Buying a site to Build Your Home in Co. Westmeath
All you need to know to about purchasing a site to build your own home
The idea of purchasing a site to build your dream home can be a difficult process with many considerations to be taken before you can actually get blocks in the ground. We have set out below some information on what considerations you need to take into account in advance of purchasing a site.
1. Buying a site
It is always recommended that a site for the purpose of building a family home is purchased subject to obtaining planning permission from the local authority. In this situation a price is agreed for the site and a contract is signed by both parties. Once permission is granted the buyer usually has a few weeks to pay for the site at the original agreed price. If for some reason planning permission is refused the purchaser can agree not to proceed with the purchase.
2. Local Needs Criteria
It is important to have a basic knowledge of the local needs planning policy as set out in the Westmeath County Development Plan which limits the building of rural homes to people who meet a local needs criteria. The type of people who qualify is set out below.
a) Persons who are actively engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, bloodstock and peat industry.
b)Members of farm families seeking to build on the family farm.
c) Landowners for this purpose being defined as persons who own the land 5 years prior to the date of planning application.
d) Persons employed locally whose employment would provide a service to the local community.
e) Persons who have personal, family or economic ties within the area, including returning emigrants.
f) Persons who wish to return to farming and who buy or inherit a substantial farm holding which is kept intact as an established farm unit, will be considered by the Council to be farmers and will be open to consideration for a rural house, as farmers. Where there is already a house on the holding, refurbishment or replacement of this house is the preferred option.
3. Appoint an Architect/Engineer
We would recommend employing a local engineer/architect to submit the planning application to the local authority. The planning process can be tricky with many hurdles such as meeting the local needs criteria, House Design and Road Sightlines to be considered.
We hope you found our advice useful but please feel free to contact us if you are considering purchasing a site for the purpose of building your home.