Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

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Transmitter Man
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Joined: 24 Jul 2013 18:31

Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Transmitter Man »

Before I get in too deep and purchase a parcel of land I wonder if anyone in the forum has experience of leveling land, white rock rather than sand or mud!

Is this too much for a regular bulldozer or are there contractors out there with specialist machine that combine crushing rocks while leveling?

There is an existing very rough track (also made of of white rock) across the land directly from a municipality maintained road. What is the basic preparation required before laying a concrete drive?

This whole land parcel is steep and on one side of a hill. There are a couple of other small weekend properties within a few hundred metres but never a sign of the owners so I've not been able to ask question.

Any recommendations for reliable and affordable contractor who could take a look and quote for the work between Paramytha & Alassa.

David
Nigel Howarth
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Nigel Howarth »

Hi Transmitter Man

The first thing you must do is make sure you can build on the land and check that you can access the land over the rough track. If it part of the parcel you're considering buying you should have access. But if it's on someone else's land you may have to negotiate access.

You also need to ensure the land you have been shown is the one on the deed. You'll need a surveyor to check - see list of private licensed surveyors.

Ground works can be very expensive! I expect you'll need a stout retaining wall at the rear of the plot as well as levelling and compacting the land and disposing of surplus. I suggest you get some quotes for the groundwork as well as making sure you can build on the land before you purchase.

There are specialist contractors who could do the work - maybe someone in the Community/Municipal office can give you a few names.

Regards,
Nigel Howarth
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Transmitter Man
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Transmitter Man »

Hello Nigel,

I'm ahead of you.

I've had the surveyor out and have marked all ten points on the plan - land is rarely square!

It has 1% build but the plan is a prefab which I've been reliably informed does not require planning.

Ok on the retaining wall but the land includes the complete top of the hill. There are two wells drilled on adjacent parcels so I'm hoping an application for one will be approved. The plan is completely off-grid.

Yes, some groundworks quotes I think is the next move - I had thought of asking around at the local farmers coffeeshop :-) as a possible cost saving!

David
Pantheman
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Pantheman »

Transmitter Man wrote: 27 Feb 2019 15:49 Hello Nigel,


It has 1% build but the plan is a prefab which I've been reliably informed does not require planning.
This is not true. Any structure built or placed on land requires a permit.
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Transmitter Man
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Transmitter Man »

Hi Pantherman,

Thank you.

In that case someone I know installed theirs without this permission! Not the first time I'm sure in Cyprus.

I will visit the land registry.

Thank you again.

david
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Pantheman »

Transmitter Man wrote: 28 Feb 2019 07:49 Hi Pantherman,

Thank you.

In that case someone I know installed theirs without this permission! Not the first time I'm sure in Cyprus.

I will visit the land registry.

Thank you again.

david
Its the planning department you need to visit for such items.

Good luck.
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Nigel Howarth »

Hi David

Just to add to what Pantheman has advised, I believe the land you're considering is classed as agricultural (because of the 1% building density).

If it is agricultural land, planning permission will almost certainly be refused.

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Nigel Howarth
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Transmitter Man
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Transmitter Man »

Hello Nigel,

I was led to believe one could apply for permission for a single dwelling subject to various conditions including that the applicant did not own a property and that the land was within so X100m of a municipality maintained road (I have read of different distances from said road but around 300-500m)?

Did this rule once exist but no longer as I have not found anything in print to say that you can no longer build on agricultural land?

David
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Pantheman »

Nigel Howarth wrote: 28 Feb 2019 19:03 Hi David

Just to add to what Pantheman has advised, I believe the land you're considering is classed as agricultural (because of the 1% building density).

If it is agricultural land, planning permission will almost certainly be refused.

Regards,
At 1% I would say it is either protected zone or forestry! The time when you could get a permit to build on Agricultural land has now gone.

Planning departments have had a directive from the main Nicosia Planning department not to issues such permits. There are some conditions whereby one could get a permit, such as. Needs road access, needs to be less than 500m from a residential zone, you have to be from that area, you must have owned the land pre 1989, you have no other land in a residential area and possibly others. When you satisfy all this, you apply to the ministry of the interior not the normal route through the planning department.

Now, if you just wanted to take the unofficial route, level the ground, put a concrete base, sit the prefab on it and hope no one complains as says anything. You won't get power nor water connected, but if you can drill a bore hole, you still need a permit to do that to legally draw water. Then how are you going to power it?? Having said this, it you do manage to get a permit, you could then apply to the electricity authority for power for it :)

Hope that helps.
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Pantheman
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Pantheman »

if you post the district, location and reg no. i will look up the zone for you.
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Nigel Howarth »

There's an article by Antonis Loizou on the subject that you can find at Houses on Agricultural Plots in Cyprus.

Have the restrictions been lifted Pan?

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Nigel Howarth
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Transmitter Man
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Transmitter Man »

Thank you for posting that link Nigel.

Pantheman,

I have sent you a detailed pm.

Many thanks.

David
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Pantheman »

Nigel Howarth wrote: 01 Mar 2019 01:04 There's an article by Antonis Loizou on the subject that you can find at Houses on Agricultural Plots in Cyprus.

Have the restrictions been lifted Pan?

Regards,
Nigel,

this was the proposed case (I have a PP presentation by the Planning dept. giving all the reasons to stop development) that they wanted to prevent any development or make very difficult to get any permit on such land. However, due to much pressure, by various groups, the law was directive was retracted by the out going minister (I think it was Eleni Mavrou at the time or it could have been Hassikos can't remember now), but suffice to say the direction of the minister was to follow the then rules that were being flouted by many planning departments.

What I mentioned is the current setup as I believe it to be, but I stand to be corrected.
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Pantheman »

Transmitter Man wrote: 01 Mar 2019 08:09 Thank you for posting that link Nigel.

Pantheman,

I have sent you a detailed pm.

Many thanks.

David
David,

I have seen it, I am trying to ascertain the exact zone, but from what you have said, none of those options would be permitted unless ..... I will email you separately when I get a moment.
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Transmitter Man
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Re: Leveling Land & Laying Concrete Driveways

Post by Transmitter Man »

OK.
I will wait to hear from you with your thoughts and the way forward.

David
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