Whether you’re a property developer looking for land or a prospective homeowner attempting to create a forever home, building a house from the ground up is never an easy feat. Straight out the gate and you’ve got to spend time considering where the best location is. Although it may not seem that much of a big deal, the location will play an enormous part in influencing the design.
What is the Purpose of the Property?
Understanding your motivations for building the home will help guide your location choice. For example, will you be creating a family home to rent out, a farmhouse, or a dream property for personal use? Having a thorough grasp of the property’s ultimate purpose will help steer your decision.
Will the Land Be Easy to Access?
Unless you’re building a house designed for living in isolation, remember to factor in accessibility when choosing a location. For example, is there a suitable route to access nearby roads, and are there decent transport facilities nearby? A great place to start here is with Google Maps, which will give you an accurate idea of the lay of the land.
What is Utility Access Like?
Having access to roads and transport networks is only half of the mission; it has to have the potential to link up to utilities including:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
The best way to check your target land is with GPR surveys and utility surveys carried out by a reputable company like csw-surveys.co.uk.
The utilities above are the most obvious when choosing land for the building, but it also needs access to healthcare services, waste disposal, and shopping facilities.
What is the Size, Topography, Shape, and Landscape?
When planning a house build, the topography, size, shapes, and landscape must be taken into account. The size of the land has to allow for potential extensions. The shape must be practical without any odd corners to deal with. The landscape and topography should be checked for sloping, which will need to be navigated properly.
Will Surrounding Properties and Land Impact the Build?
If you choose a location without analysing nearby land and property, your project may have to change course midway through the build, meaning extra costs and a timeline extension. Some of the most common hurdles are:
- Light availability or a lack of
- Blocking light from other properties
- Causing ventilation problems for adjoining properties
- High presence of pests in the local area
- Protected species like bats
Are There Any Local Laws to Contend With?
To avoid facing serious penalties, check up on local land regulations to make sure you’ve got the green light. For example, there may be stipulations for how high a building can be. By handing in a full application for planning permission well in advance, you’ll have plenty of time to make any reasonable adjustments.
Location plays an important part in any construction project, so answer the questions above in as many details as possible before proceeding to the next stage in the planning process.
