How much land do you need to build a house?

The question of how much land you need to build a house can be a complex one. It’s not just a matter of thinking about the home and garden size you want, but also of what local planning policies stipulate.

It's just one of the challenges you can face when finding a plot. You will need to assess what size of home you could build on a particular plot in a specific location, and the reality is you may find you have to make compromises to build in the area you prefer.

To help you plan your project we asked the experts how much land do you need to build a house so you can more easily understand how to assess your plot and its potential to meet your self build brief.

How much land do you need to build a house?

When you want to build a house, it’s common to think that you need a generous amount of land when you self build, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

“A general rule of thumb is that the plot should be at least 1.5 to two times the footprint of the house to allow for parking, garden space, and access,” says Chris Walton, construction director at HJK Construction.

A housing developer might put a four-bed two-storey home with a footprint of around 70 square metres on a plot size of a minimum of 210 to 280 square metres, or 0.05 to 0.07 acres, although factors such as local planning requirements and density regulations can have an impact, says Chris.

Self builders may well want to have a larger amount of land to build on, but for a four-bed home of 140 square metres, Janet Nuttall, site owner of Wellbank, suggests that although, “there is a large amount of variation here – about 405 square metres would be your average size plot”.

Not requiring as much land as you imagine is a valid point says Homebuilding and Renovating's self build expert, Mark Stevenson, noting how larger plots will also come with a heftier price tag.

"Houses don’t need as much land as you’d think," says Mark. "Shown below are a selection of different plot sizes ranging from 0.1 acre through to 1 acre with the same 170m2 house on them.

"As you can see, most people will find 0.2 acres to be more than enough to support a suitable house. However, do remember that at the kerbside, a plot of this size will look rather small without anything on it, but don’t let that put you off.

"At the other end of the scale, a 1 acre plot is, relatively speaking, gigantic. Depending on its location, such a plot is more likely to be suitable for four or five houses, and its price tag will therefore reflect this."

Chris Walton

Chris Walton is the construction director at HJK Construction, bringing 15 years of industry experience and 11 years of dedicated service to the company. Throughout his tenure, Chris has played a vital role in the successful completion of over 1,000 properties, with 200 directly under his leadership as construction director. 

Mark Stevenson

Mark Stevenson has worked as a construction professional for over 30 years and following an extensive career in housebuilding. He is currently chief operating officer for Custom Build Homes and chair of the National Custom and Self Build Association. He previously worked as managing director for Potton, helping self builders build their own homes. Whilst Mark describes himself as a ‘professional builder’ as a result of his career in housebuilding and timber building system manufacturing, he has specialist knowledge of timber construction and extensive expertise in finding land and project management.

Planning requirements may impact how much land you can buy

It isn’t possible to follow a single rule on the amount of land you need to build a house. “In planning terms, there is no minimum plot size for a house set nationally,” explains Janet Nuttall.

You will need to abide by local standards on the land area you need, however. “Each local authority has its own planning guidelines, which can affect plot sizes,” says Chris Walton. “Key considerations include: minimum spacing and density rules – councils often dictate how close houses can be to each other, requiring minimum distances between buildings and from the street; garden size requirements – many councils specify minimum outdoor space; and parking regulations – requirements for off-road parking spaces vary, often requiring at least two per dwelling,” he explains.

It is important to do your homework on the amount of land you will need to build the house you want. “Some councils have very strict rules about plot sizes and distances to neighbours, and others are more flexible,” says Janet Nuttall. “Always check with the local plan and any associated development plan documents before you start designing to make sure when you submit your application you are meeting the council rules.”

Janet Nuttall

Janet Nuttall is the site owner of Wellbank in the English Lake District national park, which provides custom-build opportunities.

Understanding the influence of location on plot size

Where a plot is located – whether it’s an urban, suburban or rural area – can be crucial in terms of the amount of land needed to build a house.

“Location affects what the local planning authority will allow in that development has to fit comfortably with what is around it,” says Janet Nuttall.

“It will probably influence would-be developers as they would like what others already have in terms of amenity,” she adds. “That will vary from, for example, wanting private parking, good view and a big garden in a rural area, to perhaps a small garden or outdoor space and access to transport and leisure facilities in an urban area.”

Will the site be suitable and provide enough land?

The amount of land you’ll need to build a house might also be influenced by factors in addition to planning requirements.

“Sloping land may need more space for earthworks and mains drainage,” points out Chris Walton. And there’s the issue of flood risk and environmental factors. “Some areas require larger buffer zones or specific building measures,” he says and are all points to consider when assessing a plot for potential.

You might also want to consider what happens when you want to sell. “The balance between house and garden size affects desirability,” says Chris. He notes, too, that there’s the question of whether you might want to allow for building an extension or even another self build in the future, both of which can add value in the long run.

While how much land you’ll need to build a house isn’t set nationally, be mindful that there is a nationally described space standard for the interior of new homes in England. Although its requirements are likely to be below what you’d want from your self build, it’s important to be familiar with them – particularly if you’re building on a small piece of land – so you know if your project is achievable or not.

As well as making sure you don't buy land that's too small, be sure to check out these other common plot buying mistakes before you commit to land for your project.