How Can I Build A House In The Countryside?

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Subject Matter: Real Estate and Construction, Construction & Planning, Real Estate
• Law Firm: Lewis Silkin
• Author: Sara Hanrahan

Together with Cooke Fawcett, we have separated the journey into five simple steps which demystify the process and identify how challenges can be addressed along the way. In this article, Francis Fawcett share some of their key insights into this process.

People have often come to us with this question over recent years, especially young families looking for a more sustainable and better-designed contemporary house with a larger garden than those typically on the market - a home specifically designed for them.

You often see bespoke homes in the countryside and there are always plenty of interesting plots for sale, whether via agents or on auction websites. However, the perceived challenges and complexity of buying land and achieving permission to build a house can be off-putting and many people often default to buying an existing house or cottage, even if they know they have compromised on what they wanted.

Spaces for contemporary living are quite different to the sometimes cramped, low-ceilinged farmhouses - which are currently in high demand as there is no alternative. Clients tell us they would prefer more spacious open-plan living spaces which access straight onto external patios and gardens, and which are properly insulated with low-carbon cost effective strategies for heating and cooling.

As lifestyles change, rooms for home working and learning, and...