Who do I ask about potential planning permission?!

[Helpmehousehunt]

Hi,

We are seriously considering a self build and have a budget, for land, of 275k, then would get a mortgage of 260k for the build. Please could anyone who knows about planning permission take a look at this and let me know who I have to ask so I can make enquiries to try to find out if it may be granted? I don't really know how you go about it when a piece of land if for sale but there isn't PP in place. I mean presumably you can get a good idea if it's likely before buying?! Anyway, thanks in advance

www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/44105997?search_identifier=a4530b1f0e3b31d8da5a396a42ccbb69#Xe7shrx4pRilVRFK.97

Great, thanks! I guess I just get the address from the agent? Thanks again.

The contact details for planning departments can usually be found online. Just google "planning department" and the name of the council that the land is in, or alternatively the name of the nearest town.

Thank you, sorry I meant the address for the land or the area or something so the council can give the advice? Thank you!

I think you can apply for PP when you're not the owner. Will cost you though.

Is it likely the owner will sell land without PP knowing you want to build a house on it?

The owner, if they have half a brain, will get the pp and then sell the plot to you with pp. The price will reflect this. You can apply to alter the design if you don't like it. You can apply for pp on any plot. There may be a good reason why it hasn't already got it of course.

Alternatively wait for a self build estate near you! Bicester and Aylesbury are meant to be having them so presumably other councils are allocating self build land too.

You can search planning decisions for that street on the council website to get an idea of what might happen to a planning application.

Although based on this it doesn't look terribly promising.

Many local authorities offer a pre-application advice service for a small fee though you may be able to get informal advice ahead of that without charge. I have to say that the advice we got was wrong. They said no chance of PP and we got it.

You can apply for PP on someone else's property; you just have to notify them. I wouldn't think that's the right way to proceed though. The value of the land may increase and if you have no contract the owner may sell to someone else!

I don't know how this is usually done though. There must be books / websites explaining the usual process if you're doing a self-build.