How do I find a site?
Local knowledge is a considerable asset in finding and purchasing suitable sites on which to build. Potential sites will be advertised in local newspapers, the Solicitors’ Property Centre, estate agents, solicitors and possibly by the Council itself. Some will have outline planning consent for housing, some will be serviced with water, electricity and gas and some will have neither planning consent nor services. Do not purchase until, at the very least, outline planning consent for housing has been obtained.
You should inspect the planning permission as conditions imposed on it may restrict your options (e.g. restrictions on the type or size of housing you can build) or influence your budget (e.g. whether traditional design features are required). The planning permission is available from the selling agent or the Area Planning Office.
The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust buy land on behalf of rural Highland communities for serviced plots. These are sold at discounted prices, for Rural Home Ownership Grant (RHOG) applicants to build their own homes. See Section 3.3 for more information.
Where will I get good, professional advice on self-building?
Anyone wanting to build a house has to overcome a number of bureaucratic requirements before they are allowed to proceed to the bricks and mortar building stage. Good legal advice from a qualified solicitor should be sought at an early stage, particularly by those who have not yet acquired legal title to the house site.
Even before a potential house site has been identified, but if not as soon as possible afterwards, professional architectural advice should be sought about the following essentials:
Planning Regulations and Procedures
Planning officials are more than happy to help anyone who is thinking of building a house, giving specific advice on the requirements of the planning system and more general advice on other aspects of the building process. They have lots of experience which they would like to share as early as possible. This will help the potential house-builder avoid some of the pitfalls and delays that can arise due to lack of knowledge concerning planning consent.
Contact your local Area Planning and Development office for local Planning or Building Standards guidance or for Planning Applications and Building Warrants.
The planning officials will explain the Council's policies on the position, design and location of any new house to be built in its area. They will advise on the requirements for drainage from the house site, road access and water supplies. They will provide assistance with, as well as advice on, preparing applications for outline and/or full planning permission and for a building warrant.
More information and guidance, as well as blank Planning Application forms and Building Warrants, are available on The Highland Council’s website through this link - www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/planning/
Information is also available at Service Point and Area Planning and Development Services Council Offices. Contact details are set out below.
There are also a number of information leaflets available from the Highland Council’s Planning & Development Services and through the weblink above. These include:
Leaflet 1 - How to Contact Us
Leaflet 3 - Building Control Process
Leaflet 6 - Enforcement Action
Leaflet 7 - How to Appeal
Leaflet 8 - Planning applications and contaminated land
Leaflet 9 - How to make an application for Planning Permission
Leaflet 10 - Planning and Building Standards
How do I go about designing my house?
Both the planning office and local solicitors can provide names and addresses of house designers, architects and building contractors. The Yellow Pages Directory also gives names of the manufacturers and suppliers of ‘kit houses’. Some building contractors and all kit suppliers also provide a choice of house designs which, if suitable, may avoid or reduce the requirement to employ an architect. On the other hand an experienced architect will also greatly reduce the amount of time and effort that would otherwise be spent by the client on overcoming some or all of the hurdles involved in building a new house.
Who can I contact for more information?
Highland Council Planning Offices:
Badenoch & Strathspey
100 High Street
Kingussie
PH21 1HY
Tel: (01540) 661 700
Fax: (01540) 661 001
Email: planning.badenoch@highland.gov.uk
Caithness
Market Square
Wick
KW1 4AB
Tel: (01955) 607 751
Fax: (01955) 806 924
Email: planning.caithness@highland.gov.uk
Inverness
1-3 Church Street
Inverness
IV1 1DY
Tel: (01463) 720 600
Fax: (01463) 711 332
Email: planning.inverness@highland.gov.uk
Sutherland
Drummuie
Golspie
KW10 6TA
Tel: (01408) 635 352
Fax: TBC
Email: planning.sutherland@highland.gov.uk
Nairn
Barron House
88 High Street
Nairn
IV12 4AU
Tel: (01463) 703 636
Fax: (01667) 452 936
Email: planning.nairn@highland.gov.uk
East Ross
Council Offices
84 High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9QN
Tel: (01349) 868 600
Fax: (01349) 864 675
Email: planning.rossandcromarty2@highland.gov.uk
Skye & Lochalsh
King's House
The Green
Portree
IV51 9BS
Tel: (01478) 612 412
Fax: (01478) 613 518
Email: skye.planning@highland.gov.uk
Lochaber
Fulton House
Fort William
PH33 6XY
Tel: (01397) 707 015
Fax: (01397) 707 022
Email: planning.lochaber@highland.gov.uk
Mid & West Ross
Council Offices
84 High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9QN
Tel: (01349) 868 442
Fax: (01349) 864 675
Email: planning.rossandcromarty2@highland.gov.uk
| Return to Table of Contents
| Return to "Do you want to find out about buying or building a house?