The plot decides more about a self-build than any drawing does. Before you buy land, or before you commit money to a plot you already own, nHouse looks at what can realistically be built there, what it will cost to get the house onto the site, and what the planning position is likely to be.
Come to us for this on its own, or as one stage of a build we take from plot to handover.
A second pair of eyes on a listing or an auction lot, covering the planning history, the likely constraints and the questions to put to the selling agent before you exchange.
If we are using modern methods of construction like panels or modules, these arrive on lorries and are lifted into place by crane, so road widths, bends, bridges, overhead cables, trees and the crane position are all checked early. If we are using traditional construction, we need to check there is space for materials storage. Planning in advance means a smoother-running project.
Where the water, power and drainage connections are, whether a mains sewer is in reach or a treatment plant is needed, and what the ground is likely to mean for the foundations.
A written summary of what the plot can take, the main risks and a realistic budget range, so you can decide with your eyes open rather than on the strength of an agent's description.
We can help you look in the right way. That means being on the self-build register with the councils where you want to live, knowing which kinds of site tend to get permission, and being able to assess a plot quickly when one comes up. We do not sell land ourselves.
Under the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015, every council in England keeps a register of people who want to build their own home, and it has a duty to grant enough permissions for serviced plots to meet that demand. It is worth joining in every council area you would consider.
It depends on the site. A topographical survey is almost always needed for design, and ground investigation is sensible where the ground is uncertain or the plot has a history. We will tell you which surveys are worth paying for at feasibility stage and which can wait.
It depends on how much is already known about the plot. A first view often comes quickly from a site visit and the planning history, and a full written feasibility takes longer. We give you a timescale when we agree the scope.
Most clients start with a question, not a build. We work at whatever point you have reached.
Honest early advice on whether a plot, a budget and an idea actually work together.
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Design, drawings and supporting information for your application, and the conditions after approval.
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Developing, or preparing your existing design, into something that can be built to cost and to programme.
Read moreYou do not need drawings, a planning decision or a fixed budget to talk to us. Most of our clients did not have any of those when they got in touch.
Tell us about your plotSend us what you have so far, a location, a sketch, a planning reference or just a question. We will come back to you with an honest view of where you stand.