What is building positioning?
Positioning is the place a building takes on its plot. It covers the relationship to the boundaries, the road and the neighbours, the orientation towards the sun, and the level at which the building is set. Siting is the common synonym.
It is one of the few decisions in a building project that cannot be corrected later. Insulation can be improved and a layout can be remodelled — the position on the plot is fixed once the foundations are in.
What the position determines
- Sunlight. Living room and terrace to the south or south-west, bedrooms and stores to the north. This is not a matter of taste: it shows up in both heating demand and summer overheating.
- Roof orientation for solar panels. A south-facing plane yields most per panel; east-west yields less per panel but a flatter output across the day.
- Privacy and outlook. Where does the neighbour look in, and where do you look out?
- Access. Driveway, parking, bin store and the route to the front door. A beautifully positioned house with an impossible driveway is badly positioned.
- Wind and shelter. A terrace in the funnel between two blocks never gets used.
- Ground and levels. The finished floor level relative to the road and the surrounding ground decides whether water runs onto your plot or away from it.
The regulatory framework
Positioning is largely determined by rules. Check before you design:
- The local development plan or zoning scheme — the area within which building is permitted, permitted heights, site coverage and the designated use of each part of the plot.
- Building lines and boundary distances — these differ considerably between countries and between local authorities.
- Rights of light and boundary rights — rules on windows, balconies and outlook within given distances of a boundary, and on planting.
- Permitted development — outbuildings, garages and canopies have their own size limits and boundary distances.
- Daylight and overshadowing assessments — for larger schemes the authority will test whether neighbours lose an unreasonable amount of sunlight.
Practical points
- Set it out on site. Pegs and a roll of line give you more insight in an hour than a week of drawing. Walk the plan out on the ground.
- Visit more than once. Go at different times of day and, if you can, in different seasons. A garden that is sunny in June can sit all day in the shade of a tree line in March.
- Think about construction logistics. A crane, a concrete truck and a piling rig all have to reach the work.
- Leave room for maintenance. At least half a metre all round, so you can reach the facade later.
Related terms
- Building line
- Zoning
- Site coverage
- Finished floor level
- Orientation
- Boundary
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.