots. Services are likely to be already in place, too. However, you’ll need to apply for a change of use, and design restrictions may be imposed, such as maintaining the previous building’s footprint.

Brownfield sites are usually relatively affordable upfront, but you may need to factor in costs for a buy to demolish project. New legislation also requires councils to keep Brownfield Registers and use these to identify potential plots.

2 Greenfield land

This term refers to land that’s not been built on before – whether open countryside, gaps in rural areas, on the outskirts of villages or between existing houses.

It’s not impossible to gain planning permission to build on a greenfield site, but there’s a distinction when it comes to fiercely-protected ‘green belt’. Opportunities for an entirely new home in green belt are rare – you’re more likely to be granted permission for an extension or buy to demolish scheme.

3 Garden plots

The coalition government has amended the definition of brownfield land to exclude domestic gardens. Nevertheless, Planning Policy Statement PPS3: Housing still advises that ‘options for accommodating new housing growth may include additional housing in established residential areas’.

So infilling and small scale development on gardens is still possible, and one-off houses are likely to be preferred over compact development – so self-builders contemplating this approach can breathe a sigh of relief!

4 Buy to demolish

Popular because it’s usually cheaper than renovating an existing property in spite of the fact that demolition fees can run into £10,000s. You’re less likely to encounter hidden costs by knocking down and starting afresh, and VAT is reclaimable on new-builds but not refurbs.

You’ll generate a lot of waste by demolishing an existing property, but you could sell on salvageable materials such as bricks or even re-use them yourself. You may only be allowed to build to the same height and footprint as the previous building.

5 Designated areas

Self building in locations with special designations – such as conservation areas – is subject to strict controls. You’re very unlikely to be granted planning permission for a new house, or even a demolish and rebuild, in these cases. Renovation opportunities are a better bet, but you’ll find that permitted development rights are often severely restricted.

Plots with planning permission

Land is available with one of two types of planning consent in place – outline planning permission (OPP) or detailed planning permission (DPP). The former is consent in principal for development to occur, leaving some or all of the particulars to be established in a later application for DPP (you must apply for this within three years of OPP being given).

But don’t dismiss a plot just because the permitted design doesn’t suit you. Even if DPP is already in place, you can submit a new application for a different design without revoking the existing permission – so you don’t necessarily have to stick to a plan that doesn’t suit you.

Because of their scarcity, building plots are notoriously expensive and the cost differential between land with and without planning can be huge.

Buying a plot without planning permission

You should never buy land that’s being marketed without planning permission. So, resist the temptation to buy a cheap plot of land on the basis that ‘it will get planning one day’.

What you can do is make an offer subject to achieving satisfactory planning permission (and any other required consents) for a design you’re happy with. But if you sense that you won’t get them, walk away.

How to Assess a Building Plot

Ask yourself the simple question as to why outline planning has not already been obtained if it’s a feasible plot. It costs just £335 to apply for outline planning permisison, and can turn a relatively inexpensive field into a plot worth possibly several hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Photography

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Published

14th September 2020

where to look, how to assess plots for suitability.

Buying land to self build ain’t easy. We hope to make it easier with tips on where to look for land, how to assess plots for suitability, the pitfalls to watch out for and the importance of doing your research before you buy.

 

In the UK, spare land is scarce. We are a relatively densely populated nation and planning constraints mean that good plots are hard to come by. If a juicy plot comes on the market, you can be sure that it will carry a hefty price tag and attract considerable competition.

Don’t be disheartened though. If it’s really what you want to do then you need to stay focused, be patient and keep your eyes peeled!

 

Your Plot Criteria

Before you begin, you should consider the essential criteria for your building plot and tailor your search accordingly. It’s pointless casting the net too wide and searching a 50 mile radius if you’re already happy where you live now.

If you don’t want to leave the town you live in then you may need to have realistic expectations about the number of plots that may become available, the competition you might face for them and how much they’ll cost.

If you are flexible and willing to move anywhere (within reason!) you will have the advantage of a larger choice of plots and a greater range of prices.

Organising Your Information

Your search will generate a considerable amount of information and setting up a spreadsheet before getting started makes it much easier to keep on top of it all. It not only keeps things organised but also allows you to revisit and compare plot information quickly and easily. Use colour to highlight plots that have been ruled out/sold or made it onto your shortlist. It’s useful to leave them in there rather than delete them completely in case they fall through and come back on the market.

You could include the following columns:

• Plot name.
• Address.
• Date found/on the market.
• Size.
• Description.
• Planning permission status.
• Selling agent and their contact details.
• Links to the property details (Cut and Paste the URL into your spreadsheet. The details are then just a click away).
• Links to Google Maps of the location.
• Other notes.

Finding Potential Plots of Land for Your Self Build

If you want to buy land to self build, exploring all possible avenues with give you the best chance of success. Let’s have a look at a few of the mainstream options and a couple of other ways to get your hands on a good building plot:

Estate Agents’ Land Listings

The obvious place to look for property…

Online property websites like Rightmove, OnTheMarket, PrimeLocation and Zoopla carry listings from most estate agents.  Select ‘Land’ in their ‘property type’ filter to return relevant results. You can even sign up for an account and select specific search areas and criteria as well as opting in to receive e-mail alerts of any new listings that meet your needs.

As well as searching online, pop in to local estate agent offices in your search area to let them know what you are looking for, what your plans are and that you are keen.

Good plots are rare and there will be competition. The early bird catches the worm, so if you’ve built a relationship and can get a ‘heads up’ when a new plot is coming onto the market, you can start doing your research and be ready to pounce!

Property Marketplaces

There are other property marketplace options like TheHouseShop where sellers can list directly, removing the need for agents and saving on fees in the process. As a result, they are often filled with listings that you probably won’t find anywhere else. There may be a slight cost saving or room for negotiation due to the seller saving on fees.

Plot Search Databases

There are some great building plot databases designed with self builders in mind. A subscription gains you access to their information and you can sign up to alerts of new listings meeting your criteria.

The following are worth a look:

Plotsearch by Buildstore.

PlotBrowser by Self Build & Design Magazine.

Plotfinder by Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine.

Could You Already Have a Building Plot Right on Your Doorstep?

Where better to start searching for a plot than on your own doorstep?

There are a lot factors at play here: location, space, surrounding area, transport links, your local council’s Local Plan and Land Supply.

First stop… Local council planning website. See what their Local Plan says, what the situation with land supply is and have a look on the Unitary Development Plan map to find out the designations at and around you. Once you’ve got your head around it, you could give them a call to discuss your ideas.

If you are able to build in your garden and can arrange the finance, you could even stay in your current house while you build the new one.

Word of Mouth

Finding a plot privately is also a good option. Friends, neighbours or local landowners might have a piece of suitable land and welcome the additional income from selling it.

If you plan to stay in the same area, ask around and let people know that you are looking to buy land.

Get online and use your social networks to put the feelers out and you could even go ‘old school’ for potential sellers who aren’t connected and put an advert in the local paper.

If you are looking for a plot in a new area, spend a bit of time in the local pub (It’s not all hard graft you know;)), post office etc. and drop it into conversation. It’ll give a bit more insight into the area and if you do end up moving there you’ll even get a headstart on getting to know the local community! You never know what might come up.

Keep your eyes open and ask around but be sure to be confident of your planning permission situation before you buy.

Buy Land at Auction

Auctions are a good place to buy land. You need to do all your research and legal checks in advance and be fully prepared for the auction. The rap of the gavel signifies the sale of the plot, is legally binding and requires the immediate payment of a deposit, usually 10% of the final bid. Get Googling for local property auctions and browse the upcoming lots.

Builders’ Land Banks

Local builders often subsidise their contracting work with small developments. They will pick up pieces of land here and there and when times are hard they will offload some of their plots to sustain cash flow.

Keep your eyes and ears open and remember that asking the question never hurts. Selling privately to you may even save them precious time and agent’s or auction fees.

Local Authorities and Utilities Companies

Local Authority and Utility companies sell off unwanted land at auction. They do have estate management and again we believe in the ‘don’t ask don’t get’ approach so it’s always worth seeing whether they have any plots available that might be suitable.

Developer Plots

Developers will often buy a large parcel of land, divide it into plots, obtain planning permission, build some houses, sell some houses and sell some of the plots on to self builders. The benefit of these is that you will probably buy land that has some degree of planning permission and maybe even access and services to the plot.

Remember, Leave No Stone Unturned

If you are on the hunt to buy land then stay on the lookout all the time. Leave no stone unturned and keep in mind the old adage: “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” So, beware of offers of cheap land for sale.

Self build usually conjures images of building on an empty plot but renovation and conversion are also options. You may consider looking at unusual properties for sale and converting something a little bit different to achieve your dream home. Alternatively, buying an existing house to knock down and rebuild could be a realistic possibility.

Research Before Buying Land

Having found a plot in your price range that may be suitable for your build, the next step is to research the plot and surrounding area thoroughly.

Buying a plot to self build involves a considerable financial outlay and is littered with unknown variables. You need to eliminate as many of these unknowns as possible before you buy. This will increase your chances of a successful project, within budget and resulting in the home you envisaged.

The research can begin without even leaving home. Completing an initial desktop study generates a wealth of information about the neighbourhood, the surrounding area and any geographical features. Information collected at this stage can eliminate the plot as a possibility or put it on your list for a site visit.

The site visit gives you a chance to start visualising the possibilities and assessing the potential of your plot. It is also an opportunity to fill in more of the blanks and gather good, on-site information. There are a few key things to make sure you look out for.

Following the site visit you may be getting an excited warm fuzzy feeling about your plot. You guessed it! Time for some more research. Before jumping in you need to investigate some matters in more detail:

• Assess the land price and ensure it is realistic.
• Ascertain the planning history and permission status.
• Broaden your desktop study and investigate other matters such as contaminated land, tree preservation orders, flood risks, etc.
• Depending on what you have found out about the plot ground conditions through your own research, it may be necessary to employ a specialist to investigate further. Ground conditions and excavations are one of the big (and often costly) unknowns of building your own home.

Buying Land: The Purchase

The mechanisms for purchasing a plot are fundamentally the same as those for buying a house and the same scale of stamp duty taxation applies to residential land.

Depending on the vendor and how you found the land, you could be bidding at an auction, on the telephone, negotiating through an estate agent, submitting sealed bids or buying privately.

Whichever way you are buying land, we would recommend employing the services of a good legal advisor to analyse the documents and look for any legal issues before you complete. If you are buying land at auction then you need to ensure that all the research has been completed well in advance.

We would also suggest that it is worth selecting your designer during your plot search process. He or she will be able to advise you on any issues that come up from your investigations before you commit to buying land.

Although buying land is a difficult part of the process, it can also be a lot of fun. Visiting, exploring and researching different areas can be very interesting. Houses you see along the way may even give you new inspiration for what you want in your new home.

Good Luck with the search!

Return to our Home Page from Buying Land.

A Guide to Finding and Buying Land for Sale in the UK

Whether you’re acquiring a plot of land for a self-build project to construct your own home worth the effort from scratch, land development project for relevant properties (commercial or residential), farming, or as a long-term investment in a high-value area, purchasing land for sale carries multiple benefits.

For example, with no property on the site to deal with, potential issues with foundations, electricals and plumbing are entirely eliminated, and providing the site isn’t in a volatile area, the land shouldn’t depreciate even if you don’t do anything with it for a prolonged period of time.

Also, unlike purchasing a pre-made building, you wouldn’t have to deal with making changes to existing infrastructure if the property type isn’t fit for purpose.

