The first step towards your new home​

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The planning process can be daunting at first glance but it's important not to let it put you off. By following a few simple rules you can greatly improve your chances of gaining permission to build the timber frame home you want.

 

The first thing to check is whether the plot of land you are considering has any existing planning constraints. Is it agricultural land or considered to be for commercial use only. Have there been any previous attempts to gain planning permission. You can check this with your local council.

 

Secondly, you need to consider whether you can afford to build on the land. Most people can apply a budget rate of between £900-£1000 per square metre habitable area as a basic budget. This will account for a 'standard' build to a decent specification and allow some contingency for additional costs. (ground floor + first floor habitable m2 area). 

Within this budget cost there is provision for foundations, floors, walls, roof, plumbing and electrics, plastering and kitchens & bathrooms. Everything you need except the cost of the land. Obviously, you can easily blow the entire budget on the worlds most incredible kitchen quite easily so these rates reflect an average decent specification with some room for you to up and down spec as required. 

 

Another important considerationis timescales since these will have an impact on cost. You might need somewhere to live for the duration of your build or possibly have to pay storage costs for your furniture etc.

This is where timber frame construction can have a great advantage over traditional masonry. The structural shell of an average 220m2 house can be erected in around 3-5 working days. Assuming you get a small window of good weather you could have follow-on trades sequenced to begin within a week.

 

It is possible to buy a plot of land with existing planning permission. This is the more expensive route but you can avoid any disappointment and save yourself the time and cost of making an application.

 

Alternatively, you could buy an existing house and demolish it. The only restrictions to be wary of in this situation is that the new house may be limited to the footprint of the previous one.