Starting a self-build? So, you have planning permission under your belt and you’re raring to get started, first make sure you’ve considered these next steps before you start to build a new home.

1. Site insurance

Hopefully you’ll have taken out site insurance as soon as you took ownership of the plot. From day one you will be liable for any injuries to the public on your land. If not, do it now. Site insurance also provides protection against injury claims from sub-contractors. This protects the building and building materials. It will include plant and any ancillary buildings to the project like a caravan or site storage. There’s also cover for legal expenses. Typically, policies are valid for one to two years so make sure there is the option to extend if you run over the deadline.

2. Structural warranty

A ten-year structural warranty isn’t a legal requirement but some mortgage lenders insist on one. Site inspections by the provider throughout the project ensures your build complies with building regulations. Without one, it may be difficult to sell your house within ten years – a valid structural warranty can be transferred to the new owner.

3. Planning conditions

All approved plans for a self-build or major renovation project will come with a list of conditions that need action. This is known as the ‘discharging of planning conditions’. Some of these will need dealing with before work begins on site, such as confirming external materials, parking, access, landscaping, drainage and removing trees. You’ll need to submit a form to planning listing which conditions you want to discharge and details of how you’ve done this.

4. Access

There may be a logical way to access your plot or you may need to create a new way to enter and exit. By now you will have addressed the highway safety issues and have a strategy in place that’s satisfied planning. Often this is one of the conditions that needs discharging before work begins (see above). In addition to this, consider the state of the ground along the route to where the foundations will be laid. Heavy machinery and delivery lorries will be coming and going. These will need a safe and easy way to reach the area, as well as turnaround to exit. Don’t let lack of space or persistent rain cause snarl-ups or vehicles to become stuck in mud.

5. Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Self-builders are exempt from the CIL development tax. But in order to qualify you need to complete exemption forms. These certify the new home will be occupied as your main residence for three years. You will have already done the first stage at planning, but before work begins, you must submit a ‘commencement notice’. Then within six months of completion, Part 2 of the ‘exemption claim’ form must be completed. One self-builder made the mistake of posting the documents to the council without proof of postage. When they were lost in the post and missed the deadline, they had to pay out nearly £30,000.

6. Building regulations

Once you have planning permission, the drawings need to go back to the architect for further development to meet building regulations and tackle any tricky technical issues. The design needs building regulation approval, preferably before you begin, so that you’re assured the groundwork and foundations comply with the first inspection by building control.

7. Materials storage

Materials will arrive on site in bulk and can’t be left hanging around outside in case they’re stolen or damaged by the weather. If you can, make use of an existing outbuilding. Otherwise buy a secure lock-up or build a log cabin that can be turned into a garden room later on. Place the building in a sensible location in relation to the build so there isn’t too much to-ing and fro-ing. Factor in labour time/costs to move the delivery of materials undercover, whether that’s your own manpower or paying someone else to do it.

8. Lighting design

Some self-builders view hiring a lighting designer as a luxury and understandably this may well be the case if your budget is tight. However, there’s nothing stopping you from going through the floorplans and marking where you’ll have sockets, light switches, lights. It’s easier to get your head around this if you plan where to position large pieces of furniture, like sofas, beds, bedside tables, as well as TVs, the dining table and kitchen island. Think about the activities you’ll do in each room and the type of lighting you’ll need – for instance, freestanding floor lamps, task lighting, dimmers, smart lighting. If your electrician has a creative eye, it might be worth paying them a little extra and working through the plan together. Rest assured once the lighting plan is done, there should be no need to change anything.