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Do you need a quote for ecology surveys, tree surveys or biodiversity net gain? Contact us for your free quote.

For anyone that hasn’t bought land before, the process may seem overly complicated, and even the task of searching for land to buy could look like a completely different language.

Even at this point, you may be wondering if the process of finding an opportunity to acquire land would be done using an estate agents or another form of appointed representative, or whether it takes a completely different approach.

The good news is that, in many circumstances, the land buying process is distinctly simpler than choosing to buy and sell property, and finding sale for sale is relatively easy as long as you know where to look, what you would like, and what you are looking for.

In an effort to help anyone that is currently considering buying land, this guide will provide expert guidance, as well as covering key factors in the process.

How to Find Land for Sale

When it comes to the first step of targeting rural plots of land available for sale that you could consider buying, it can be difficult to know where to start your search, even if you are fully aware of what you would like in terms of your desirable plot of land.

Prior to looking for suitable plots of land, it is important that you set out your specifications clearly, regardless of whether you are putting your trust in estate agents or another appointed representative that are looking for plots of land or properties matching your criteria, or carrying out the search independently. For example, a primary consideration would be to gauge the size, location and purpose of the plot of land you’re searching for.

Below, we offer advice on identifying cheap plots of land and list questions you will need to ask as you make the final decision.

How to Find Cheap Land

If you plan to buy land with the intention of making a clever investment and turning a profit in months or possibly even years later, it would be fair to assume that finding cheap land that holds value or the potential to grow in value would be your top priority.

As a starting point, it would be advisable to identify the area you would like to buy land in. You can then speak to estate agents and the corresponding local council, registering your interest in any available plots of land now or in the future.

By doing this, you can rendezvous with estate agents and council members that oversee the area you’re looking to buy land in, increasing your chances of beating other people to desirable plots of land for building new homes or staging other valuable developments.

Another method would be through attending an auction and attempting to obtain a plot of land that is being sold cheaply. Alternatively, you could actively invest in land that is situated in an area with a low average plot price.

With the location naturally playing a role in the decision making process, the range of price based on the area can be severely impacted, with the guide price range of specific areas of North, West, East and South England varying distinctly.

But as it would be unlikely for sites in areas with a consistently low price range to significantly grow in value, it could be more worthwhile to invest in an area that holds a higher projected value and use the site as the basis for your development project.

Choosing a plot of land may be based on personal preference, price range, the intention of the development or a suitable opportunity.

Even if it isn’t necessarily the area you would have chosen based on your original price range, if the previously rural piece of land was turned into a set of new homes, such as rented or mortgaged detached, semi-detached or terrace residential properties, for example, it could be a sensible investment due to the ongoing interest in the area.

Investing in cheap land can produce an opportunity to acquire land to turn a profit. However, it is important that you are aware of the potential shortfalls. For instance, the guide price of the plot of land will be based on location, size, potential and classification, as well as the type of land.

As such, if you are buying land for building commercial or residential properties – or with the intention of selling it via an estate agents so other people can utilise the land for these purposes – it will be more expensive than agricultural land.

Likewise, the process of preparing the land for building commercial or residential properties could be costly and time-consuming, creating a hindrance for yourself, whoever buys the land from you or, if you decide to sell the land through an appointment representative such as an estate agents or any other characters remaining within the process, whichever company or website you opt for.

How to Find Out if Land is For Sale

Although rare, some people buy land after coming across a suitable plot and enquiring about its availability. In some circumstances, it may be acceptable to speak to the owner of the land directly or simply find it by searching on the internet. However, if these methods aren’t possible or you don’t feel comfortable approaching the land owner informally, you can check the HM Land Registry.

Since 1993, the registry has held the details and information of the majority of plots of land and properties sold and registered in England and Wales, enabling would-be landowners to see the current status of land they are considering investing in.

It could be beneficial to physically pinpoint available land on a map, emphasising your options.

Where to Search for Land

More commonly, people that are looking to buy land aren’t sure of the plot they would like to purchase. But while it has often been difficult to search for available land – particularly as, unlike with buying new homes, not all estate agents provide land listings – you can actually look through every current listing within specific areas on the Addland website.

Additionally, it can be a useful hub of information for other matters on buying and selling land including free valuation advice and helpful links to support your endeavour. Simply enter in the ideal location and the maximum and minimum price range and size, and you can see all of the rural and development plots within those areas.

The results are then displayed in an accurate map of the UK, allowing you to see exactly where available plots of land are and broaden your search using specific filters if there aren’t any within the chosen area.

What Questions to Ask When Buying Land

Newcomers to buying land are likely to be unaware of the types of questions to ask both themselves and the person they’re buying the land from. In terms of the questions you ask yourself, it is crucial that you outline what exactly you would like the land for, what sort of land you require before searching for suitable plots.

When you reach a point where you are speaking to the current landowner of a desirable plot, you should keep several core questions in your mind to avoid problems further down the line.

Asking the right questions to estate agents or landowners could help you to eliminate any potential obstacles and find a suitable plot of land.

Questions to Ask the Current Landowner:

• Are septic tanks or wells present on the land?
• Are there any existing issues with the land?
• Are you selling through an appointed representative such as an estate agents or independently?
• If any existing infrastructure is on the plot, what property type is it?
• Is there a specific guide price on the land?
• Is planning permission in place?
• If planning permission is in place, is it outline consent or detailed planning permission?
• Is the land connected to electricity, sewerage and water?
• What are the access rights?
• What are the conditions of the ground?
• What minimum price would you be willing to sell for?
• Why is the owner looking to sell the land?

Process of Buying Land

Even if you have managed to find an opportunity to acquire the ideal piece of land for your development project, the process of buying it can be complicated, especially if it is something you haven’t done before.

For anyone that has registered a mortgage on a residential property in the past, the confusion and stress that naturally arises through dealing with the seller of the property you are looking to buy, the buyer of your current property and both estate agents and the bank can be overwhelming.

Although similar in many ways, the process of buying land is different to applying for a mortgage on an existing property type, and in some cases, the involvement of estate agents and other stakeholders is, if not entirely removed, significantly minimised.

You should ensure that all costs for buying land are covered, including the price of financing.

In an effort to benefit anyone that is new to buying land, the below section explains each step in thorough detail.

Land Financing

One of the concerning factors for anyone that is new to buying land is how the purchase is financed and whether the process differs from that of getting a mortgage on an existing property.

In place of a normal mortgage, you will need a land mortgage, and it does pose potential issues as, unlike a mortgage to buy properties, there won’t be a physical building to act as collateral.

Factors to Consider Before Applying for a Land Mortgage

Prior to applying for a land mortgage, you will need to account for a handful of core considerations.

Firstly, you should outline what the land purchase will entail by organising a professional survey. You can then use the registered surveyor’s report to inform the lender about boundaries, the situation in regards to electricity, sewerage and water, and other details and information such as potential restrictions and zoning.

At this point, it would be advisable to get in touch with the local planning department and enquire about any nearby developments planned for the future. If, for instance, a set of new homes within a residential estate, motorway or park were set to be built down the street in the next few years, it could affect the value of your land and how much it is worth or compromise your plans.

Another important consideration would be the intended purpose of the land and whether it could impact the cost of the land mortgage. As the purpose of the land affects the bank’s risk exposure, the deposit and interest rates will alter, making the land mortgage more expensive. For example, if a plot of land already had a building present, that would be perceived as tangible collateral.

However, if the plot of land only has a proposed construction, there are many different variables that could delay or entirely ruin the process of building new properties, making the lender far less confident. Therefore, a speculative investment on a plot of land with no specific plans for development would give the lender the least amount of confidence as there would be no collateral whatsoever.

Although it wouldn’t be impossible to have a land mortgage application accepted for any of these three situations, the cost would be far greater, with the minimum deposit for a land mortgage set at around 30%.

The deposit amount could also be significantly higher depending on the size of land and type of mortgage, and not all lenders offer a land mortgage service, so you may be limited with who you can turn to.

Land Mortgage Financing Options

In the UK, there are several options for land mortgages, with each option based on the intended purpose of the plot of land. Land mortgage types include:

Agricultural mortgage

• For farms or other forms of land utilised as rural properties for keeping animals or growing produce

Commercial mortgage

• For all forms of commercial property development, including residential housing, shops or other forms of commercial property

Self-build mortgage

• For projects that involve the development of a new property – often for residential use on self-built houses or flats for developers to create their own home, or commercial use on private company buildings – on a plot of land that is currently empty

Woodland mortgage

• For rural land that is being used as a private sanctuary or a long-term investment, either as land or to house rural properties

Alongside a suitable land mortgage, you may also be obligated to pay stamp duty land tax (SDLT).

What is Land Surveying?

Often conducted prior to a development, land surveying is the process of mapping out the shape and boundaries on a plot of land. Using specialist equipment, a qualified and registered surveyor will come to the site and run a series of tests on the land.

While there are different types of land survey, a topographical survey would be advisable as it is more extensive and uncovers details of natural and man-made features on the site.

Finding a Surveyor

You’ll need to hire a land surveyor when you’re buying or building on land so they can conduct a land survey. A land survey will be able to inform you of any potential issues or legal disputes before you buy and build. To find a surveyor you can trust, make sure you check their accreditations, reviews and the services they can offer.

Land for Sale Near Me

Assuming you’ve covered all of the factors listed above, you should be in a position where you can begin to search for available plots of land in certain locations across the UK. At this point, it would be worth noting that the average cost of land varies from region to region and country to country, potentially affecting the price you pay for land and likely profit margins further down the line.

You may decide to search for plots of land in person, online or using an estate agents that offer the flexibility to identify available plots of land as easily as you might target new homes or a commercial property.

As it is rare that estate agents with a focus on property management will offer this service or feature, however, you may be required to refer to businesses that specialise in buying and selling land. Depending on the specific development project you are planning, the cost and availability of the desirable plot of land will vary based on size and location.

As previously mentioned, if you would like help to find available plots of land in your area or any other specific area you have pinpointed in a clear and concise way, you can do this by using the Addlands land search feature and applying the relevant filters.

You can then identify suitable plots of land based on your own minimum price, maximum price and the location of your choice. Likewise, Addlands is a trusted company that offer a useful service for buying land, with helpful links and free valuation advice on their company website to remove unnecessary hassle.

A topographic survey in action

Whether you are early in the process of finding a suitable plot of land, or even if you have already acquired a plot of land, it is likely that you will need to arrange professional assessments to progress to future stages of your project.

If you would like to book a topographical survey or another applicable survey with Arbtech such as a tree survey for woodland areas or a protected species survey if you have reason to believe that animal habitats are present, contact us and we will give you a free quote based on the size of your land and development, and the types of surveys you need or would like.

Do’s and Don’ts of Buying Land In The UK

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If you are planning to build your dream house or even a getaway cabin, you’ve probably been talking about finding the perfect piece of land. You may have already begun to look, only to find that bare land is at a premium in many parts of the world, and that there are plenty available for construction that can come with severe restrictions. That doesn’t mean you’re going to have to compromise or make an impulse purchase of the next parcel that comes along. Instead, check out the next two and don’t buy land because you’re going to end up with the land you’re going to enjoy.

Do Work With An Estate Agent Who Specialises In Land & Building Lots

You are more likely to find appropriate land when you deal with an agent who focuses on buying and selling lots and acreage rather than one that specialises in existing houses or commercial property. A professional agent will keep an eye out for the right land and let you know when something new hits the market. Plus, you’ll have an expert who knows the various forms of finance available purchasing land and properties in the UK.

