So, you want to build your own house?

Continued...

The next option is to look for a private piece of land for sale and this is where you must be careful. Yes, there is a lot of land for sale, but in this area its farming and agricultural land. The first thing you need is outline planning permission called a 'certificate d'urbanization’. If it’s not already in place and usually it lasts only for a year, at which time you have to re submit an application, it can be a long drawn-out process as we were soon to find out.

The other option is to go to a construction company that has bought a large area of land and will build for you but will not always give you the size of plot you would like or the type of house you would like.

The notaire had given us five sites to look at: the first was in a deep valley, shaded by a lot of old trees facing onto another row of houses and only 1000m², no mains drainage and at 15€ per m². The second was too far out of the town, meaning we were back to our cottage situation, as far as commercial services were concerned. The third was one of two plots (1000m²) on a quiet corner but behind the cemetery and the refuse collection bins; apart from the smell and mess from the bins in summer, I did not want to be so close to the high wall of the cemetery, I would be behind it soon enough!!! There were no views - location !! location!! location!! as the Americans say.

The fourth and fifth plots were adjoining, off a secondary road just 500 metres from the centre of the town, approx 2000m² each with a third plot already being built on and neighbours? - yes, but not too close. There were new houses built opposite in large plots as yet unscreened and an elevated view across the centre of the town with the church spire illuminated in the westerly sunset. Ideal, I here you saying? Well - ok! but not perfect - that's very difficult to find. The front of the two properties were enclosed by a 7 metres laurel hedge and my first thoughts were, "thats got to go!" The first plot sided onto a collection of wooden chalets which were used by a large rehabilitation unit for mentally-handicapped youngsters just at the end of the road; one of the reasons we presumed the plots had not yet been sold but more about that later. The second plot had a very high mixed hedge of hardwoods, very nice, but with no view and there was also a medium tension cable running across the centre which caused, and is still causing, problems. So, we looked harder at the first plot and both decided it was a fair option.

The next stage was a trip back to the notaire to discuss everything in detail, and here the saga really begins!

We'll have more from Maureen Twitchen and her 'View from Brittany' later.