Site plan

A site plan shows a building not on its own but with its plot and surroundings. Plot boundaries, distances from the building to those boundaries, entrances, roads, parking, landscaping and ground levels all appear here. It is typically drawn at a small scale such as 1:500 or 1:200.

What a site plan contains

• Block and plot numbers, boundaries and neighbouring plots
• The building footprint placed according to required setbacks
• Road and pavement relationships, vehicle and pedestrian access
• Ground levels, the entrance level and the project datum
• A north arrow, and often landscaping and parking layout

Why it is the first drawing people check

Whether a scheme complies with zoning is checked on the site plan first. Called vaziyet planı in Turkish practice, it is where setbacks and coverage are tested against the zoning plan and its notes, which set the actual values. Orientation to the sun, overshadowing by neighbours and views are judged here too.

For housing and mixed developments, a site plan presented together with aerial renders is far easier for buyers and investors to understand. Our article on 3D residential site design shows how that works in practice.