Don’t Overlook Cheap Home Listings That Look Like Fixer-Upper Jobs

Bare land that is ready to build on is scarce in many communities and mostly restricted to plots where only a home that resembles every other house on the same road can be constructed. Potential buyers often overlook a great source when hunting for land: cheap fixer-uppers! Such homes are often marketed for less than the value of the land on which they sit, and by demolishing the current home and constructing a new one, you might end up with a lot in a well-established neighbourhood.

DO Consider Home Prices In Surrounding Areas

Create a house of equal value to those nearby for the best long-term investment. If you build a £400,000 house in an area where the other homes are selling for less than £200,000, you will have a hard time finding a buyer if you want to sell it later. In fact, the lender does not want to fund a house in a price range that does not suit the market prices of other houses in the area if you’re set to a particular house plan, select land in a neighbourhood of homes of similar value.

DON’T Expect A Standard Loan When Buying Land

Banks and lending companies are wary of lending money for bare land and lots because they can not sell such loans on the secondary mortgage market to financial institutions such as Fannie Mae. If the bank can’t sell the loan, they can’t get their money back, which means the bank is at risk if you want to leave. In order to minimise the risk, some borrowers may request a significant down payment of up to 50% of the purchase price, but others may absolutely refuse to lend cash for bare ground. You will need cash to purchase the property, or you might be able to negotiate a deal to fund the sale, often referred to as a property contract, which means that the sale will sometimes let you pay off the land in instalment payments.

DO Investigate Restrictions On The Property Before You Purchase

The time to find out whether a piece of land comes with limitations in the form of agreements or regulations is before you make a bid. In some areas, you must own between 5 and 40 acres, before you are permitted to build a house on it. There may be easements and legal restrictions in residential projects that limit not just where you can build property, but also the size of the building. Other constraints can determine what kind of siding you may put on your house or how steep the roof must be. Covenants and laws can be somewhat restrictive, so please check with the developer or the local council to assess the severity of any snags.

DON’T Count On Having The Property Re-Categorised After You Buy It

Eager-to-build buyers also want to purchase a specific piece of land so badly; they claim they’re going to be able to deal with categorisation problems afterwards. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will get the property resettled to residential industrial or strict agricultural land after you purchase it — no matter what the current owner tells you. If the land in question is not currently categorised for your intended intent, make a bid, but make the sale contingent upon acceptance of the rezoning. That way, if your request is turned down by the local council, you would not be left with a piece of unusable property.

DO Have Environmental Testing Done On Land, Not Part Of Existing Development

In the approved construction, the developer most likely underwent environmental monitoring as part of the subdivision and plating process. It’s a different matter, though, whether you purchase property that’s rural acreage or a lot in the city that has been unused for a number of years. Soil pollution or polluted groundwater, such as that which could occur if the vacant land was once used for a petrol station or storage facility, may either prohibit you from obtaining a construction permit or pose a safety hazard for your family at a later date.

DON’T Underestimate The Cost Of Building A New Home

Unless you’re searching for a piece of prime beachfront property, the cost of land is typically the least costly component of any building project. Nationally, the median cost of constructing a new house is about £150 per square foot or about £286,000 for a 2,000-square-foot house. And that’s just the house; if you’re building on undeveloped land, you’re still going to have to make a difference in getting services to the construction site, as well as setting up a private sewage system and a private road. Such expenses – along with the expense of obtaining permits and surveys – will add another £15,000 to £75,000 to your final bill.

21 Steps to Help you Find a Plot for Your Self Build

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(Image credit: getty images)

Finding a plot for a self build boils down to putting in the work to look for it and a sprinkle of good luck. In order to find and secure a building plot, you’re up against some stiff competition — and not only from other self builders. Professional land finder, small builders and the rest of the development industry are all also searching for great build plots.  

If this is your first self build, you might not even know where to start, so we’ve pulled together 21 places to look (and those to avoid) to set you off on your self build journey. 

“None of these suggestions are a guarant­eed route to a site, although some are easier to follow than others,” says architect Julian Owen , self build expert and author of Self Build: How to design and build your own home. “For the best chance of success, try as many of them as you can manage.”

1. Keep an Open Mind

Refusing to compromise on a build plot can be a major stumbling block in your hunt for land to self build on. If you’re not willing to accept anything but the ‘dream’, you’re unlikely to find success in purchasing a plot, as these plots without fault just don’t exist in many cases. 

“If you have some very rigid requirements about where you want to live, the constraints imposed by the the available sites may dictate what type of house you will build,” explains Julian. “On the other hand, if you have a firm idea of the character of the house you want to build, then you should be more flexible regarding the location. For example, if you want to live in a classic English village, the chances of getting planning approval for an innovative, modern design are, sadly, slim. If you can compromise and match your desired build style to your dream location, you improve your chances of achieving your main goal, by widening the choice of plots.”

(MORE: 20 Tips for Plot Hunting Success)

If an existing property is in a poor state of repair, is a small property on large land or is a bungalow, the sellers may not realise the potential the land has as a building plot, as it may not be out of the question to demolish and replace on the land. 

2. Understand the Different Types of Plot Available 

When you are trying to find the perfect plot, it often helps to think outside the box. Yes, many plots come packaged as a plot with planning permission, but often pieces of land are ripe for building a home on, but not advertised as such.

It therefore helps to understand the many different types of self build plot which may be available to you, if you are willing to look that little bit harder. For example, there may be a small plot sitting behind some existing house, not visible from the street. And don’t overlook houses that are for sale that may not be what you are looking for, but could be demolished and replaced with the home of your dreams.

3. Study Maps

Using Google Maps and even Streetview is a huge boost to the armoury of the would-be self builder looking for plots. You’ll be able to identify gaps in the streetscene, small bungalows on large bits of land, and potential backland plots, all of which are ripe for redevelopment.

This oak frame self build was developed on the site of a disused garage.  (Image credit: Jeremy Phillips)

4. Get to Know the Area

At the start of your search, you need to familiarise yourself with the area, and gather as much information on it as possible. Even if you are looking in your own neighbourhood, you may be surprised by what you find out with a little research.

To be effective, you need to focus in on selected towns, villages or suburbs. If you pick too large an area at the start, your resources will be spread too thinly.

While most of us are accustomed to searching for stuff on a mobile or behind a screen, there’s actually no replacement for getting out and about when searching for land. You might think you know the area you’re searching, but it’s easy to overlook the details that could lead to you identifying a parcel of land that might be suitable to build on. 

(MORE: Genius Ways to Build on City Plots)

5. Use Specialist Search Engines for Finding a Plot

Specialist plotfinding websites are an essential part of any plot search. Because they’ve been developed with self-builders in mind, they’re very convenient and a great tool for doing market research and understanding where plots are available and at what price. A great place to start is Plotfinder , but remember, it’s very popular so if you find a good plot you’ll need to move fast to beat the competition. 

These can save you a lot of legwork, and offer a good range of sites in different areas. “They are a useful starting point, and at the very least will help you to identify those agents who are active in selling land in your target areas,” says Mark Stevenson, self build expert and MD of Potton . “They will also give you an idea of how much land is coming on to the market, and at what sort of price.”

7. Visit Planning Departments

“If anyone wishes to get planning permission approval to build on a piece of land, they must submit an application, which then becomes a matter of public records,” says architect Julian Owen. “What this means is that you can walk into any planning department and ask to see the Planning Register, in which all the applications and decisions (where they have been reached) are recorded. Many councils now publish them on their websites. “

“What you are looking for is recent applications, preferably outline (i.e. no detailed drawings), for single houses. If an approval has not come through, so much the better. A plot will not usually be advertised for sale until the planning approval has been granted, because this enhances the value, and, if someone spots it early enough, they can make an approach before many others are even aware that it is going to be for sale.”

“If you find a likely application, make a note of the applicant’s details and approach them directly; they are usually, though not always, the owners of the plot. If the application is for outline approval there is a good chance that they are planning to sell, because there is no point in getting a detailed set of plans drawn up which may be changed by a purchaser. But sometimes they may have obtained detailed approval, with a full design, probably because the planners have insisted on it.”

“Either way, there is no reason why you should not make a polite approach, either by letter or telephone. “

An end of terrace plot provided the perfect spot for this self build project.  (Image credit: Jeremy Phillips)

Despite being the most obvious professionals to go to when looking for land, not all estate agents will be able to help you. The commission to be earned on land is not as attractive as that for houses, and many agents — especially the large chains — have no interest in selling land. Local agents, or those which run property auctions, are the most likely to have something of interest on their list, and there are usually at least one or two in a given area who will be willing to help.

Unfortunately, a few less-scrupulous agents would rather sell the land to someone with whom they have an ongoing relationship, like a local builder, because, apart from oiling the wheels of their business network, they are also likely to be the agent who gets the commission on the sale of the newly built house. So don’t just leave your details with them and expect them to call you as soon as they hear of some land that may be of interest. Phone them regularly, and, if possible, visit them as well.

If you are going to sell your house and then rent while you search for a plot, try to chose one of those agents who do sell land. The aim is to try to get into that magic drawer in every agent’s office: the one with the list of ‘hot’ clients, who will get first crack at any good properties the agent is offered.

8. Ignore the Current Planning Permission 

Your dream plot may currently have planning permission for a house you would never consider building. When turning pieces of spare land into building plots, the developer will usually submit plans for the least controversial option in order to get the outline planning permission. These are often bungalows or small houses. The reality is that you may well be able to upgrade this planning approval to the kind of house you want.

9. Tell People You’re Looking for a Plot 

It might seem counter-intuitive in the highly competitive world of land buying, but tell everyone that you’re looking for a building plot. There are lots of people with land they don’t want to build on, so if they know you’re looking they might signpost a hot lead. 

Think about the places you’ve been, especially any large gardens you may have visited — they may make ideal building plots, so it might be the time to rekindle relationships with long lost family and friends!

As well as the letter drops we’ve already discussed, consider posting ads in the village shop, on notice boards or on social media. Keep it simple, play up your credentials and never look like a developer as this will put people off. It’s a good idea to offer a small finder’s fee to encourage tip-offs for anything that might lead to a purchase.

10. Consider Custom Build Schemes

In recent years custom build has emerged as a new industry that helps people to build individual homes. Custom build is very different to self build but the end product is the same: a home that you’ve had primary input into the design of. 

Where custom build differs from self build is in its delivery. Self builders find their own land, choose and commission designers and builders, and in doing so take on quite a lot of development risk. With custom build, most of these things have been prearranged by a developer or an enabler. 

Plots are serviced and have a guarantee of planning consent, and professionals are lined up waiting to work on your behalf. This all reduces the development risk for plot buyers, making custom build very attractive to anyone wanting to build their own home.

As a result of councils having obligations to maintain, including maintaining a register of people who want to build their own homes, we are now seeing councils collaborating with builders and implementing policies to make plots available. Most of these come forward in the form of custom build as part of larger developments. 

This self build home was built at Graven Hill, one of the UK’s largest self and custom build home sites.  (Image credit: Mark Lord)

We also know there are 55,000 people signed up to the Right to Build registers and the numbers are growing all the time. This means that the number of custom build sites coming to market will increase, as councils try to meet demand. For this reason, custom build should be at the top Google search for anyone looking for land.

An ideal place to start when looking for a custom build plot is The Custom Build Homes’ Plot Store . Here you’ll find custom build plots throughout the UK along with lots of support to help move your project forward.

11. Befriend Builders

Builders are not your natural allies when it comes to finding land, more your competitors. But there are some circumstances in which you might find a builder that wants to help you. Sometimes a small builder will not want the risk of developing a site, perhaps because of cash-flow problems, and may be prepared to sell you something from their ‘land bank’.

