Self‑Build Foundations and Site Planning

This unit introduces pre-construction essentials for residential self-build and renovation projects, covering site selection, financing, legal and planning approvals, and core construction elements such as foundations, drainage, walls, roofs, windows, and doors. Students learn basic design principles, procurement strategies, and construction management fundamentals to produce a preliminary budget, schedule, and permit strategy that prepares them for detailed design and on-site work in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and compare potential plots using criteria for site suitability, access to utilities, zoning and planning constraints, topography, and estimated site-development costs to justify a recommended plot selection.
• Evaluate financing and legal requirements by preparing a simplified funding plan, budget estimate, and a checklist of conveyancing, permits, and approval milestones required to acquire and develop a property.
• Demonstrate knowledge of core construction systems by identifying appropriate foundation, drainage, wall/masonry, roof, window, and door options for a sample project and explaining basic material selection and procurement strategies.
• Apply basic construction management and design principles to create a preliminary project timeline and decision log that coordinates planning-permission steps, contractor roles, and key technical choices affecting the build sequence and interior environmental control.