Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Building your own house: should there be more of this in the UK?

29 replies

Kokeshi123 · 05/01/2024 03:22

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/uks-communist-housing-market-ripe-revolution

The UK is quite unusual in the very low percentage of new houses that are self-built. In many other developed countries, a third or more of all new single-family homes may be self-built, often by companies where buyers can purchase packages and choose from styles which they can then customize.

Should this be commoner in the UK? Is there anyone here who has done it or considered it?

It occurs to me that making houses properly insulated and rigged up with modern heating systems and solar power would be easier if self-build were commoner. The Nordic countries have shown that heat-pump alone is fine for cold winters as long as homes are really well insulated and triple glazed, but many people in the UK are stuck with a choice of "not very inspiring new-builds" vs "old houses that are full of character but very hard to retrofit and insulate properly."

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/uks-communist-housing-market-ripe-revolution

OP posts:
Werenearlytherexmas2024 · 06/01/2024 08:01

We also self built a bespoke house here in Ireland and its fairly common here. I always wondered same as you about the UK.

We hired the least amount of tradespeople we could get away with and did the rest ourselves.

It was a tough time and we went over budget due to materials increases that suppliers put down to covid/brexit/ Ukraine war. We got into the house a year and 10 months after starting. The site was a bare site to begin with no water or electric. It was stressful but definitely worth it.

StrawberriesSW1 · 18/01/2024 18:23

Sublime66 · 06/01/2024 07:44

It’s the local authorities that are the problem in the UK. They can miraculously approve 35story tower blocks and their whole authority can go completely bankrupt but they can’t approve a simple extension on a property that someone already owns.
They are corrupt jobsworths that’s all.

The Planning Laws handicap them to some extent. Central government needs to include more single dwelling development under Permitted Development.

PissPotPourri · 18/01/2024 18:29

It’s actually on the rise in the UK. Councils and government are starting to push it and market the concept as an affordable option for all, not just the better off.
There is a huge centre dedicated to self building in Swindon called the NCBRC (National Self Build and Renovation Centre) which is an absolute hive mind, and houses every technology and expert you could possibly need if you are considering this.

PanickingAgainNow · 18/01/2024 18:29

I don’t want you building near me and spoiling my beautiful view. NIMBY

New posts on this thread. Refresh page