They will, however, usually add a condition that you have to use them to build the new house. This is a serious drawback, because if you agree to it before you have detailed plans and specifications you will find that the construction cost is very high, and every extra above the standard requirements may be charged at the highest possible rate.

12. Beware of Landbanking 

There are a few people prepared to exploit desperate, unworldly plot hunters and relieve them of their money, for maximum profit and minimum outlay. These companies offer what are apparently prime potential plots, for a bargain price. The catch is that there is no planning approval. It is suggested that, in the fullness of time, the land may eventually get planning approval, and you will then own a prime building plot.

The truth is usually that although the land may get approval one day, it probably never will, and you have wasted your money. If you are considering taking up one of these offers get independent advice first, regardless of how attractive it seems. Unfortunately, several of these companies will actually refuse to deal with you if you try and take independent advice as to the viability of these sites — which should be all the warning you need.

(MORE: How to Value a Building Plot)

There is a huge army of seasoned experts out looking for ‘the real thing’, backed by big money from developers who will risk significant capital to acquire the rights to future development land long before it becomes available — sometimes decades in advance. The hard truth is that these bona fide organisations are not going to sell this land to you, but will build their own housing development, because the profit is far bigger. If anyone offers you a bargain plot, unless they are a generous relative, think again.

This is now usually referred to as ‘landbanking’. There are a series of good guides around, from the Land Registry and on the FSA  website.

13. Use Professional Land Finders

If trudging the highways and byways isn’t your kind of thing, then employing a specialist land finder might be right up your street. A land finder is an individual or agent who has the skills to search for a plot on your behalf. Their services can be costly and are usually charged either as a percentage of the plot purchase price or as a monthly retainer. 

Land finders usually work in the volume housebuilding industry and focus on land with multiple plots to maximise their earnings, but there are some who offer a more personal service focused on individual plots.

Be cautious when it comes to land finders. In theory they offer a great service but in practice finding a plot that suits your individual whims, design aspirations and budget is tough. 

If you do decide to employ a land finder then there are three key things that must be agreed from the outset:

• Terms of engagement — what the service will cost and what the terms of payment are.
• Level of service — what you’re paying for. This might include land finding, land appraisal and managing the purchase.
• What they should look for — a detailed scope of what you want to build, your budget, and the type of location you want.

Remember, there’s no guarantee of success when looking for a plot, so avoid non-specific agreements, particularly those that require monthly fees paid monthly on direct debit!

14. Look at Asset Disposal Websites

This property was once a derelict commercial building before conversion to a modern home.   (Image credit: Andrew Lee)

When we think of finding a building plot we immediately turn to using websites such as Plotfinder, Rightmove and Zoopla. While these are all great tools and cover most of the market, there are other websites that are less well known and may yield a plot with a little less competition.

A good example of this is the Government’s portal for asset disposal . A simple postcode search will identify properties the government is selling, some of which may be suitable for self building. There’s lots of assets that won’t be suitable, such as hospital buildings or large office buildings, but occasionally something appears that might be ideal — such as a disused ambulance station we found online. It was located in a residential area and between two housing developments so consent to replace it with a self build home should be fairly straightforward.

15. Search the Council’s Brownfield Register

In 2017, The Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations were introduced. These regulations require local authorities to prepare and maintain registers of brownfield sites that are suitable for residential development.

There are a few caveats for sites to be included on the register: they must be 0.25ha in size or support five dwellings or more; they must be suitable in planning terms for residential development and they must be available and achievable. The register is displayed in two parts:

• Part 1 is a comprehensive list of all brownfield sites
• Part 2 lists those brownfield sites that have been granted permission in principle.

The register is a really useful tool for self builders, particularly those who are working as a group and considering larger sites with multiple plots. It offers an opportunity to identify likely sites before they’ve hit the market and it facilitates communication with local councils, who may be interested in helping people signed up to their Right to Build registers to find sites suitable for self-building.

Finding out what’s available in your area is as simple as putting ‘brownfield register’ plus the name of the relevant local authority into your search engine.

16. Use Self Build Companies and Architects 

There are a few companies, some connected to kit suppliers or builders, who buy up larger sites, split them into individual properties, and sell them on to self builders. 

Check whether you are tied into using a particular firm if you buy a plot. If this is the only way you can get a site in the right area, make sure that you get independent expert advice before signing on the dotted line.

A kit supplier like Border Oak buys larger sites to split up for potential self builders.  (Image credit: Jeremy Phillips c/o Border Oak)

17. Study the Local Plan

Local authority planning departments, in association with national government and county councils, prepare maps and plans of their area that identify which locations are suitable for new development, and the rules that will be used to govern infill sites. This information is published in the form of the Local Plan. It is a useful document, giving the background to planning policy, and can be browsed at the reception of the planning department. 

At any given time, a revision of the Local Plan is usually in progress and, if it is going to replace the existing one fairly soon, it can give useful information on sites that may be released for development in the future.

18. Read and Use the Local Paper

Ensure that you get the local paper (often the weekly free sheet is as effective as the daily) on the day it comes out — otherwise other, keener self builders may well have beaten you to the best opportunities. Use the paper proactively — take out an advertisement for ‘Building Plot Wanted’ and play up your credentials as private individuals looking for a nice quiet place to live. People would often rather sell a plot to someone they can choose as a neighbour rather than a builder.

19. Approach Larger Landowners

Self building is now considered a mainstream form of house building, meaning that large landowners who may have traditionally sold land assets to volume housebuilders are increasingly considering self build as a route to sell building plots. From time to time, these landowners will want to sell disused and unwanted sites, many of which may be small and unsuitable for larger builders.

Self builders should look out for these opportunities and may even want to consider making direct enquiries for land that may look to have been forgotten — you never know, yesterday’s pumping station may be tomorrow’s self build plot.

Larger land owners include:

• Government (local and national)
• Canal and River Trust
• Network Rail
• Universities 
• Statutory service providers
• Traditional landowner (e.g. Duchy of Cornwall)

20. What to Look for When Plot Hunting 

When you are out scouting an area, you can train yourself to spot opportunities. Once you start thinking like this, stopping and walking through a village while you are on holiday will never be the same again — potential building plots loom up on every road. These are some of the clues that you should look for:

• Large gaps between and behind houses.  It is usually easier to get planning approval for development in between, or next to, existing houses. If there is space beside a house, and especially if it has easy access to the road, it is a potential plot. If there is a big back garden, and access for vehicles to get to it down the side of the house, building on a garden plot may be possible. 
• Narrow gaps that are not overlooked. Sometimes sites that are apparently too narrow can be used to squeeze in a small house, provided that the access or windows of the houses either side are not affected.
• Look for houses of a similar size and quality to the one you wish to build. The way that houses are valued means that it is less economic to develop a house that is massively disproportionate to those surrounding it. You can end up over-developing, that is spending far more money on a house than you could ever sell it for; or under-developing, that is building too small a house and failing to realise the full potential of the site.
• Vehicle access. Whatever land you find, unless it is near a city or town centre, will have to have parking space, so there must be a way of reaching it by car.
• Disused land and brownfield sites. These are very easy to miss. It takes a lot of imagination to see a petrol-filling station, a telephone exchange, a disused industrial unit, or a scrap yard as the site for a beautiful home, but they all could be, subject to planning approval.
• Site assembly. If you see a number of gardens that are too small for a house, but together could be big enough, take a leaf from the professional developer’s book and consider assembling your own site. It needs tact, patience, and a bit of business acumen, but it has been done — particularly when the homeowners realise that a small bit of their garden can earn them some money.

21. How to Scout Out a Site

If you want to find a potential site that no one has thought of selling yet, there are several rules to follow:

• Select a few key areas, for instance two or three villages or areas of a town. Limit your search to these key areas, in order to ensure that you cover them thoroughly.
• Buy a map that shows houses, for instance OS Pathfinders show houses at 1:25,000. You will be able to use this map to record where potential plots are.
• Walk around your chosen areas since, if you drive, you may miss the less-obvious sites.
• Methodically take details of sites. Note the address, location and size. Take photographs if possible, and draw sketch plans. These details will help you to remember which site is which, after you have visited several one after the other.
• Deliver standard letters to houses adjacent to potential building land, asking the owner to contact you if they are interested in selling. Always be polite and never be ‘pushy’ — people are often suspicious of anyone who makes this kind of approach.
• Talk to locals. Visit the local pubs and shops, and ask if anyone knows of any land for sale. If anybody seems helpful, leave a contact address or telephone number.

(MORE: How to Find a Self Build Plot in a Rural Area)

The former Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, Jason is an experienced self builder and has recently finished renovating his 1960s home. Jason is now Managing Director of Future PLC’s Homes’ portfolio, which includes UK-leading titles such as Ideal Homes, Livingetc and Homes & Gardens. He is also the author of The Self Build Dream. You can catch Jason in the seminar theatres and Advice Centre at many of the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows across the UK.

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How to build your English home from scratch

Hiring a professional builder to build your home will cost upwards of £2m / Lefteris Pitarakis / AP

Buyers of luxury property in England are increasingly wondering how to “build their home from scratch” instead of choosing ready-made offers. Most of our clients are buyers from the CIS countries with a budget of 1 million pounds, and at least 10% asked the question of the possibility of building their own home.

If you entrust the construction of a house to a professional developer, you will need from 2 million pounds. It may be cheaper to organize the construction yourself, but you will have to devote more of your own time to the process. On average, depending on the scale of the project and the complexity of the site, the construction itself can take from 6 to 18 months. The whole process from idea to housewarming will take from a year to several years.

Property prices in the UK, and especially in London, are constantly rising. The number of offers is limited. Tax legislation in the field of buying and selling finished real estate is constantly changing – this also motivates many to take up construction. But building a house in Foggy Albion is not so easy.

Find a plot, get a permit

Plots can be searched on specialized websites, through agents and even with the help of potential neighbors who have information about where and what land in the desired area is for sale. It is necessary to acquire a plot of land with the help of a lawyer specializing in real estate transactions – he will pay attention to important nuances in the documents for the object that are not obvious to a person who does not know the intricacies of real estate transactions in the UK.

Plots are sold with or without a permit. Taking “without permission” is risky – you can become the owner of a site on which nothing can be built or there are significant restrictions on construction. For example, the land is located in the “green zone” (green belt), where the chances of obtaining a building permit are almost zero.

It is better to buy a plot with a permit for the construction of a certain building – they are issued by the local government. An experienced professional will also help you make changes to your existing permit if it doesn’t quite meet the requirements (easier than getting a new one).

Most local governments provide advice on the likelihood of obtaining a building permit prior to application (which can cost up to several hundred pounds). So you can understand what will or will not be approved by the engineer who exercises architectural and planning control, in what style and from what materials the building can be built.

Obtaining a building permit can take anywhere from eight weeks to several months if there are any complications. Applying (quite detailed, including information about building type, materials, etc.) in England currently costs £335 for each individual house. There are also costs that may be payable in some areas and not payable in others, such as developer fees, public infrastructure fees, and can run up to several thousand pounds.

Approval from the building quality control authority and special permits applicable to the area (eg building permit in a restricted area) must also be obtained prior to construction.

Where to get money

Getting a loan from a bank for construction is much more difficult than mortgage lending when buying a finished home. If you cannot do without attracting financing, then you need to prepare your own funds at least for the acquisition of land and obtaining a building permit. The price of land can be about 40% of the budget for a house.

Local banks are more favorable to UK residents, who can get a loan up to 65% of the project cost. But when applying to the bank, they must already be the owners of the site, have in their hands a permit and an estimate for the construction. Non-residents earning income outside of the UK are generally not eligible for loans from regular commercial banks. Private banks work only with certain large volumes of investments and are ready to provide loans, subject to the placement of large assets of the buyer.

