O
neofthemostcommonquestionstheteam
at Oakwrightsareaskedis:“HowdoI find
myperfectplot?”Unfortunatelythereis no
straightforward answer to this, other than a lot of
research and perseverance. The general perception
is that we are a small overcrowded island with
little land available, but in fact this isn’t the case
— which is great for self-builders. However, land
suitable for development can be hard to find.
Sometimes more creative thinking is required, for
instance buying a plot with a view to demolishing
and replacing the existing building, or building on
an infill site created from sub-divided gardens.WHERE DO I BEGIN?
There are several avenues to explore when looking
for a plot. These include investigating national land
databases which, for a fee, allow you access to a list
of plots. However we wouldn’t advise you to solely
rely on these, as good plots often don’t reach the
open market.
If you can narrow down your search area, werecommend making locals aware that you are
looking for a plot. As daunting as it may be, don’t
be afraid to knock on a stranger’s door to ask
whether they would consider selling part of their
garden! Local press, auctions and estate agents are
also good sources of information, but remember to
keep pestering the estate agents, as they could hold
the key to your perfect plot.
The one common theme that we hear from
our clients about finding their perfect plot is
how determined they had to be. So don’t get
discouraged, it is estimated that between 18,000
and 25,000 single self-builds take place every year
so your plot is out there. If you are embarking
on your self-build journey and would like further
information on how Oakwrights can help,
visit http://www.oakwrights.co.uk, email enquiries@
oakwrights.co.uk or call 01432 353353.homebuilding.co.uk 105Perseverance pays off
Lesley and David had lived in a new
house for nine years when they
decided it was time to self-build. They
sold their house and spent two years
in a campervan ensuring they were
ready to relocate when a plot became
available. They took out subscriptions
to plotfinding websites, but it was
their persistent niggling of estate
agents that finally found them their
perfect plot. “We found a plot but the
agent advised us it was controversial
because a developer had illegally
removed some trees, which resulted
in tree preservation orders and
restrictions being put on the site
limiting where we could build,”
explains Lesley. “Fortunately the
owner of the plot agreed to allow us
six months to try and secure planning
before the sale was completed.”
Lesley and David secured
planning and moved in to their
beautifully designed barn-style home.If you are hunting for
a plot, don’t despair.
There’s the perfect spot
out there for youstarting
the dream
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images:
mark Welsh photography