Use all the tools at your disposal to get the perfect piece of land
A suitable build site can take time to track down. But if you are patient and prepared to consider a range of options, you will increase your chances. Once you have a realistic idea of your project budget, the search can begin. Bringing an architect on board when you find something promising can be helpful as they’ll assess the land’s suitability and uncover any potential pitfalls.
Make a start
Begin by making use of a variety of plot-finding tools to improve your chances of uncovering suitable sites. Websites such as the Grand Designs magazine Land Finder by Addland, Buildstore Plotsearch and Plotfinder each have thousands of listings. It’s also worth checking out property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla.
Consider registering your interest with the councils in the areas where you’d like to build. Local authorities must maintain a record of demand for plots to match the number of people who have shown an interest in building a home. Express an interest in what you’re looking for and sign up with nearby estate agents, as they’ll be the first to know about sites for sale. And speak to local architects and surveyors, as they may hear about new plots early. They may know of one that’s not right for them, but perfect for you. Suitable sites for single houses are often sold at auction, either as major renovation projects or for demolition and rebuild. Ask local estate agents to alert you when auctions are upcoming.
Try writing a letter with your contact details and posting it to all the houses in your ideal area. Someone might be keen to sell their property, or a portion of their garden, or know of someone else looking to sell.
Finally, scour the streets for potential sites. If you find one, contact the local planning department to see if an application has already been submitted, or search for the ownership information through the HM Land Registry (gov. uk/government/organisations/land-registry).
Digging deeper
A percentage of land can’t be developed due to protections imposed by the government. Constructing a new house in an area that hasn’t been built on before, such as designated greenfield land, may be difficult. Many homebuilding plots tend to be on brownfield sites – these are plots that have already been developed in the past.