For low-budget construction projects, package providers who build and design buildings based on current building templates are suitable. Building a house of average quality according to the template can cost 900-1100 pounds per 1 sq. m. In this case, of course, we are not talking about elite construction.

If you need an individual house, it is better to involve a professional architect and designer. Prices from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds, depending on the complexity of the project and the prestige of the architectural firm’s brand. On average, 3-6% of construction costs is an acceptable level of the architect’s fee for the market (the price will increase if the architect also controls the construction process). As a rule, 10% of the budget for the interior is laid on the services of a designer.

The next step is to find a contractor. The UK construction market has a wide range of contractors, both local and international, with construction experience in other countries, including the CIS countries. Builders from Eastern European countries have recently been popular and compete with locals both in price and in quality of work.

You can hire a project manager (this is 10-15% of construction costs), although some buyers prefer to keep track of how the work is done, what materials are used.

When the house is erected, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of completion from the authority for quality control of construction work, as well as register the fact of ownership of the new object in the state land cadastre.

Match the fence and window bars

There are a huge number of restrictions that are usually specified in the title deed (on the plot if you are buying a plot, and on the house if you are buying a ready-made house).

For example, the rights of neighbors regarding your land: the right of passage or driveway, parking, the right to access someone else’s land to maintain communications passing through the territory of the site. You cannot block out your neighbor’s daylight by building a wall in front of his window. The local government will carefully consider each objection from the neighbors, and if it finds it legitimate, it will refuse permission or impose certain restrictions.

In certain areas (especially in central London) there are restrictions on the height of new buildings. And many old buildings are under state protection. In this case, it is not possible to change the façade, when replacing windows, authentic materials must be used, etc. In restricted areas, such as Hempstead, there are much stricter rules. You cannot, for example, change the fence or hang bars on the windows (if there are no bars on neighboring buildings). The fence must be coordinated and match the style of the fences on the street.

Sometimes foreign investors borrow the ideas of their own successful projects implemented in other countries. This largely determines the appearance of their English home. This is especially evident in the interior, since non-standard for England styles of architecture and materials may not be approved as inconsistent with the general style and appearance of the street, neighboring buildings, and the interior presents a wider field for fantasy.

If a house is put up for sale, such real estate “with national color” is considered an exotic, niche product in the UK, which significantly reduces the liquidity of this asset and delays the exposition for years. Local buyers will not appreciate expensive materials or frilly designs. Too much gold, leather, heavy details in the interior can scare away buyers. A lighter classic design sells better. Conservative Britons prefer modern interpretations of traditional styles, as well as new eco-friendly materials and energy-saving technologies. Neutral colors are popular, allowing the buyer to easily add accessories to his taste and thus express himself in the interior.

Written by Ashton Rose Sales Manager (part of Oracle Capital Group)

Buying Land and Building a Home in the UK – Building, Renovation & Design Blog

Sometimes buying an existing home is not enough to be a successful real estate investor, since a large number of buildings are ancient buildings. You may be a homeowner who is tired of fighting for highly coveted homes in the area you want, or perhaps you just don’t like the idea of ​​living in an old house.

So, you are thinking about building a new house or an investment project that will bring high returns? Construction company in London G7 offers a wide variety of projects for every taste and budget. Whether you are planning to buy land and build a home on the perfect piece of land or buy a new home, prepare for a process that is different than buying an existing property. Experts from G7 will help you decide on projects, as well as the design and implementation of new technologies.

Buying land to build a house

If you are starting from scratch, the first thing you need to do is buy land. This can be a simple process or prove fraught with problems if you don’t do your due diligence.

First of all, check the prospects of the location and the condition of the infrastructure. Few things are more frustrating than buying the perfect piece of land for your dream home, only to find out it’s not a good place to live, either because of location issues or soil pollutants that make living there dangerous. Developers usually negotiate these points before starting the transaction process.

Check zoning, slope, soil quality, and other area-specific details that may interfere with building a house on the selected piece of land. Even if the neighborhood already has an existing home, it’s important to check how zoning or soil quality may have changed since the structure was built. A real estate agent familiar with buying land can assist you with the due diligence process for a building site.

Undeveloped, vacant land or a home with no basic amenities may require additional work to allow access to utilities including electricity, gas, heating, and plumbing. If utilities are missing or old plumbing systems need to be updated, factor the extra work into your budget. Note that this process can be costly: for example, a sewer connection may require construction on the street in front of or under the house, which requires additional permits from the government and additional funds.

If the land has a house or other structure that needs to be demolished, you have several options. Mechanical demolition using excavators and heavy machinery will result in the house being demolished quickly but is more expensive, while manual demolition on a smaller scale will be cheaper but will take longer.

Before demolishing anything, it’s best to choose a team of professionals to build your home. In many cases, the design and construction firm may wish to retain part of the structure and may be able to help control the demolition.

You may need to hire a separate contractor who also specializes in demolition. The contractor can manage the details to ensure utilities are turned off for demolition, you have obtained the necessary permits, and notified the local fire department. The G7 construction company provides all types of services that will help you build a house from scratch, including the preparation of a piece of land for the construction of a new building.

How much does it cost to buy land to build a house? The cost of land varies greatly depending on the size of the plot, location and the presence of another building on the territory. If there is a house on the purchased land, keep in mind that you will usually not be able to pay the cost of the plot alone. Existing property, regardless of its condition, is considered an improvement on the land and is included in the total value. However, a seller desperate to make a deal is likely to consider lower offers knowing the property is due for demolition.

Design solutions – the benefits of building your own design

With your free land, you can build your own home to live in, resell or rent out. That is, if you have obtained the appropriate permits from your local municipality, including building permits, approving the size and placement of the structure, and confirming that house plans comply with local building and architecture regulations.

First of all, hire your team of professionals. You will want to assemble your team even before you have purchased the land to make sure the home you want fits your budget and is suitable for the property you have purchased. Your team will likely include an architect to design the home, a builder, and subcontractors to complete each step of the building process.

Instead of looking for each of these professionals individually, you can hire a construction firm that employs architects and construction professionals such as electricians and carpenters, which reduces the need to hire more people and helps keep the process efficient and your budget in the right direction. Construction company in London G7 is a successful example of quality work as a result of well-coordinated work of the team.

Choosing the overall style of the building and finishes, as well as preferences for rooms and materials, is certainly time-consuming, but be aware that design often has limitations to ensure that your home’s main systems, such as electricity, can work properly. manner. As home design evolves, you’ll find that a significant amount of the budget you thought a modern kitchen or home theater would fund actually goes to things like lumber, ductwork, and plumbing.

You can choose to design your own house using the services of architects, but please note that the structural and code requirements in the project must be approved by the UK authorities for construction.

Unlike buying a pre-built house, you are more likely to pay during the whole process with a special agreement, because you pay for the property first, and then you can pay the costs of the project in installments, including the development of an individual design . Also remember to budget appropriately for the scenario in which you receive change orders, and adjust the total as you build the house.

Government Building Permit

Many towns and regions in the UK require a permit before any new construction can begin. Make sure all of your plans comply with local zoning codes and regulations in order to be approved.

Then, when construction begins, you will likely need inspectors to sign off on the various stages of the building’s construction to make sure, for example, that the foundation has been laid correctly and the electricity installed properly.

Build your own house in England – expert advice. Part 1

Many at some point in their lives ask themselves the question – should we build a house? It’s the kind of house you want. Where everything, down to the last nail, would be done according to your plan. It’s no secret that in British homes we have to adapt to a lot – someone is very annoyed by separate taps with cold and hot water, someone loves underfloor heating, someone does not like to constantly run up and down the stairs … The idea of ​​\u200b\u200bbuilding such a house where everything will be according to your taste seems very tempting. But where to start, and what difficulties will you have to face?

Of course, in the format of an article it is impossible to tell about all the possible nuances of building a house – it will be a different experience for everyone, but we asked real estate investor Alice Thompson about the important points that you need to be prepared for. Alice is firsthand with building a house from scratch – a few years ago she built a three-story house in the coastal town of Eastbourne for rent.

– Alice, tell me, if someone is determined to build a house, where should one start?

– You need to start with the land on which the house will be built. If you already have land, then, accordingly, you start from what can be built on it.

By the way, many people do not see, and do not even suspect, how to use the potential of the existing land. For example, you may have a house with a large garden or garage, which is quite possible to separate, and use the space for the construction of a separate object. There are many options if you think about it.

If you don’t have land, then first you “draw in your head” your ideal house, and then start looking for land for it. For example, if you want a big house, then you will most likely consider suburbs, small villages, or farmlands. If it is important for you to live in the city, then you need to compromise with the size of the future house, or prepare in advance for the high cost of land.

In my case, I already had land in the form of a small plot next to the house, on which a garage was built. I rented out the house, and I also wanted to use the potential of the land.

Many did not believe in this idea, twisted their fingers to their heads and said that it was impossible to build a house with four bedrooms in such a small space.

It was my architect who helped me make the decision and get started, who also saw the potential and took the job of drafting the project. We submitted documents to the municipality and received permission from the local municipality.

– And if there is still no land for construction, what do you need to know when buying land?

– First of all, you should not think that you can build anything on it by buying land. Even if you have found a suitable site, you must first find out whether you can build something on it or not.

For those who have never encountered a construction site in England, I would recommend understanding the process of submitting and reviewing construction documents, and buying a plot of land that already has a Planning Permission – a document on permission to build objects.

There are many subtleties in these documents, so when buying land, you need to be careful: even if a Planning Permission has been issued, this does not mean that you will be allowed to build exactly what you want.

Planning Permission is of 2 types and is issued by the local municipality:

• OutlinePlanningPermission – a document that generally gives a building permit. As a rule, it is issued with a number of additional conditions; and
• FullPlanningPermission – permission to build a specific object, a certain shape, size, number of floors, etc.

For example, you are planning to build a 3-storey house, and the land is sold with Full Planning Permission , received for the construction of a small one-storey bungalow. In this case, you will have to re-submit documents and obtain a new permit .

It is also important to take into account the factor that Planning Permission is issued for a certain period, and when buying, carefully look at the date of issue of the document.

– What to do if you find land, but it doesn’t have any building permit yet?

– If you find land that is for sale without a building permit, it is better to purchase it through a contract, which will indicate: subject to planning or through a lease option (LO).

LO is a document that you sign with the owner of the land, which fixes the price and the period during which you buy the land. An important feature of the document is that you can, but are not required to, purchase this land. This way you minimize your risks. In the worst case, if you still cannot get a building permit, you will only lose the deposit and will not be required to buy the land.

The importance of obtaining a Planning Permission cannot be underestimated. If you bought land and start construction yourself, without informing local authorities, then sooner or later you will be sent an Enforcement Notice letter indicating the time frame in which you need to restore everything to its original form.

For example, there was a news story recently about a woman who bought a plot of land for £200,000 in a picturesque location near the sea on the coast in Cornwall, and spent another £150,000 building her dream home. But, since she did not receive the necessary permits before construction began, the local municipality, despite all her protests, forced her to completely demolish the newly built building.

For those interested in building homes to sell or rent out, it is important to know the size of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in advance. The amount of payment for this “tribute” depends on the footage of your property, the number of houses / apartments and on the conditions that are specified on the website of the local municipality.

Sometimes this payment is so “draconian” that it eats up all the potential profit pledged by the developer.

– I have seen very tempting offers to sell inexpensive land through auction. Is it worth trying to acquire land in this way?

