If you find a plot of land that you like but it has not got any planning permission then it is not a building plot and you should seek professional advice before purchasing it. There is a strong possibility that you will not be able to self build your home there and it is better to find this out before you purchase the land rather than buying it then finding out you can't build on it. Not only will you lose money by doing this but it will also be very time consuming.

When looking for land to self build your home on you will find that most building plots will be sold with Outline Planning Permission. This means that the Local Planning Authority has agreed that a house can be built on the land. Within three years of purchasing the land however you must submit an application for Detailed Planning Permission which will explain in full detail what you plan to do with the land such as the size of the building you wish to build.

Detailed Planning Permission is an important stage when you self build your own home. This is because it's an actual permission specifying in detail the type of house, its layout and the specification of the external construction materials. Again, it is very important that you do this accurately otherwise you may start building only to find that you're doing something you haven't been given permission for which will delay the building process.

When choosing to self build your own home it is so important that you sort out planning permission as soon as possible. If Detailed Planning Permission is not sought within three years or construction of your self build home has not started five years of the Detailed Consent, then planning permission will lapse. Not only can this be expensive and time consuming, but just because you were successful with gaining planning permission the first time, it doesn't necessarily mean you will be successful on your second application. There are many professionals who are happy to assist on this topic which is advisable if you aren't very knowledgeable about planning permission.