House demolish/build & planning

[PlanningNewbie]

I would appreciate any help here at all, and this forum has been so helpful in the past.

I've inherited a house on a plot of land around half an acre, (totally unexpected, still in shock) the house itself is pretty uninhabitable, a small 2 bed cottage built before regulations, dangerous electrics, condemned gas connection, full of damp from roof to floor, with no mains water to it.

if I can raise funds, how likely is it that I'd be able to get permission to demolish the house, and would I only get planning permission to rebuild the same size house or would I be able to go larger?

Once all the legalities are sorted I can get professional surveyors and ask the council to visit etc and get advice but it's still going through so I wanted to ask for any experience here in the meantime!

You probably need an architect familiar with the local planning criteria but you could apply to extend the footprint.

Is the property typical for the local area or are there larger properties close by? It might be worth looking at the Planning Portal for the local authority and seeing if they have any guidelines or guidance documents available.

Many planning offices will have an informal pre-application chat with you (for a fee) to discuss what you can and can’t do.

As above - are there any houses nearby and what do they look like? Does the cottage have any architectural value/redeeming features?

But if you plan to rebuild then sell I’d strongly advise getting outline planning consent for as big a house as you can then selling it to a self-builder. Plots in good locations for self build are gold dust and you will maximise the value that way.

If you want to DIY then invest in a few back copies of Homebuikder or Self Build or whatever they are called nowadays.

@LIZS

You probably need an architect familiar with the local planning criteria but you could apply to extend the footprint.

Thank you - should I start with an architect before approaching planning?

@Purplewithred

Many planning offices will have an informal pre-application chat with you (for a fee) to discuss what you can and can’t do.

As above - are there any houses nearby and what do they look like? Does the cottage have any architectural value/redeeming features?

But if you plan to rebuild then sell I’d strongly advise getting outline planning consent for as big a house as you can then selling it to a self-builder. Plots in good locations for self build are gold dust and you will maximise the value that way.

If you want to DIY then invest in a few back copies of Homebuikder or Self Build or whatever they are called nowadays.

It's semi rural, the properties nearby are all larger, they look like 3 or 4 beds built in the last 50 years or so (nothing 'new' nearby) rather than the tiny 2 up 2 down cottage - no it doesn't have any features/interest whatsoever.

Totally see your point about maximising value and selling, but hopefully I'll be able to raise funds to self build and live there myself with DH; a forever home. Would hate to sell it :(

As soon as probate is sorted I can start investing in advice, but waiting until it's 100% sorted until I start spending and getting my hopes up as I don't quite believe it still.

It might also be worth employing a planning consultant.