FIND YOUR DREAM BUILDING PLOT
PlotBrowser.com is a 100% free-to-use plot and property finder, packed with 1,000s of home building opportunities. Here’s a taster of the fantastic self build plots, renovation properties and conversions currently for sale near you
PlotBrowser.com is the latest addition to Build It’s series of powerful project tools (www. buildit.co.uk/tools) designed to put you on the path to self build success.
Updated daily, this is your dedicated resource for finding genuine self build land and renovation opportunities. You’ll find 1,000s of plots and properties to view nationwide, and each listing features the site details, photos, guide price and sellers’ contact information – including information such as whether the plot or property is being sold at auction and, if so, when.
Crucially, we’ve done a big part of the plot-hunting job for you: all our plots already have either outline or full planning permission in place, so you won’t have to waste your time looking at duds that might never gain consent to build.
What’s more, we’ve sourced the planning reference for you, so that you can quickly and easily identify the current planning consent on the relevant local authority’s website. This will arm you with a full understanding of the site’s planning history and what’s been permitted, so you can gauge whether the plot can support the kind of house you’d like to create.
The following pages are a sample of the plots, renovations and conversion projects available on PlotBrowser.comthis month.
GOT A PLOT TO SELL?
Head to PlotBrowser.com and register as a seller to list your plot for free.
ENGLAND
BERKSHIRE
CRAZIES HILL
Plot with planning permission Plot with planning permission to demolish the existing property and build a five-bedroom detached home of 390m² inside the green belt.
Guide
price: Over £1,000,000
Planning: Wokingham Borough Council /refer to agent Contact: Will Edwick 07858 958233 will@f14property.com
MAIDENHEAD
Blackbird LanePlot with consent for a replacement dwelling and one new outbuilding of approx 3,500ft 2set in a clearing of around 0.8 of an acre.
Guide
price: £1,200,000
Planning: Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead / 21/01262
Contact: Knight Frank LLP 01344 624732 ascot@knightfrank.com
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
LITTLE PAXTON, ST NEOTS
Rear of 11 and 13 Park CrescentSingle building plot of approx 219.4m 2with planning permission passed for a three-bedroom detached twostorey dwelling of approx 103m 2.
Guide
price: Over £179,000
Planning: Huntingdonshire District Council / 20/01200/ful
Contact: Peter Lane & Partners 01480 406400 stneots@peterlane.co.uk
CHESHIRE
BOWDON, ALTRINCHAM
Stanhope RoadA single building plot with planning permission granted for a substantial detached family home extending to approx 4,500ft 2over three floors.
Guide price: £1,000,000
Planning: Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council / 104768/FUL/21
Contact: Watersons Independent Estate Agents 01619 416633 hale@watersons.net
TARVIN SANDS, CHESTER
Barrow LaneConsent given for a 4,000ft 2fivebedroom home clad in burnt larch with a zinc roof set in 2.83 acres.
Guide
price: £800,000
Planning: Cheshire West and Chester Council / 21/02511/ful
Contact: Savills 01244 323232 chester@savills.co.uk
CORNWALL
JACOBSTOW, BUDE, Single plot A semi-rural building plot with outline planning permission in place to custom build a bespoke property in a popular village backing onto open countryside.
Guide price: £125,000
Planning: Cornwall Council / PA22/08049
Contact:Kivells 01288 359999 bude@kivells.com
WHAT MAKES A GOOD PLOT?
The perfect piece of land would be in a pleasant area, affordable and level, with easy access, good ground conditions and no planning issues or obstructions. The issue, of course, is that plot may not exist. Even the best sites require some compromise, so it’s crucial to properly assess contenders to get as close as possible to your goals.
All the plots in our listings come with planning permission: either outline (a loose affirmation the site can be developed) or full (consent for a particular design). Beware of any site without current approval. Land is worth considerably more once consent has been granted, so if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Once you’ve spotted an opportunity, consider whether the type of house you want can be comfortably accommodated on the plot, and if the existing consent allows for it or could be amended to suit. If it’s a yes to both, then the site is worth a bit more research.
Check for issues on the plot that could increase construction costs, make it difficult to get the right design for your needs, or affect the viability of a project. Some of the most notorious budget-busters include steep slopes, difficult access to services, or obstacles like overhead cables. Most issues are not insurmountable and, with good design, some can even be turned to your advantage.
From a planning perspective, check how long is left on the consent. If it is less than six months and you will need to redesign the house to suit your needs or sort out any planning conditions, this could be problematic.
If early investigations seem positive, then you can move on to a more in-depth appraisal of how suitable the site is. Consider access, ground conditions, drainage and legal matters. If you are unsure, seek professional advice. This might mean speaking to your local council. Our useful online resource www.self-build. co.uk/plot-checklistcan help bring structure to this part of the assessment process.