Choosing land for a modular home is one of the first decisions in any construction project. But does just any plot allow this type of housing to be installed?

Not necessarily. As with conventional construction, you need to assess planning viability, the characteristics of the land, access and available infrastructure before moving forward.

The land must allow construction

The first thing to confirm is whether it is possible to build on the land. The fact that it is a modular home does not mean it can be installed anywhere.

In Portugal, buildings are subject to the applicable planning rules, regardless of the construction system used.

The framework should be analysed in accordance with the Regime Jurídico da Urbanização e da Edificação (RJUE) and the territorial management instruments that apply to the municipality.

For this reason, before buying land, it is important to confirm the following with the Municipal Council:

• whether construction is permitted;
• maximum implementation and construction area;
• setbacks and the number of floors allowed;
• existing constraints on the site.

This analysis can help you avoid discovering, after the purchase, that the intended project is not viable.

Access is also important

In modular construction, the modules are produced in a factory and then transported to the site where the home will be installed.

This means that access to the land must allow the passage of the vehicles needed for transport and assembly. Very narrow roads, tight bends, trees, cables, bridges or steeply sloping access routes can make the operation difficult.

You must also consider the space available for the crane used to position the modules. Assessing these conditions in advance helps avoid changes to the project and additional costs.

Water, electricity and sewage

Another essential point when choosing land for a modular home is the availability of the main utilities.

It is important to check whether the following networks exist:

• water supply;
• electricity;
• sewage;
• telecommunications.

Norda models are delivered with the interior water, electricity, gas and sewage installations already integrated. However, the connections from the home to the external utility networks depend on each plot and are not part of the base proposal.

When there are no public networks nearby, alternative solutions may be needed, and these should be analysed during the development of the project.

What about the foundations?

Although it is built using a modular system, the home needs a properly prepared base. The type of foundation depends on the soil characteristics, the topography and the project itself.

For this reason, knowing the conditions of the land before construction makes it possible to define the most suitable solution and anticipate the work required.

At Norda, the preparation for the foundations and the concrete slab can be assessed and quoted after the technical analysis of the project.

So, what is the ideal land for a modular home?

There is no single type of ideal land.

A good land is, above all, one that combines construction viability, suitable access conditions and characteristics compatible with the intended project.

Before deciding, try to assess the following:

• Planning viability: is it possible to build a home on the site?
• Topography and soil: what preparation and foundations will be needed?
• Access: can the modules, equipment and crane reach the land?
• Infrastructure: are water, electricity and sewage available?
• Layout: is there enough space for the intended home model?

If you are still looking for land, you can also read our article on the most common mistakes when choosing land for a modular home.

Already own land?

Before deciding which home to build, the first step may be to understand exactly what the land allows you to build.

The Norda team can analyse the characteristics of your project and help you find the most suitable solution among the different modular home models.

Already have land in Portugal?

Get in touch and take the first step towards turning your project into reality.