2. Site Selection

1. 2.1. Finding a Site
2. 2.2. Site Checklist

2.1. Finding a Building Site in France

Clearly, the first step in the whole process is to find that ideal site on which to construct the house of your dreams.

The simplest way of doing so is to buy land already on the market with planning permission.

Local agents, newspapers and internet sites will all have building land, called terrain a bâtir, advertised for sale.

However, it is not the only way to find a site, for land zoned for construction may not always be on the market and land that might be available for construction may not yet have received planning permission.

The local plan comes in different forms and may either be called a Plan d'ccupation des Sols (POS), Plan Local d’Urbanisme [PLU] or Carte Communale.

Neither is the existence of a local plan necessarily the last word on whether or not you can build on a particular site!

In many rural areas of France, keen to increase their population, there are always exceptions that can be made to a case that is well presented.

The mayor plays a crucial role in this whole process and you would be well advised to cultivate a good relationship with your local mayor.

Nevertheless, their word is not always final so, if you are buying land without consent on it, make sure any contract for the purchase of land is subject to 'in principle' planning consent, called a certificat d’urbanisme, being obtained.

2.2. Site Checklist

The following checklist may help you in deciding if a particular site you have found is right for you:

• Does the site suit your current lifestyle and needs and will it also be suitable in the future?
• What is the likely density of development that will be permitted on the site and will this meet your needs?
• What other development is likely to take place in the area over the next few years?
• What is the likely orientation of buildings on the site?
• What arrangements will be necessary for the provision of public services – electricity, gas, telephone, drainage?
• What are the precise boundaries of the site and might it be necessary to arrange for boundary determination, called bornage, to be carried out?
• What is the nature of the soil? Is it suitable for construction? Is it necessary to have soil tests carried out? You may well find that the planning authority insists on such tests before planning consent is granted.
• What are the septic tank requirements of the site if mains drains are not available? A soil test is obligatory if you are to install a septic tank.
• What will be the access arrangements onto the site and who will own the land on which access is obtained?
• What public and private servitudes may there be on the land, e.g. rights of way drains, cables?
• What is the value of building land in the area and how does the purchase price of the site compare to the local average price?
• What is the likely overall cost of the project and can you fund it without overstretching yourself?

You may well find it useful to refer to some of our other pages to get more information on some of these questions.

You can find detailed information on the legal formalities of the buying property in France by visiting our pages on Buying in France.