Plots & Sites
The idea of designing and building your very own luxury home is of course a very appealing one. However, having the means to construct your own ‘grand design’ is one thing, finding the right opportunity in the right location is quite another.
Knowing where to start your search for a building plot can be a daunting prospect. There are no ‘go-to’ website portals in the same way that there are for houses or cars. Often the very best opportunities come disguised as something else – a large garden perhaps, or an ordinary home in an extraordinary location. Fading hotels or other commercial property might have huge but unrecognised potential to take on a new lease of life as somebody’s dream home.
Securing a purchase when you might not be the only potential buyer can also be challenging. Recoco’s Plots and Sites Specialist is Mike Henderson. As with all the Recoco Property Search agents Mike will liaise closely with the seller or their agent, taking the lead in negotiations to ensure the most favourable terms possible are agreed.
These complexities involved in finding and acquiring the right site to develop and then progress through the design and planning stages require a steady hand on the tiller, something that Mike and the team at Recoco are well-placed to provide.
Mike began his property career 38 years ago and during that time has assisted many buyers and sellers of residential property. He has built up an extensive range of professional connections that can often unlock the door to development opportunities not always available on the open market or that are apparent to the casual observer. This experience enables Mike to identify the most likely locations where those unique one-off plots which have the potential to accommodate a unique and innovative dwelling are most likely to be found.
Mike’s wide-ranging role also includes enquiring into the planning history of a site, discussing potential with planning consultants and architects, advising on values, and introducing other appropriate consultants. These will include land surveyors and geo-technical advisors assessing what is under the ground and not immediately apparent to the naked eye. Mike will discuss the nuances of a property with solicitors, in particular looking at any covenants or overage provisions attached to the site.
Mike comments;
“No two sites are ever the same and there are issues that need to be considered that go well beyond a conventional house purchase. The previous use of the land, special conditions of any sale, planning history and potential, construction costs, and both purchase and end values vary considerably.”
Mike can offer advice and assistance with the following:
Identifying any local planning policy issues that would need taking account of - Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or other potentially restrictive designations for example.
The planning history of the plot (if any) or others nearby.
Practical constraints to building - Tree Preservation Orders, access in and out of the site, flood zones, or geotechnical and ground contamination issues.
Build costs including contingency sums.
Legal matters such as rights of way, restrictive covenants, or overage provisions in favour of a previous owner.
Valuations of the site and of the completed project.