Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Becontree
A serviced plot in Becontree is a parcel of land with planning permission or a clear route to it, a road access and connections for water, drainage and electricity at the boundary, ready for someone to build their own home. Land to Homes looks for land that suits serviced plots, takes it through planning and services it, so self-builders can focus on the house.
Becontree · RM9Free site appraisal
Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Sites we take on near Becontree
We cover Becontree as part of Greater London. It is about 11 miles east of London, around postcode district RM9. Dagenham is the closest neighbouring place we cover, at about 2 miles, followed by Barking and Ilford. Becontree is part of England’s London region.
Near Becontree, we look at schemes that need redesigning to work, plots where access or drainage is the sticking point and land with an expired or ageing consent. In England, where Becontree sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
If you have a site near Becontree that is stuck, a short call is the best place to start.
Why work with Land to Homes in Becontree
Landowners welcome
If your land could suit self-build plots, our free site appraisal explains the options, including a direct purchase, an option or a promotion agreement.
Part of larger schemes
On bigger developments, serviced plots can sit alongside homes for sale, rent and affordable tenures, sharing the same roads and services.
Planning made clear
We aim to bring plots forward with planning permission in place, or with a clear set of rules, often called a plot passport, describing what can be built.
Services at the boundary
Plots are planned with road access and connections for water, drainage and electricity, so you are not left negotiating with utility companies on your own.
The English system, as it applies in Becontree
Whether a field or large garden could take homes depends mostly on the council's Local Plan and national policy. Under the National Planning Policy Framework, plans define settlement boundaries, and land just outside Becontree may still come forward if it is allocated, previously developed or meets evidenced unmet housing need. Smaller housing schemes can also use Permission in Principle, an England-only route that settles location, use and amount first. Our free appraisal explains which route suits your land.
In England, councils keep self-build and custom housebuilding registers under the Right to Build legislation and have a duty to grant enough suitable permissions for serviced plots to meet demand. Self-build homes can usually claim an exemption from the Community Infrastructure Levy where it is charged, and plots are judged against the National Planning Policy Framework and the Local Plan.
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
|---|---|
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Land registration | HM Land Registry |
| Developer contributions | Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it |
Serviced Plots for Self-Build in Becontree: questions
Can I sell part of my land as self-build plots?
Yes, if the land has planning prospects and suitable access. A few plots can suit land on a village edge or a large garden. Our free site appraisal looks at whether plots would work and whether a direct sale to us, an option or a promotion agreement is the right route. On option and promotion agreements we pay your reasonable legal fees.
Is there a self-build register in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
In Scotland, planning authorities keep self-build lists of people interested in building their own home, which inform local planning. Wales and Northern Ireland do not have a statutory register like England's, although some councils may still record interest, and self-build plots are assessed through normal planning policy. Check with your local council.
Can I get a mortgage for a self-build plot?
Many lenders offer self-build mortgages that release money in stages as the build progresses, but criteria vary and a standard mortgage will not usually work. You will normally need planning permission, a detailed budget and a warranty or professional supervision in place. A mortgage broker or adviser can explain the options; we cannot give financial advice.
What is the difference between self-build and custom build?
With self-build, you organise the design and construction of your home yourself, either doing some of the work or hiring a builder. With custom build, a developer provides more of the package, such as a serviced plot, a range of designs and sometimes the construction itself, while you make the key choices. The line between the two is not always sharp.
Can you manage a site in Becontree from planning to build?
On land we take forward ourselves in Becontree and elsewhere in Greater London, including Barnes, Eltham and Battersea, we manage planning, design and construction. Tell us about the site and we will explain how we would approach it.
Read more: Serviced Plots for Self-Build · Guide: Section 106 and affordable housing: what landowners should know