The very first episode of Channel 4 property development show, Grand Designs, featured a thoroughly normal couple building their dream home using a wood frame kit assembled on top of a cliff top in Newhaven. Their budget was tame, even by 1999 standards, but they pulled something splendid and utterly bespoke out of the hat simply by taking the time to source the right materials, design and location for their needs.
Self-builds on a small budget are still a fairly uncommon sight in the UK. Setting aside grand mansions and luxury lodges, the typical way for the average Brit to live is still in a standard model home of brick and mortar. But with the average age of first-time buyers rising to around 34-years-old, savvy Brits are putting their money to a more creative and ultimately beneficial use – self-building homes.

The Market
A lot of self-build homes at the more modest end of the market are built using wood and other eco-friendly materials. As a timber merchant, we source our wood ethically and make sure you’re clear on where it’s come from, whether you’re just picking up a bit of cut to size chipboard or enough MFC to furnish a home.
• It’s estimated around 8.25% of all new homes in the UK are self-builds.
• The total number of self-builds in the UK that reached completion has risen each year. The first quarter of 2012 saw a 3.75% increase, and that covers self-builds completed over the winter months.
• Around 31% of all new, detached homes are self-builds, although many are considered high-end properties rather than budget homes.
• The average self-build typically takes around 18-24 months to complete.
• A recent survey by the Building Societies Association found 53% of consumers said they would consider building their own home if it was easier for them to do so (e.g. a healthy, low-cost self-build market existed in the UK and planning permission could be sought more effectively)
• In terms of a place in the European self-build market, the UK is still lagging. 80% of homes in Austria are self-build projects, plus 60% in Germany, France and Italy.

Funding
Self-build mortgages are not common in the UK. But they are growing in popularity, and are estimated to rise from £800 million in 2011 to £1.9 billion by 2015.
But how can low cost self-building become the norm in the UK? As suppliers of everything from building timber to plywood sheets, we believe the government needs to publicise the ease of self-building and set up a supportive body to aid consumers and protect their interests. For example, planning permission in the UK represents some of the strictest codes in the world, and that has a huge impact on self-build effectiveness.
A market for self-build funding could also see new opportunities for smaller niche lenders seeking to move away from the constraints of typical mortgage lending. Competition between providers could see the UK housing and mortgage market shift significantly.