Buyer Beware:
- Sight lines, rights of way, restrictive covenants, and the need for new entrances are crucial considerations.
Sight Lines:
- To obtain planning permission for a new house, you must ensure adequate road entrance sight lines.
- Generally, the higher the speed limit on the road, the greater the sight lines required to see oncoming traffic from both directions.
- Sites on winding roads with high speed limits may be difficult or impossible to build on.
- Check local planning regulations for specific requirements.
Rights of Way and Restrictive Covenants:
- Your solicitor should investigate rights of way issues and any restrictive covenants that might limit your building plans.
- This is essential due diligence, as important details can be overlooked when rushing to secure a plot.
- Ensure you can meet these requirements within the land you own to avoid the need to purchase additional land (a ransom strip) from a neighbor at a premium.
Mortgage Considerations:
- Creating a new entrance typically requires a local authority application and the use of an approved contractor for the work.