New-build and self-build house plans
Building a new house, or replacing an old one on your plot? Auto Builder turns your floor plan or sketch into scaled floor plans, elevations, a 3D model, A3 planning drawings and a building regulations specification for a new home, free and in your browser.
Start my new-build planClick + New plan and choose New-build house. Upload a floor plan, a brochure page or a sketch, or start from the example 4-bed detached house.
What you get
- Scaled floor plans for every storey, with room names and inside doors.
- Front, rear and side elevations and a roof plan, drawn from the 3D model.
- A site plan, and a sheet for the Ordnance Survey location plan you buy and upload (about £10–£30).
- A3 planning sheets with title blocks, ready to print or save as PDF.
- A planning statement and a checklist for a full planning application.
- A space check against the Nationally Described Space Standard, using the bedrooms you name.
- 1:50 building regulations sections and a specification set to the new-home targets.
- A 3D view, a walk-through at your own eye height, and an AR view on your phone.
Planning permission for a new house
A new house always needs full planning permission (or outline permission followed by reserved matters). Permitted development doesn't cover new homes. Councils usually ask for:
- A location plan (1:1250 or 1:2500) with the site edged in red, and a block or site plan (1:500 or 1:200).
- Floor plans, elevations and roof plans of the new house, usually at 1:100 or 1:50.
- Details of parking, access, bins, drainage and landscaping.
- A design and access statement where the site is in a conservation area or other designated land.
- Biodiversity net gain information, unless an exemption applies.
Self-build exemptions
- Biodiversity net gain: self-build and custom-build homes are exempt when the site is no bigger than 0.5 hectares and has no more than 9 homes. Very small sites that affect less than 25 m² of habitat (or 5 m of hedgerow) are also exempt.
- Community Infrastructure Levy: where your council charges CIL, a self-builder can claim exemption. The claim must be made and accepted before work starts, and the evidence is sent within 6 months of finishing. Starting work before the exemption is granted can lose it.
Space standards
Many councils require new homes to meet the Nationally Described Space Standard. Some minimum gross internal areas for two-storey houses:
| Bedrooms / people | Minimum floor area |
|---|---|
| 2 bed, 4 people | 79 m² |
| 3 bed, 5 people | 93 m² |
| 4 bed, 6 people | 106 m² |
| 4 bed, 8 people | 124 m² |
A double bedroom must be at least 11.5 m² and a single at least 7.5 m². Garages don't count towards the floor area.
Building regulations for a new home
- Part L (energy): a SAP calculation and an Energy Performance Certificate. The design is compared with a "notional" home with walls of about 0.18, roofs 0.11, floors 0.13 and windows 1.2 W/m²K.
- Part O (overheating): limits on glazing and a plan for ventilation in summer.
- Part S: an electric vehicle charge point where the home has its own parking.
- Part G: water use of no more than 125 litres per person per day (110 where the council asks for it).
- Part M4(1) access, Part Q security for doors and windows, Part R gigabit broadband, plus fire safety, ventilation, drainage and structure.
Use a full plans application for a new house. Your mortgage lender will usually also want a structural warranty or an architect's certificate.
Questions
Do I need planning permission to build a new house?
Yes. A new house always needs full planning permission, or outline permission followed by approval of reserved matters. Permitted development does not cover new homes.
Is a self-build house exempt from biodiversity net gain?
Self-build and custom-build homes are exempt when the site is no bigger than 0.5 hectares and has no more than 9 homes. Very small sites affecting less than 25 m² of habitat or 5 m of hedgerow are also exempt.
Do self-builders pay the Community Infrastructure Levy?
Self-builders can claim exemption from CIL, but the claim must be accepted before work starts, and evidence must be sent within 6 months of finishing.
What is the minimum size for a 3-bedroom house?
Under the Nationally Described Space Standard, a two-storey 3-bedroom home for 5 people needs at least 93 m² of gross internal floor area, if your council has adopted the standard.
Can Auto Builder draw a new-build house?
Yes. Choose New-build house when you start a new plan. It draws the floor plans, elevations, 3D model, planning sheets and building regulations sections, and checks room sizes against the space standard. The drawings are a guide and must be checked by a professional.