A guide to how to plan a new build in France and how to ensure your new build dream runs smoothly.
You’ve identified the perfect plot of land. The finance is in place and now all you’ve got to do is turn your vision into reality. It is such an exciting time as you start to plan a new build unique home in France, and any new build project should be interesting, fun and immensely rewarding.
That said, every new build comes with its own set of challenges, and it needs to be well planned and executed from the get-go. French Plans English speaking architects in France are just the people to help. Whether you want to build a cosy private house or a whole gite complex, they can help make sure that your project runs smoothly, your vision is realised, and your nerves aren’t frayed with the headache of unexpected obstacles, never ending planning applications and things going wrong.
We asked them for their top tips and helpful advice for planning a new build in France:
What are your plans?
You may still be searching for your dream plot, or you may be about to sign on the dotted line but before you go any further, stop and ask yourself these all-important questions:
- Do you have a clear idea of what you want your French new build to look like? For example, do you want modern and chic, eco and sustainable, traditional and in keeping with other buildings, a small build, or an entire complex? Do you have any plans or drawings yet?
- Depending on what sort of build you are planning, there will be several different questions you need to ask before you buy, from knowing whether there are existing service connections for electricity and water to planning regulations in play. And there may be several types of permission required.
Designing your new build
You really need to have a detailed knowledge of the site and the build plan if you want your project to run smoothly and be a success. If you haven’t got a clear idea yet about the type of build you want, French Plans can work with you to come up with a bespoke design. They can also explore different design styles which can be as diverse, as eco-friendly or modular houses to more traditional style builds.
Hand in hand with design comes the feasibility of your site. You will need to assess the suitability of an area and what planning permissions you will need and are likely to get. For example, there may be certain local design considerations in a particular area that mean you will never get planning permission for a modern looking property. But equally, an area 30 miles down the road may be much more likely to grant permission.
All these considerations can and do have an impact on the time frame of your project, your budget and ultimately the success and smooth running of the build. French Plans are registered in France, and have 20+ years of experience of achieving planning permission for new builds in France and can help save you a lot of stress by ensuring that your location is a perfect match for your plans.
Getting permission
All new build projects in France will need planning permission, even if the land has previously been used for residential purposes. If you are buying a plot with planning permission included, and the designs that have approval are exactly what you want then great, but if you want to make any changes you will still need to submit a planning application of some kind.
If you’ve ever had to apply for planning permission, whether in France or elsewhere in the world, you’ll know it can be complicated. And slow. And how is your French? Because planning applications can be quite technical, and it’s essential that you understand the nuances of the language.
DIY planning
Planning applications for any property over 150 m2 (either footprint or habitable space whichever is the greater) must be prepared and submitted by a French-registered architect, such as those at French plans.
You can do the planning applications yourself if the property is going to be smaller than 150 m² (unless it’s for commercial properties), but the planning authorities are very strict and if you get any of the paperwork wrong, your application is likely to fail. Even if you already have a clear idea of the design you want and some basic plans, you may well need help transforming your blueprint into a format that is acceptable to the planning authorities.
There are various other aspects of your planning application that you need to consider such as whether you need to apply for change of use, whether there are any area specific planning issues and whether you can protect yourself by ensuring your purchase is conditional on planning permission being granted or being likely to be granted.
French Plans have the expertise and experience to handle this for you. They have a full understanding and experience of planning law and the requirements, and they speak French and English so they can explain all the details to you in straightforward language. They can prepare and submit all the documentation in the required format, liaise with the authorities on your behalf, and will always advise you about your prospects of success. That means you can focus on the fun parts of the planning and build.
Knowing what you’ve got and what you need
There are certain things that every new build needs namely water, electricity and sewers. Your plot may have these already but if it hasn’t, you’ve got some research to do. There are all sorts of question to consider including whether you can get access to mains drains or will need your own septic tank, and how easy (or expensive) it is going to be to get these vital services installed. And all new build properties must be built in line with specific thermal regulations. These are all elements the team at French plans can help you navigate.
Getting there
Finally, don’t forget, you’re going to need access to your site. This may seem straightforward but isn’t always. There can be issues around this if you’re accessing your plot over someone else’s land, need to add access or are hoping to let your property and therefore require access for holiday guests, etc.
Working together
The team at French Plans are fully qualified English-speaking architects and planning consultants. They offer end to end design and planning services for any size of project, anywhere in France. Says architect Tom Easdown:
“At French Plans, we are here to ensure that your planning application runs as smoothly as possible. Whether it be for pre-purchase advice about the plot you have chosen; working with you to design your dream home; or helping you to get planning permission for designs you already have in mind. We understand the complexities of working with international clients to successfully navigate the French planning system together. Get in touch to discuss how we can help you get permission to build your dream French home.”
Find out more and contact the team for all your planning permission and design needs in France at www.frenchplans.com
