Lots of people, myself included, get very frustrated about many of the hurdles that have been put in place to stop people being able to get permission to build their own home. This is despite various warm words from policy makers down the years about supporting self-builders. Given the housing crisis facing us as a nation, many of these restrictions seem grossly unfair to anyone who aspires to build – or even just to live in – a home they can afford.
The specific design and energy performance of any new house should, of course, be carefully considered, but often the biggest consent hurdle is getting the principle of residential use established for a plot, i.e. getting the authorities to agree that any home can be built there. One way many self-builders have found to work through this is to find a plot that already has a house on it. That should mean that this ‘residential use’ hurdle has already been cleared, but there are still things to watch out for and other permissions that will be needed.
DO I NEED A FULL PLANNING APPLICATION?
If you’re knocking down to rebuild, the short answer is probably but not always. If you’ve read my previous articles for Homebuilding and Renovating, you will know about Permitted Development (PD) rights. These are circumstances where planning consent is deemed to have already been given.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Back to black
Dramatic black finishes and industrial touches add impact to Charlotte and Sam Tisdall's extended end-terrace home
Change for good
A last-minute decision to build a kitchen extension instead of a general update turned out to be a wise move for the owners of this detached period property
High praise
After converting a run-down gospel hall into a unique 1930s-inspired home-complete with geodesic dome - Alice Deuchar and Daniel Schamroth pronounced it a resounding succes
Lifetime achievement
Replacing a tired 1960s bungalow with a bespoke prefabricated contemporary house allowed retired architect Helen Heslop Brunt and her husband Martin to fulfil a long-held dream
Self-build for beginners PART 13 PRE-CONSTRUCTION GUIDE
Make sure that your insurance, health and safety, build and cost schedules and all documents are all in place before kick-off
ECO LANDSCAPING
Creating a garden with green credentials isn't without its challenges, but there are plenty of ways you can reduce its impact on the environment, once you know how
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PASSIVHAUS VENTILATION?
Heat and energy expert David Hilton explains the benefits, options and costs of this ultimate heating standard
HOW MUCH DOES EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION COST?
It's touted as an affordable home insulation method, but is external wall insulation worth the outlay and what are the lifetime costs? We look at the figures...
Open-plan kitchen DAVID HOCKNEY EXTENSIONS
From structural considerations and zoning to layout ideas and lighting, our practical guide to creating your new space has it covered
RENOVATING A GEORGIAN HOME
Known for their elegant architectural features, Georgian homes need to be restored sensitively to make them fit for modern life
