Site plan
A site plan is a large scale drawing that shows the full extent of the site for an existing or proposed development. Site plans, along with location plans, may be necessary for planning applications. In most cases, site plans will be drawn up following a series of desk studies and site investigations.
Typically, depending on the size of the project, site plans are likely to be at a scale of 1 : 500 or 1 : 200. However, for very small projects, larger scales may be used, and for large projects smaller scales, or even several drawings, perhaps pulled together on one very small scale plan.
The information shown on a site plan will vary depending on the size and nature of the project, however, certain information is likely to appear on most site plans:
- Title block, giving the project name, drawing type, author, revision number, status, the scale used, and so on.
- Notes highlighting changes from previous revisions.
- Directional orientation. This could be a compass or a north-pointing arrow.
- Key dimensions.
- Key materials.
- Site boundaries and delineation of adjacent properties, including where necessary, adjoining or adjacent structures, and surrounding streets.
- The location of the building or buildings in relation to their surroundings.
- Trees, tree protection orders, and the main elements of the landscape.
- Parking areas with dimensions or capacities, traffic flows, and signage.
- Roads, footpaths, ramps, paved areas, and so on.
- Easements such as right-of-ways, right of support, and so on.
Site plans might also include information about:
- Buildings to be demolished or removed.
- The general extent of earthworks, included, cutting and filling, the provision of retaining walls, and so on.
- The general layout of external services, including drainage, water, gas, electricity, telephone, manhole covers, and so on.
- The layout of external lighting.
- Fencing, walls and gates.
- The location of miscellaneous external components such as; bollards, fire hydrants, signage, litter bins, and so on.
Where the site is complex, some of this information might be shown on additional specialist site plans, such as; structural site plans, site history, site lines, services site plans, landscape drawings, access and traffic flows, ground conditions and geology, and so on. Site plans may be accompanied by site sections, showing the topography of the site.
With the adoption of building information modelling (BIM), site plans are likely to form an integral part of the project information model and may be prepared in 3D, perhaps based on a point cloud survey or as light detection and ranging (LIDAR, a combination of the words ‘light’ and ‘radar’).
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 3D laser survey.
- Architectural reprography.
- As-built drawings and record drawings.
- Bay.
- Block plan.
- Concept drawing.
- Condition survey.
- Development appraisal.
- Easements.
- Ecological survey.
- Elevations.
- Ground conditions.
- How to layout a building.
- Laser scanning.
- Levelling.
- Lighting of construction sites.
- Location plan.
- Pre-construction information.
- Restrictive covenants.
- Rights of way.
- Scale drawing.
- Site appraisals.
- Site information.
- Site layout plan for construction.
- Site survey.
- Soil survey.
- Surveyor.
- Technical due diligence.
- Types of drawings for building design.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
Report on the construction sector in Ireland
TASC/CIOB study looks at post-pandemic struggles and trends.
Revised targets for Carbon Budget 6
The Government announces recalibrated goals.
ECA proposes strategies for the present and the future.
Paul Morrell to lead independent review of the construction products testing regime.
Standard will help employers foster wellbeing and manage psychosocial risks.
The United Nations has approved the IFSS common principles
Global fire standards for safety of people and property.
An introduction to the 5 core principles of lean.
Civil engineers and environmental methods of construction
Can the profession use its skills to save the world from climate change?
How faulty science resulted in sanitation reform.
Conserving the Hilda Besse Building
Improving facilities, accessibility and overall appearance.
BSRIA IAQ topic guide published
Free download of TG 12/2021 available.
Electrotechincal mentors wanted
TESP works with The Youth Group to form skill sharing network.
OpenBuilt supply chain technology in development
Big tech collaborates on platform for the built environment.
Concerns raised over Future Buildings Standard
Letter signed by 21 organisations sent to MHCLG.
Receive the Designing Buildings newsletter
Click the button to subscribe.
Comments
Great explanation on what is Site plan.