– British programs such as “Home under the hummer” sometimes show how easy and inexpensive it is to buy land at auction, and then build houses on it or resell it with a building permit several times more expensive.

In fact, everything is far from being so simple, there is a lot of risk in such transactions, and I would definitely not recommend this method of acquiring land for amateur beginners.

If you decide to take this step, make sure that the people involved in your transaction are professionals in their field.

– How then to buy land in order to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future?

In order to protect yourself as much as possible from surprises and waste of money and time, you should at least look at the history of the land plot on the website of the local municipality (whether building applications were submitted before, what was the result of the consideration, etc.) . In addition, be sure to consult with and pay a local Planning Consultant to assess the feasibility of obtaining a building permit.

– Tell us which experts you need to consult and pay for their services when building a house, and who you can save on.

– Buying land and saving on specialists is just a classic example of a miser paying twice.

You will need specialists from different fields: Planning Consultant (Planning Consultant), Chartered Surveyor (Chartered Surveyor), specialized broker and lawyer with experience in land transactions, architect, structural engineer (Structure Engineer), Quantity Engineer (Quantity Surveyor), a professional construction company and others.

It is very important to check the qualifications of the chosen specialists. For example, a Chartered Surveyor must be registered with RICS, and an architect must be a member of ARB. The builder you will contract with to build the house should ideally be part of the Federation of Master Builders or NFB. All this will help you avoid costly mistakes and plan your budget correctly.

In the next article we will continue the theme of “building a house in England” and talk about financial opportunities and risks in construction, about the pitfalls that you really face, about builders and construction costs.

Ask your questions, and we will also try to answer them within the framework of the article.

In the meantime, Alice invites you to her instagram property_godmother , in which the next 4 weeks of broadcasts and posts will be devoted to the topic of building houses in England.

Interviewed by Tatyana Mezentseva

UK real estate, London apartments, houses in England

• “Best Real Estate in London Buy with Us”

• “Wide portfolio of new builds across London”

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• “Comprehensive Service with Individual Approach to Each Client”

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London Relocation Consultancy is a leading real estate agency in London with Russian-speaking staff, specializing in the sale of apartments and houses in London, investment and commercial real estate in England, construction projects in London, Surrey and other cities in the UK. We will help you to select liquid properties according to the given criteria and get the best deals, while saving you time and making the process of finding an apartment, house or investment in England less stressful and smoother.

The company’s services include: sale of new buildings and ready-to-live-in properties in London, the suburbs and other cities of England, individual selection of real estate, assistance with the search for commercial real estate and construction projects in London and other cities of the UK, rental of real estate, recommendations for areas, organizing viewings of real estate, full transaction support, assistance in obtaining mortgage loans from UK banks, consultations with tax specialists and lawyers, assistance with moving and settling, finding tenants and full property management.

We specialize in selling both luxury and business class real estate in London, as well as liquid commercial and investment property in central London and other prestigious areas.

We only offer properties that we would buy ourselves.

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Postmark, Holborn, London, WC1

from £965,000

• District: Holborn, London
• Bedrooms: studios, 1-3 bedrooms
• Total area: from 67 m2

The prestigious Postmark residential complex is located in the heart of London near the British Museum and within walking distance of the following tube stations: Russell Square, Holborn, Chancery Lane, Farrington, Kings Cross and Angel. The project will have an explosive WC1 & EC1 index. Completion of the construction of the first phase of the complex is scheduled for the last quarter of 2020.
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9 Millbank, Westminster, London, SW1P

from £999,950

• District: Westminster, London
• Bedrooms: 1-3 bedroom penthouses
• Total area: from 54 m2

Millbank Quarter is a premium class complex thought out to the smallest detail, which will embody luxury, elegance and comfort in the historic center of the British capital, Westminster on the River Thames, within walking distance from Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. The complex is under construction, with completion scheduled for early 2022.
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Landmark, Tower Hill, London, London, EC3

£865,000 – £10,000,000

• District: London, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 3 bedroom penthouses
• Total area: 53 m2 – 350 m2

Still under construction, the exclusive Landmark is located on the River Thames in London’s first zone in the premium historic district of Tower Bridge. Residents will be provided with a 24-hour concierge, a 20 m swimming pool, a spa, a fitness room, a cinema room and a business lounge.
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Royal Warwick Square, Kensington, London, W14

£849,950 – £4,000,000

• Kensington, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 3 bedroom penthouses
• Total area: 75 m2 – 184 m2

New luxury residential complex in London, which is still under construction, is located in the premium area of ​​London – Kensington & Chelsea. An excellent option, both for own residence and for investment. An exclusive collection of 1,2,3 bedroom apartments and penthouses.
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Ridgway View, Mill Hill, London, NW7

from £600,000

• Mill Hill, London
• Bedrooms: 2-3 bedrooms
• Total area: from 70 m2

Ridgeway View is the perfect place for a luxurious and comfortable stay, where everything you need is right on the doorstep. Ridgeway Views offers the best of both worlds, with enviable hilltop views of green fields and good transport links to central London.
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Prince of Wales, Battersea, Battersea, London, SW8

£660,000- £2,750,000

• Battersea, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 3 bedrooms
• Total area: 52 m2 – 190 m2

Beautifully located in Zone 1, the new Prince of Wales Battersea development is within walking distance of Battersea Park and Queenstown Road underground stations, as well as Battersea Park, one of London’s royal parks.
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West & Gate, Marylebone, Marylebone, London, W2

from £950,500

• District: Marylebone, Marylebone, London
• Bedrooms: Studios, 1-3 bedrooms, penthouses
• Total area: from 55 m2

Still under construction, the West and Gate residential complex is located in the center of London in the first zone in Marylebone on Edgware Road. For the comfort of residents, the building provides the following services: 24-hour concierge, swimming pool, gym, cinema and parking.
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Nine Elms Point, Lambeth, Lambeth, London, London, SW8

from £599,950

• District: Lambeth, Lambeth, London, London
• Bedrooms: 1, 2, 3 bedrooms
• Total area: 50m2 – 118m2

Nine Elms is one of the most exclusive developments in the Battersea area, still under construction and located in the first zone of London. A new tube station will be built in close proximity to the site, 5 minutes from Vauxhall station, and 15 minutes from central London and the West End. Whether you are looking for a new home or planning to invest in London property, Nine Elms is the best value for you.
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Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W14

£800,000 – £3,750,000

• Kensington, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 4, penthouses
• Total area: 65 m2 – 170 m2

New residential development, still under construction, located on Main Street in Kensington. The attractiveness of the complex is due to its proximity to the expanses of Holland Park and the famous restaurants, cafes and fashion boutiques of the popular Kensington High Street.
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One Blackfriars, Southwark, London, London, SE1

from £1,050,000

• District: Southwark, London, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 4, penthouses

One Blackfriars – an exclusive residential complex in London, located on the banks of the Thames and adorns the London landscape. A collection of luxury luxury apartments with stunning views of the English capital in a premium building with exceptional amenities including concierge, swimming pool, gym and meeting rooms.
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Number One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X

from £6,500,000

• Knightsbridge, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 4, penthouses
• Total area: 100 m2 – 600 m2

One of the most prestigious residential buildings in London’s Knightsbridge area, consisting of 80 residential apartments in four pavilions, on the ground floor of which there is a Rolex watch shop, a McLaren car shop, and a private bank. There is a Harrods store within walking distance of the complex.
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Chelsea Creek, Chelsea, London, SW6

£615,000 – £7,999,950

• Borough: Chelsea, London
• Bedrooms: studios, 1-3 bedrooms
• Total area: 35 m2 – 431 m2

The unique Chelsea Creek complex, still under construction, is set among green avenues and canals flowing into the River Thames. Within walking distance are high-end boutiques as well as chic bars and restaurants in the Chelsea area. There is also direct access to the River Thames.
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London Dock, Wapping, London E1

from £750,000

• District: Wapping, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 3, penthouses
• Total area: from 50 m2

London Dock is a unique development located between Canary Wharf and the City of London. The complex will offer magnificent 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with balconies and terraces. For residents there is a private club with chic amenities. The Wapping area offers a wide range of restaurants and cafes, shops and hotels, and is home to many cultural monuments, from historical to modern. The delivery of the complex is carried out in stages.

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Goodmans Fields, Aldgate, London E1

£850,000

• Aldgate, London
• Bedrooms: 1 bedroom
• Total area: 48 m2

Goodman’s Fields is a unique residential development set on 7 acres of land in the heart of the City, just a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf. In close proximity is the Tower and London Bridge, Spitafields and St. Catherine’s Docks.
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Fulham Reach, Fulham, London, W6

£715,000 – £6,750,000

• District: Fulham, London, London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 3, penthouses
• Total area: 49 m2 – 210 m2

Fulham Reach, a chic new development under construction in Hammersmith, right on the River Thames. Stunning spacious open plan apartments are being built by one of the UK’s leading developers and designed by world renowned designers.
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Vista, Battersea, Battersea, London, London, SW8

£800,000 – £3,500,000

• District: Battersea, Battersea, London, London
• Bedrooms: 1 to 3 bedrooms
• Total area: 58 m2 – 150 m2

The luxurious new complex Vista is located near one of the most popular parks in London – Battersea Park and just a 10-minute walk from the famous Sloane Square and Chelsea. The central location of the complex allows you to quickly get to anywhere in London. The complex has a 24 hour concierge, security, gym.
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Kings Cross, Kings Cross, Westminster, London, N1C

from £500,000

• Area: Kings Cross, Westminster, London
• Bedrooms: Studios, 1-3 bedrooms, penthouses
• Total area: from 50 m2

Modern residential complex Onyx is an elite complex built in the Art Nouveau style. The project location is known for its St. Pancras International Interchange and King’s Cross Station, both of which feature Neo-Gothic Renaissance architecture. For the comfort of residents, the building provides round-the-clock concierge services, an electronic entry system to the building, and secure parking. The project is an excellent investment for both renting out and living in, thanks to its affordable prices and excellent location.
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Woodbury Down, Finsbury, London, N4

£387,000 – £1,125,000

• Finsbury, London, London
• Bedrooms: studios, 1 – 3 bedrooms
• Total area: 37 m2 – 110 m2

Woodbury Down is a unique opportunity to invest in a residential development in the second zone of London under construction, which is located in the north of London overlooking the canal. The complex will have a 24-hour concierge and security, a gym with a swimming pool, a bar and restaurant for residents and underground parking.
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Stage, Shoreditch, London, EC2A

£705,000 – £2,450,000

• District: Shoreditch, London
• Bedrooms: studios – 3
• Total area: 38.6 m2 – 152.9 m2

A new exclusive residential complex in London called The Stage is located in the first zone of London in the City and is being sold under construction. The complex is unique in that the developer offers investors a 2% guaranteed return per year on funds paid during construction and a 4% guaranteed return per year for the first four years after construction is completed.
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Kidbrook Village, Greenwich London SE3

£440,000 – £760,000

• Greenwich London
• Bedrooms: 1 – 3
• Total area: 50 m2 – 130 m2

Kidbrook Village is being built on 109 hectares in the historic Greenwich area of ​​London. A wide range of comfortable houses and apartments will be offered here. All the necessary infrastructure is also being built: parks, tennis courts, sports grounds, a supermarket, shops, bars, restaurants, schools, a medical center, a hotel and a fitness center.
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Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18

from £425,000

• District: Woolwich, London
• Bedrooms: 1-3

Under construction in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Royal Arsenal Riverside is a chic development on the banks of the River Thames, offering luxurious views combined with plenty of open space and a vibrant mix of modern new build architecture and more traditional architecture such as the Royal Military Academy, Royal Copper Foundry, Royal Artillery Museum.
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Kidderpore Green, Hampstead, London, NW3

