Site access can influence the cost, sequence and disruption of an extension. Discuss how people, materials and waste will move before comparing final prices, especially where the house is occupied or the plot has narrow side access.
Describe the actual route
Provide photographs and accurate dimensions for gates, passages, steps and changes of level. Identify trees, overhead obstructions and surfaces that may need protection. Let the contractor assess the route rather than assuming a van, skip or piece of equipment will fit. Do not enter unsafe areas or take measurements near live traffic to complete your notes.
Separate ownership from permission
Check the legal rights attached to any route crossing shared or neighbouring land with your adviser. Informal past use does not establish that construction access is permitted. Ask who will obtain any highway, parking, skip or scaffold permissions that the proposed arrangements require. Put responsibility and related costs in the agreed scope.
Discuss deliveries and storage
Ask how deliveries will be booked, unloaded and stored without blocking public routes or emergency access. Identify which items need secure or weather-protected storage and who will coordinate suppliers. Limited space may require smaller deliveries or a different sequence; those implications belong in the programme and price. Do not assume that the pavement can serve as a storage area.
Plan for the people living there
Explain who will remain at home, including children, visitors and anyone with access needs. Ask the contractor to set out how the work area will be separated from occupants and how safe access will be maintained. HSE guidance describes how domestic client duties normally pass to the relevant contractor or principal contractor; clarify the appointments for your project.
Include waste and making good
Ask where waste will be held, how it will leave the site and how the lawful disposal arrangements will be documented. Record protection and reinstatement of paths, fencing and gardens in the scope. Take dated condition photographs with the relevant parties where appropriate. A narrow route can make removal and reinstatement a significant part of the work.
Agree how changes will be handled
Keep a simple access plan with the current site arrangements and contact details. If a delivery method or route changes, have the contractor review the implications before it happens. A homeowner’s sketch is useful background information; it is not a substitute for the contractor’s construction planning, risk controls or specialist advice.
Further reading
HSE: domestic clients and construction work. Official guidance checked 21 October 2026. Requirements vary by project and UK jurisdiction; use advice relevant to your property.
Related: How to compare builders’ quotes before a home renovation.
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