11 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Building Site

 11 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Building Site

 

The process of designing and building a commercial or residential building does not begin immediately.

There are numerous critical factors and stages that must be followed in order to have the perfect or ideal building that fits your lifestyle. The site selection process is one of the most important stages to consider. Most construction engineers, homeowners, and architects are unconcerned about this. It is, however, the most important aspect of all the processes that contribute to the success and satisfaction of the act of planning and constructing a building. In the same vein, the process of selecting a site can be quite difficult for many people, particularly those who are unfamiliar with site survey or analysis.

It is not only about visiting the site and conducting an inspection; it is also about becoming aware of all the unique features of the site, which will give you a good idea of how to begin your building design and construction. As you begin your planning process, make a note of those features and make an effort to use them to your advantage.

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Site

The following are the most important considerations if you want to design and construct a building on a good site.

1. Specify the reason or purpose for locating your plan on the site.

This should be the first consideration when selecting a location for any type of plan or construction. You must be able to clearly define your reasons for wanting the site.

Are you planning to build a house or a business on it? Or do you want to build a modern farm with a variety of plants and livestock?

Knowing why you want the site will help you plan the design more effectively and give the construction process a sense of direction.

2. Accessibility and location

Make an effort to learn the address and any other pertinent information about the location of the site. Is it possible to find the site using Google Maps? Is it easy to get to? Being able to find answers to such questions will give you an advantage.

Examine the site's proximity to a road, highway, transportation system, airport, and other infrastructure that will make life easier for the proposed building's occupants.

 

3. Availability of utility and raw materials

To be successful, any construction or building project must be carried out in an area with easy access to infrastructure and utilities. Electricity, water supply, healthcare, a shopping mall, a good waste disposal system, and so on should all be available.

Another important factor to consider is the proximity of the raw materials that will be used in the planning or construction. This will allow you to save money on the cost of transporting or importing raw materials to the job site. You will also have sufficient resources at your disposal to complete the task.

This is especially important if you intend to build a manufacturing industry. Being close to the raw materials needed for the manufacturing process will be highly profitable for you in the long run.

4. Knowing your competitors

If a commercial building is what you're planning on the site, you need to study the locality and know those who will likely be your competitors. This will help you to properly strategize your planning to make you have an edge over them.

With the right innovative mechanism, you can surpass your competitors and generate a high return on investment in no time.

However, don't forget to make sure that your site is located in the right place where your target customers reside. If this is in place, you’re guaranteed to become successful with your business on the site.

5. Investigate the buildings and land that surround the site.

If proper care is not taken, the surrounding land and/or building can have a negative impact on your planning. As a result, you must make an effort to thoroughly investigate the building(s) or land that surrounds your site.

If the building is too tall, it can interfere with ventilation and obstruct sunlight during the planning process. Similarly, if the site is surrounded by land, you must consider how the land may impact your planning.

Some unused land near the site may harbour pests and other insects if it is overgrown; it may also harbour dangerous animals.

As a result, you must devise a strategy to combat these factors in order to keep them from negatively impacting your site.

6. Landscape, size, shape, and topography are all important considerations.

These four elements must be carefully considered. Knowing your size and shape will allow you to get a plan that fits perfectly. The size of the site should allow for future expansion, and the shape should be even and free of sharp corners.

The topography and landscape should also be properly documented. Is there a slope on the property? If it does, you must determine the type of slope it has in order to design the building in such a way that it will not have an adverse effect on the construction later on.

7. Security and the nature of the neighborhood

The safety of people and property is critical in any residential area. As a result, this factor should not be taken lightly. Before you begin anything, conduct an investigation of the security system available at the site and its surroundings.

Knowing the local crime rate will allow you to make informed decisions and take precautionary measures to protect yourself, your family, employees, and property.

The character of the neighbourhood is also very important. Are your neighbours pleasant? Is there a high concentration of toxic elements in the environment? Is the site itself free of contamination that could endanger human health?

These, and other pertinent questions, must be addressed before deciding on a site.

8. Law & finance

After gathering sufficient information about the site and its surroundings, attempt to discover the laws or rules that govern the activities of those who operate in the area.

There are places where the government makes laws about the limitations that a site should have.

These constraints could include the amount of vacant space required in the front and sides of the site, the proportion of the plot that should be built on, and the required height of the building that must be erected. Learning the laws and effectively following them will keep you out of trouble with the government.

You must also be able to calculate the costs of everything, especially the ones for the site, utilities, and other payments that you will most likely have to make in the future. Make sure that all costs and payments are in line with your budget so that you don't go bankrupt.

9. Know the soil type

A specific site may contain a variety of soil types. As a result, you must pay close attention to the soil available on your site and determine whether it is suitable for construction.

You don't want to end up with a cracked or faulty building as a result of the foundation's soil type.

As a result, learn about the soil's safe load-bearing capacity so that you can design a foundation and structural system that will work efficiently and effectively.

You will be able to use the soil on your site to your advantage if you determine its components and capacities, whether it is clay, sandy, rocky, or marshy.

10. weather situation

Every location has its own set of weather conditions. Before you begin any plan, you must first determine the weather conditions at your site. If there are any natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or volcanic eruptions, you must learn about them before proceeding.

11. Natural characteristics

When used properly, nature's gift adds value and aesthetics to a site. Wherever the site is located, there must be unrestricted access to natural light and air.

Determine the wind direction and build a climatologically responsive building that the inhabitants will enjoy.

Natural vegetation around the site, such as plants, trees, and flowers, can be used to increase the value and beauty of the site if the site planner is aesthetically inclined in creating a design that is harmonious with nature.

If that is successfully implemented, the site will be a work of art that will appreciate for decades to come.