£1,350,000 – £2,910,000

• Hampstead, London
• Bedrooms: 2-4
• Total area: 95. 7 m2 – 202 m2

Kidderpore Green complex is located in the most elite area of ​​London – Hampstead, which is famous for its green massif Hampstead Heath, which is a 15-minute walk from the complex. The Hampstead area is considered the best place to live with the whole family, as it has the best schools in London for children of all ages.
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Beafort Park, Colindale, London, London, NW9

from £295,000

• District: Colindale, London, London
• Bedrooms: studios, 1 – 3
• Total area: 24 m2 – 100 m2

Beafort Park – an amazing complex in its concept and implementation, being built in the north of London on an area of ​​10 hectares. Residents will have access to a fitness center with a swimming pool and spa. There are several parks nearby.
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White Cottage, Ascot, Surrey, England, SL5

£1,095,000

• District: Ascot, Surrey, Surrey, England
• Bedrooms: 3
• Total area: 178 m2

White Cottage is the perfect home to live in the London suburbs of Surrey. The house is located near the famous Great Windsor Park, Wentworth golf course, equestrian center and 5 * hotel Coworth Park, which is managed by Dorchester. London is less than 30 minutes away by car.
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Cadogan House, Virginia Water, Surrey, GU25

£3,500,000

• District: Virginia Water, Surrey, Surrey
• Bedrooms: 6
• Total area: 1,300 m2

Plot of land for the construction of a house in a premium location in a closed area in the Virginia Water in Surrey. The total area of ​​the site is 0.486 hectares. There is a building permit for a house measuring 1,300 m2.
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South of England Golf Club, Dorset, England, Bh32

£15,000,000

• District: Dorset, England
• Total area: 65 hectares

Rare and exceptional opportunity to acquire a championship golf course in England with a 65 hectare clubhouse, hotel, spa, old 17th century house and luxurious 3 bedroom mansion on 1. 2 hectares of land.
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Waldegrave House, Weybridge, Surrey, England, KT13

£8,950,000

• Borough: Weybridge, Surrey, England
• Bedrooms: 6
• Total area: 1021 m2

Chic mansion of impressive proportions, with an area of ​​1021 m2, in the area of ​​St. George’s Hill in Weybridge. Nearby are a first-class private golf course, tennis club, wellness center, a selection of shops and restaurants.
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Westminster Bridge Park Plaza, Westminster, London, SE1

from £325,000

• Westminster, London

A unique opportunity to invest in London investment property. Individual rooms in a luxury hotel are managed by a well-known global management company. The Westminster Bridge Park Plaza is a premium hotel conveniently located in the Westminster area.
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Golden Pot Pub, Eversleigh, Hampshire, RG27

£1,650,000

• District: Eversleigh, Hampshire

An excellent opportunity to invest in commercial and residential real estate in the suburbs of London – Surrey County in the South East of England, in the city of Eversley. The Golden Pot Pub has a very convenient location and is only 70 kilometers from Central London.
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Hallifax Bank, Hammersmith, London, W6

from £3,280,000

• Hammersmith, London
• Total area: 429 m2

An excellent investment opportunity in London – commercial property including office space in the popular Hammersmith area. The total area of ​​the object is 429 m2.
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Barclays Bank, Farnham, Uxbridge and Coventry, UB8

£8,500,000

• Area: Farnham, Uxbridge and Coventry

Three centrally located retail locations in Farnham, Uxbridge and Coventry. All investment properties are freehold. 95% of rental income comes from payments from a very reliable tenant – Barclays Bank.
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Chiwal Tree Keys, City of London, London, EC3R

from £700 per week

• District: City of London, London
• Bedrooms: studios – 3 bedrooms

Chival Tree Keys is located in the heart of the City of London, on the banks of the River Thames, overlooking the Tower Bridge! The complex has studio/one-bedroom/two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments with river views for short and long term. The complex is within walking distance of the main attractions of London.
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Lincoln Plaza, Canary Wharf, London E14

£365 – £800 per week

• Area: Canary Wharf, London
• Bedrooms: studios, 1, 2 bedrooms
• Total area: 31 m2 – 65 m2

The new Lincoln Plaza is located in London’s business district of Canary Wharf, just an 8-minute walk from Canary Wharf Tube Station or a 2-minute walk from South Quay DLR Station. Convenient transport interchange, the presence of shops, cafes, restaurants makes this complex a great option for living!
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Charles Street, Mayfair, Mayfair, London, London, W1

On request

• Area: Mayfair, Mayfair, London, London
• Bedrooms: 6
• Total area: 693 m2

Historic home located in Mayfair and 2 minutes walk from Green Park and Bond Street. Charles Street House is an architectural monument and in addition, this area attracts with a large number of fashionable boutiques, clubs and restaurants.
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Number One Oakeshott, Surrey, England, KT22

£1,245,000 – £1,650,000

• District: Surrey, England
• Bedrooms: 2 – 3
• Total area: 138 m2 – 193 m2

Luxurious complex in the prestigious village of Oakeshott, Surrey, includes 10 apartments, consisting of 2 and 3 bedrooms. The suburb of Oakeshott is ideally located as it is only 35 minutes by train to Waterloo station in London and 30 minutes both by car and train from Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
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Bishopsheath, Surrey, Surrey, England, TW20

£12,500,000

• District: Surrey, Surrey, England
• Bedrooms: 6
• Total area: Total land area 1.61 ha

Luxurious freehold mansion located next to the great Windsor Park in Surrey. This is one of the best country addresses in the UK. Nearby are the cities of Ascot and Wentworth. Central London is about 45 minutes away by car, Heathrow Airport is only 15 minutes away, and the private Farnborough Airport is also very close.
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High Street Kensington, Kensington, London, London, WC2E

£3,500,000

• District: Kensington, London, London
• Total area: 236.43 m2

An excellent opportunity to invest in a unique retail property in the popular Kensington area on High Street Kensington. The property is currently rented by a well-known cafe brand for £185,000 a year.
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Beafort Hotel, Knightsbridge, London SW3

£20,000,000

• Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge, London
• Total area: 1.162 m2

Off-Market freehold hotel in the heart of London in Knightsbridge. The hotel consists of two 7-storey buildings with a total area of ​​1.162 m2.
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Thornwood Gardens, Kensington, Kensington, London, W8

£19,500,000

• District: Kensington, Kensington, London
• Bedrooms: 5
• Total area: 629 m2

A great opportunity to purchase a freehold house located in the elite part of the Kensington area in a private gated complex within walking distance to High Street Kensington. The house was designed by the best designers with attention to the smallest details.0160

Bedrooms: 10

Total area: houses 3.896 m2, land area 8.09 ha

Unique opportunity to buy land and build a neoclassical estate. Windlesham House is ideally located close to Windsor Royal Park, Ascot and Windsor racecourses. The world class golf clubs of Windlesham, Sunningdale and Wentworth are also within easy reach.
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Goodmans Fields, City, City, London, London, E1

£1,650,000

• City, London, London
• Total area: 378 m2

Attractive investment commercial property in London, located on the first floor of a new residential complex in the City. The lease has been signed with Sainsbury’s grocery store for 15 years from 2013.
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Starbucks coffee shop, Soho, London, W1

from £3,500,000

• District: Soho, London
• Total area: 335 m2

Unique Starbucks coffee shop for sale in London’s famous Soho area. Attractive investment property with virtual freehold ownership, located in close proximity to Oxford Street in London. The building includes several floors, where the total area is 335 m2.
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opportunities and prohibitions — Latifundist.com

Buying land abroad: opportunities and prohibitions — Latifundist.com

30 April 2019, 09:00

The issue of land for Ukraine has always been special, difficult. This is probably largely due to the history of our state, which has always had to reconquer its territories. And also the mentality of Ukrainians, because from generation to generation we have been passed on the unshakable concept of the value of the land, the perception of it as the most important attribute of well-being.

Will there be life after the lifting of the moratorium?

Read related

This topic has become especially “hot” now, when the authorities are seriously talking about the imminent lifting of the moratorium on the sale of land. Despite the experience of most of the developed countries of the world, in which the land market has been open for a long time, we still have a lot of rejection of this process. Many Ukrainians are more afraid not even of domestic agricultural holdings, but of the so-called “foreign expansion”. The question arises – why did the “freeland” countries themselves, having opened markets, made sure that their land did not fall into the hands of foreigners? Or has it become easy and affordable for everyone to buy land abroad?

We suggest looking at the trends and experience in this area in search of an answer. Let’s start with the fact that the conditions for buying land in different countries are different. But there is a common factor – the growth of its value due to the balance of supply and demand. That is, the open market has turned land into a real asset. And in order to secure this asset, each country has its own system of restrictions on the sale and purchase.

For example, in Norway and Poland, foreigners must obtain a special permit. In Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary and Slovakia, the buyer can be a citizen of the European Union or countries of the European Economic Area. And in Germany, Finland, Italy – only by a local resident. And although there are countries in the world where foreigners have the same rights to acquire land as its subjects themselves (France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg), the application of restrictions is still the most common.

Entrepreneurial Europeans

Let’s take a few specific countries for detailed study. For example, our neighbor and in many ways an example of a fairly fast and high-quality European transformation – Poland . It is stated in its constitution that the basis of the country’s agriculture is family farming. This is to the fact that today a foreigner can acquire Polish land only if he proves his intention to cultivate it on his own, and also lives for at least 5 years not just in Poland, but in the commune where he wants to buy a plot. And yet – he will be denied the acquisition if one of the family members of the previous owner or neighboring farmers claims this land. If there are no such applicants, the agricultural real estate agency receives the preferential right to buy land. And only if it refuses, the land will go to a foreigner, who, moreover, must obtain permission in advance from the relevant ministries of the state – the Interior and Agriculture.

A similar system, but with its own characteristics, operates in other countries of Eastern Europe, as well as in the Baltic States . For example, in order to buy land in Bulgaria , foreigners must live in the country for at least 5 years or conduct their own business there. In Moldova “pure” foreigners cannot buy land, but individuals with dual citizenship are welcome. Although now the possibility of legalizing access to land for foreigners is being actively discussed.

A similar right is considered in Georgia , despite the fact that at the moment non-residents can only inherit a plot or receive it together with a purchased house. In turn, in Estonia citizens of the EU countries can take part in land purchase and sale operations, but on condition that they use it for agricultural purposes not earlier than in five years. Citizens of countries that are not members of the EU are allowed to use no more than 10 hectares of land. Small plots are on free sale for everyone, regardless of citizenship.

Slightly different example France . Here, foreigners are not prohibited from buying land, but the land market is very tightly regulated by the state. For this, there is SAFER, a community dedicated to land management. Even the fact that notaries must warn them of every intention to sell a land plot testifies to his authority. SAFER actively opposes attempts to change the purpose of agricultural land, and also uses mechanisms to prevent the purchase of land on the outskirts of cities for development. Returning to foreigners, you can sell to them, but there is a limit. The purchase price should not exceed €38 million. Vineyards are a separate issue. In France, they are considered national wealth and are not subject to sale to foreign citizens.

The situation is similar in neighboring Spain . Local legislation does not prohibit foreign citizens from buying land here, and they can do it on an equal basis with residents of the country. But there are nuances. The land plot must be located no closer than 150 meters from the sea, since the entire coastal territory belongs to the kingdom. Therefore, when choosing a piece of clothing, for example, in the Costa Brava, it is worth making sure that the required distance is maintained. Well, if the purpose of buying land is to build a house, then it is important to consider that this can only be done on targeted building plots.

