You will see us refer to BUILDBASE throughout this project. We use them for the supply of most of our materials, as we have found their service and the expertise of all their staff, to be by far the best in our area.

The Site

The cost of building sites vary enormously across the country. If your area is expensive, seriously consider re-locating, even a few miles, to find something cheaper. For instance, here in the Cambridgeshire Fens we were able to find a plot attached to a derelict house for £20,000.

The plot had no planning permission but an informal chat with the Planning Department suggested that this would not be a problem.

There are two stages in dealing with the Council, obtaining both Full Planning Permission and Building Regulation Approval. You should do both at the same time.

Services were close to the site.

Access for the large vehicles needed to deliver to the site was very restricted.

Ground conditions were poor. A Structural Engineer did a Soil Survey and established that we needed a piled foundation, for which he drew up detailed plans.

Thus we had a mixture of joys and problems typical of a lower end of market building plot.