What is self-build?
Each year thousands of families and individuals choose to build their own home, however the term ‘self-build’ is a little misleading. Anyone who arranges the design and build of a new home for their own occupation is defined as a ‘self-builder’. But you don’t have to spend all your spare time on your project, be a DIY enthusiast or work in construction to successfully build your own home. Many ‘self-builders’ have little or no knowledge of the building industry or simply don’t have the time to devote hours and hours each week to organising and managing their project.
Self-build is the means of creating the home you have always dreamed of, designed to exactly suit the way you want to live. Extending and refurbishing is an alternative to self-build and we can help you with that option. With many of our clients who built replacement dwellings we first explored extending and refurbishing. However they concluded that remodelling the existing house involved too many compromises and blending the new extension and existing dwelling into a homogenous building was a concern. Also achieving the same energy efficiency and airtightness as a new build is expensive and often simply not practicable with a renovation. Another major consideration is cost as extensions are proportionately more expensive and unlike self-build, you cannot reclaim vat (currently 20%).
The majority of our clients lead busy lives and our service is carefully tailored to suit each client’s personal circumstances. With Design & Materials you can be involved as much or as little as you choose and our service ensures that you are able to choose all the things that are important to you, guided at every stage by our experienced team of experts.
What we will do for you
The key stages of building your new home
- Site Assessments
- Project Appraisals
- Setting Your Budget
- Creative Bespoke Design
- Planning Permission
- Building Approvals
- Dealing with Third Parties
- Tendering to proven builders
- Fixed Figure for the Build
- High Quality Materials
- Friendly Professional Service
- Support from Start to Finish
We have everything you need to build your own home
45 years of know-how
Personal service is the heart of Design & Materials. For 45 years we have been helping clients, in every corner of the land, to build beautiful, bespoke, energy saving homes; from cosy cottages to large country houses and from traditional to contemporary cutting edge design. We have an unrivalled depth of experience and provide you with everything you need to successfully build your own home. We pride ourselves on a high level of personal service, customer care and giving sound, reliable advice at every stage of your project.
You can build on our experience
We are a friendly, helpful team each with 20 to 30 years’ service and know-how which you can draw on. We are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure our clients realise their dream.
Design & Planning
Designing your new home and obtaining planning permission
Good design is a key element of any successful building project. Our Head of Design, Beverley Pemberton, is one of the country’s leading house designers with an unrivalled track record of designing exciting, sympathetic and imaginative bespoke homes. Given the opportunity we are confident she can create something special for you.
When you are happy with your design we prepare and submit the planning application and manage the process on your behalf. We have a track record rarely matched by others of successfully negotiating planning permission for the homes our clients want to build. Once planning is secured we can start gearing up your project for a start on site.
Tendering the work / finding you the right builder
A cost certain approach to building your new home
We believe our system to be unique and the most user friendly available in the self-build market. Before you commit to the expense of third party fees, Building Regulations application and other associated costs for a modest fee we undertake a detailed costing exercise which enables us to provide our clients with a figure for the overall build costs. This gives our clients peace of mind moving forward, in the knowledge they can afford to build.
Site Assessment
Have you found a potential building plot?
If you think you have found a potential building plot or an existing property for demolition and replacement, then we can provide you with a desk-top Site Assessment which is free of charge and without obligation.
Project Appraisal
Do you already own a plot?
If you already own your plot or in the process of buying or have an existing property for replacement, then we can undertake a Project Appraisal to assess the viability of your project and discuss what’s possible. This is carried out by one of our experienced team and is free of charge and without obligation.
Call us or visit our website for more information on our unique service.
Our telephone number is Freephone 0333 001 5128
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