How to find a custom-build plot — ways to optimise your search

If you like the idea of a rather more hands-off approach to building your own home compared to self building, it’s important to know how to find a custom-build plot in the area in which you want to live.

With a level of developer involvement, custom build avoids some of the issues that have to be navigated with self build, while offering the design flexibility you don’t get by buying a house.

Finding a plot that meets your needs is the first step to a custom-built home, and here we look at the different ways to search for one.

Search on Plotfinder

One of the places to search when you’re asking where to buy land for a self-build home is Homebuilding & Renovating’s plotfinder.net. However, it’s also worth subscribing if you’re looking for a custom-build plot.

“Custom builds are a growing number on Plotfinder.net and at any one time we can have hundreds of opportunities on the site,” says Sophie O’Reilly, manager of Plotfinder. “You can easily filter your search results and specify custom builds in your chosen area.”

Sophie O’Reilly

Sophie O’Reilly has dedicated over 25 years to the homebuilding industry. Manager of of Plotfinder for over eight years, her passion is being able to create opportunities for self builders and renovators to find and create their dream home 

Investigate package companies

Companies that create package homes – also known as kit homes – may also source custom-build plots. Border Oak mainly offers these in Herefordshire, but sometimes beyond, for instance.

Other examples are Oakwrights which also has plots in Herefordshire plus other areas; and Potton which offers custom-build plots in different counties.

Use property portals

The major housebuying portals feature land for sale as well as house listings, and provide another way to search for a custom-build plot by area – although you will have to put a bit of work in.

Rightmove, for instance, doesn’t allow you to filter for custom build, but there are listings that offer custom-build plots. Likewise, visit Onthemarket and you’ll need to scan the land listings for the custom-build plots among them.

Register with local authorities

In England, under right to build legislation local authorities are obliged to meet the demand for custom-build and self-build housing – granting planning permission for serviced plots on a rolling basis.

The list of authorities who have to so includes district councils; county councils when they are councils for an area for which there are no district councils; London borough councils; the common council of the City of London; the council of the Isles of Scilly; and the Broads Authority and national park authorities.

The local planning authority must keep a register to track the demand for custom and self-build homes and you can sign up via the relevant local authority website to show you want to build your own home. Alternatively, BuildStore’s Custom Build Homes says that its right to build register is used by many local authorities to compile their registers, and you can sign up on its link. And the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) provides a link so you can find the registers local to you and register.

Take a look at dedicated listings

As well as allowing you to sign up with the local authority, Custom Build Homes offers an additional way to search for custom-build plots from your desktop or device.

You can find listings for would-be custom builders in its plot shop.

Check out NaCSBA members

NaCSBA’s members’ directory can help you find custom home specialists. Search the custom-build category within member listings and you can get details of what each member offers and where, plus links to their sites.

Speak to estate agents and local developers

Getting in contact with estate agents as well as local developers can be another way to find a custom-build plot.

“Opportunities to buy custom-build plots often come about in larger developments where the developer is looking to sell something in advance to demonstrate loyalty and interest in the site,” says Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman.

“The idea is that if they are selling in advance to custom builders, it sends a positive signal to other buyers, showing they have faith in the development generally,” he says.

“You might find these opportunities via an estate agent or, if a developer is building 100 houses and sells off say 10 as a custom-build plot, it might come directly from the developer, or an agent acting for them. It will depend on where it is and what is being sold.

“It’s worth starting by asking around local agents to see whether they are selling anything or have heard of any such opportunities, as well as approaching local developers to see whether they have anything available or up and coming,” he advises.

Jeremy Leaf

Jeremy Leaf is principal of Jeremy Leaf & Co, a north London firm of independent chartered surveyors, new homes development consultants, sales and lettings agents which began trading in 1984. Jeremy is also a fellow of the RICS as well as the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). He was residential chair of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for over five years and its national housing spokesperson for 19.

Tap into local knowhow

It’s also worth tapping into other local knowledge to widen the net for the right custom-build plot further.

“Speak to local builders or architects and see if they might know of any custom-build plots which might soon becoming available for sale,” recommends Asad Khan, London entrepreneur and property investment expert. “Check social media and join forum groups in your area,” he adds.

Asad Khan

Asad Khan is a London-based seasoned property investment expert with more than two decades of experience in property development, portfolio management, and market analysis. 

Finding a custom-build plot might offer you the chance to have a single home, or one that’s part of a small development like the green custom build site in Oxfordshire. And bear in mind that, as at Graven Hill, you might find sites which include both self and custom-build plots in the mix.