Always dreamed of building your own home? The organisers of the Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show have pulled together top tips for anyone who is planning to build their own home.
Permission First, Building Second
For self-builders, having the necessary permissions in place is key as it unlocks the value of the land. For anyone extending or remodelling it is possible that, under permitted development rights, planning won’t be needed – other restrictions could apply though, so it’s always worth giving checking. Planning is primarily a local function and the Planning Authority in the local area should be your point of contact. Additional advice can be found on the Scottish Government website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk) – where details of the relevant Planning Authority can be found.
Know the Building Regulations
Even if you don’t need planning permission, building regulations approval is usually necessary. These set out minimum requirements for structural integrity, fire safety, energy efficiency, damp proofing, ventilation and other key aspects that ensure a building is safe. You can begin immediately after giving the local authority building control department 48 hours’ notice together with a plan and the fee. But be careful – the work will be inspected on site for compliance so make sure you trust your builder!
Know When to Employ a Professional
Successful building is getting the right balance between using the professionals and doing it yourself so that you keep control and understand what’s happening. Consider an architect or designer – they can often make all the difference. If it’s complex, you may need a professional planning consultant who will ‘speak’ the language of the local authority.
Design to Suit the House or Plot
It’s a bad idea to set your heart on a particular size, style or design of house or extension. If you’re building a house from scratch, suitable land may be so scarce that you will almost always have to design a house to suit the constraints of the plot. If you are thinking of extending, the shape of your plot will influence what can be built and the proximity of neighbouring houses will dictate where you can put windows and probably the position of the extension. Flexibility in design and approach will maximise your chance of success.
Love Thy Neighbour
Whatever the size of your building project, keep the neighbours informed. Neighbour objections can cause you a real headache: even though they might not have strong planning grounds, they can have a negative political impact and at the very least cause considerable delay.
Know your Boundaries
If you’re extending and it involves building or digging foundations near the boundary of your land the work may require you to comply with boundary legislation. You may need to issue a notice to your neighbours and employ a surveyor to act on your behalf. If in doubt speak to a solicitor
Beware of Removing Trees
It is a criminal offence to cut down a tree which is protected by a Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). You cannot alter or even prune a tree that has a TPO on it without permission. All trees within a Conservation Area are protected by legislation.
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show is taking place at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh from 25-26 October.