The conclusion suggests itself – indicative of the open market policy in European countries is not the possibility for foreigners to buy land, but the regulation of such an opportunity at the state level. That is, in order to make money on a land asset, but at the same time not to lose it, we need high-quality and effective rules in the interests of the country and, in particular, the local farmer, who is a priority in almost all European countries.

It is also important to note here that European countries, especially the new EU members, did not immediately open the land use market to foreign citizens. Most of them took from 7 to 12 years. And this once again confirms that there is always a clear state position behind progressive European views.

Let’s look to the East

As for the countries of Asia, everything is more conservative here. For example, in Tajikistan the right to use agricultural land is not granted to foreign citizens and foreign legal entities. Such a right, besides with the possibility of further alienation, has only individuals and legal entities of the Republic of Tajikistan who are directly involved in agricultural production.

In Russia everything is also strict – foreign citizens and legal entities can own agricultural land plots only on a leasehold basis.

How liberal are liberals

There is no doubt that such large countries as USA, Canada and Australia took care of the security of their “strategic reserves” of land. By the way, it is here that restrictions are set, to a greater extent, at the regional level of the states and provinces, rather than at the state level. AT Canada Restrictions on the acquisition of land by foreigners have nothing to do with liberalism at all. In a number of provinces of agricultural importance, there is a ban on the acquisition of land not only by foreigners, but even by residents of other provinces. A number of provinces have a system of concessional loans for the purchase of agricultural land, but it does not apply to non-residents. And this despite the fact that Canada clearly does not experience a lack of land, because it is the second largest in the world in terms of area, despite the fact that the population of this country is less than the population of Ukraine.

The same applies to US . Although foreigners are not formally prohibited from acquiring agricultural and forest land at the federal level, in reality foreigners own no more than 1% of the land due to local restrictions in the states and serious bureaucratic obstacles. In varying degrees of rigidity, restrictions on the purchase of agricultural land by foreigners exist in more than half of the US states. In a number of states, it is prohibited at all, in some it only applies to land owned by the states. In many states, it is forbidden to buy land for people from the so-called unfriendly countries, the lists of which change. Also, the maximum area of ​​land in the possession of a foreign citizen is often limited, etc. In general, the policy of both Canada and the United States is aimed at ensuring that agricultural land remains in the ownership of their citizens.

As for Australia , it is a country with a fully open and liberal market. Foreigners can buy land on the same terms as local citizens. The only requirement for foreigners is to obtain state permission if the transaction amount is more than $15 million. But despite the openness, the market is developing poorly, since the country has unfavorable climatic conditions and high salinity of soils.

Chinese factor

Separate topic – China . In the context of the land issue, it would be more relevant to consider not even the possibility of acquiring local land, but, on the contrary, the “Chinese trend” in buying up land in the world. It is worth noting that China is in first place in the world in terms of population, while occupying only 9% of the land area, and the demand for food in China continues to grow. Every year the country imports more and more cereals and flour to meet its needs. In this scenario, it is not surprising that Chinese investors are very active in buying land abroad. For example, among their realized interests is Australia. Currently, the Chinese own almost 5% of all agricultural land in Australia, mostly pastures. The land is mainly used for raising cattle for the production of meat and milk. Field crops are grown only on 3% of the area. Overall, China has the second largest foreign landholding in Australia after the UK.

Ambitious plans from China and regarding the purchase of land in the Far East of Russia. It is assumed that of the million hectares that Russia plans to lease to foreign investors, Chinese farmers will account for at least 50%.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the movement of the Chinese towards Africa. According to experts, today Chinese corporations have already bought or rented quite large territories in African countries – more than 3.5 million hectares of fertile land. Instead of the previously promised investments and benefits, real expansion came to local residents. Yes, the Chinese, renting cheap African land, are laying roads, building elevators and processing plants. But their arrival in African lands created a big problem: intensive agriculture puts African farmers out of work. Where once a hundred people cultivated arable land, there are ten of them, and even then they are relatively qualified farmers – tractor drivers, combine operators trained by the Chinese, etc. Left without work 90 agricultural workers out of this hundred are forced to either starve or move to the slums of cities.

In the context of the analysis of the so-called “China factor”, one cannot fail to note the fact that the Chinese have long been interested in the fertile lands of Ukraine. A few years ago, information about the transfer of 100 thousand hectares of land in the Dnepropetrovsk region to them for rent was very actively discussed. According to Ukrainian and Chinese media, the land was to be leased for 50 years and processed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Company. Subsequently, the area of ​​leased land was to grow up to 3 million hectares. But this news caused a great public outcry and the deal was not implemented. By the way, according to experts, today foreign capital controls 2.4 million hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine.

Drawing conclusions

Summarizing the situation regarding the loyalty of the land market in different countries of the world, it should be noted that, according to the studied data, foreign investors have not bought up more than 10-12% of land in any state. Of course, we were not able to consider all the world experience, but this information can also become a guideline for applicants. In general, it should be noted that the stage of collecting data on the possibilities of buying land abroad is very important and should not be ignored. It is better, as they say, to foresee everything “ashore”, this will allow you not only to find the most favorable conditions for yourself, but also, possibly, to avoid wasting time and money.

Olga Bobrova, Latifundist.com

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How to build your dream home in the UK – THE BUSINESS COURIER

More recently, we explained to readers why it is now almost impossible to buy property in London. It is not so easy to find suitable property in the rest of Britain. But if the mountain doesn’t go to Mohammed… then why not build your own dream house? Business Courier spoke with German Kudryavtsev, a construction expert at Luxury Development & Construction, and compiled a guide to building a house in Britain from scratch.

According to the National Self Build Association, back in 2013 there were 6 million people in Britain who wanted to build their own home, and 1 million had already started planning construction. In 2011, the Guardian noted that as a result of independent construction in the country, about 20% of new houses appear annually.

In recent years, it has become easier and cheaper to build a house from scratch, thanks in part to the state policy for the development of this area. But, rest assured, your own construction project requires much more dedication, composure and nerves than buying a house from another owner or a real estate development company.

Why own construction?

Buying a home in the UK, whether it’s a new build or a Victorian house, you inevitably have to deviate from your ideal of real estate. Problems can range from low energy efficiency and poor layout to ugly interiors and moldy walls left over from the previous owner. Of course, as an option, there is always a repair, but how much will it cost you?

With independent construction, you are free to dictate your terms – from the size of the kitchen to the design and layout, which fully correspond to your tastes and outlook on things.

In addition, as a result, the market value of the lion’s share of completed objects (everything, of course, depends only on you) significantly (according to some estimates, by about 25% -30%) exceeds the cost of their construction , – says the financial resource Money. co.uk.

What is cheaper: to build or buy a house?

However, before you decide to start your own construction project, make sure that there is nothing on the real estate market that matches your dream home. It may actually be easier and cheaper for you to buy an already built object and repair it.

But if there is no such option, the advantage will be on the side of independent construction from scratch, – says German Kudryavtsev, a construction expert at Luxury Development & Construction.

“Many developers buy land, build a house, and then sell it. And they earn 20-30% on this. If you take it on yourself and endure literally six months, you can get the same house, only 20-30% cheaper. And it will be built according to the criteria that the customer wants.For example, we build objects ourselves for 150 pounds / square foot, and we sell for 800. That’s such a difference. And what we build coincides with the wishes of the customer. He himself can plan,” he says.

In addition, when buying building land, you are required to pay stamp duty only on the value of that land and not on the built house, and only on plots over £125,000.

Calculate the budget

But all the benefits of self-construction can be nullified if you don’t take proper care of planning the project budget. First of all, try to consider the following points:

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
• Do you need a large garden or are you looking for a small, cozy corner?
• How big will each room be? Are you willing to settle for a smaller kitchen if you end up with a more spacious living room?

Get a loan

Mortgages exist not only for property buyers, but also for those who are going to build from scratch. This type of loan is called “self-build mortgage”. It can be a little more expensive than a conventional mortgage, and is most often issued by credit organizations in parts, at different stages of construction.

Usually we are talking about five to seven stages – from the purchase of land and materials to the final stages of construction. However, lenders will want to make sure you are doing well before lending money to the next phase of the project. Thus, they try to insure against the possible financial consequences of failures.

Another feature of “self-build mortgages” is that the amount of the first installment, loan rates and other conditions are highly dependent on the building permit and the stage at which your project is. For example, you may be offered a loan to buy land at 75% LTV (or loan-to-value, the amount of loan that you have left to repay after you have made a contribution, approx. BC), but increase the loan amount to 85% when it comes to the costs of the construction work itself.

In addition, before giving you such a loan, the lender will want to look at the detailed drawings of your future home, cost estimates and building permits.

Self-build mortgages are issued by lenders such as Norwich & Peterborough, Saffron Building Society, BM Solutions, Leeds Building Society and Buildstore.

You can compare all offers on the market here.

Get a Building Permit

Without a building permit, your project will be considered a squatter project and may be frozen at any time by the local municipality. Therefore, it is better to get all the necessary papers for another to purchase of the coveted piece of land.

To do this, you will have to contact your local planning permission office and be patient.

“It requires a large package of documents (detailed construction plan and other construction documentation, note BC), and in terms of time the whole process can last from about 4 months to (I know of such cases) three years. We have one project of two and a half got a building permit for a year. I would advise you to immediately buy a project that has a full building permit. There will not be such an overpayment that would greatly affect the price. It is better to do so than to keep frozen money that could work, “- advises German Kudryavtsev.

Buy land

You can search for land on sites such as Hab Housing, PlotBrowser and PlotSearch (some of which have a paid subscription), real estate websites Zoopla and Rightmove, and talk to real estate agencies, auction houses, architects or local government planning.

However, there are not so many such proposals, as well as real estate itself, in Britain, notes This is Money.

According to German Kudryavtsev, a more profitable option would be to cooperate with a construction company that will not only find you land, but also relieve you of the headache of obtaining a permit.

“They try to sell all interesting projects off-market, they go to friends, partners. And only what is not bought off the market already ends up at auctions, on Zoopla and Rightmove. These projects are no longer interesting to anyone. At least At least for us. Everything is out of the market for us. And those people who do not have access to this are forced to choose from what no one buys, “he says.

Find the right team

You can independently find and hire the architect, builders and other professionals needed to bring your dream home to life.

The help of an architect will be especially important, as he is not only responsible for the layout of the house and the compliance of your project with building codes, but also can give valuable advice on materials and other budget items, as well as take on the role of project manager if desired. Money.co.uk advises to pay close attention to the architect’s portfolio and reviews of his former clients, and also recommends that you make appointments with several specialists in advance and discuss your requirements, plans and ideas with each of them.

To find a construction company, you can browse specialized resources with reviews in your area, as well as use the official site of the Federation of Master Builders (Federation of Master Builders).

When hiring a construction company, always ask in advance about the cost of all work, the approximate completion date and the number of workers needed to complete it. Never agree to a company’s offer just because of its attractive cheapness, German Kudryavtsev warns.

“It’s very important to look at the projects that this company was involved in, talk to clients, ask how it all went. There are companies that are sitting idle and are ready to take on any job, even realizing from the outset that they will not fit into the estimate. But the customers do not know this.For example, the competitors of this company set a price of 300 thousand, and they say “250 thousand” only in order to get an advance today, somehow reach the middle of it all, and then tell the customer – oh, sorry “, you have to pay extra. And the customer can no longer change hands. Because any other contractor will charge a much higher price for the alteration than it was at the very beginning,” the expert says.