The lucrative spot of DIY

By Andrea Watson
Posted: 2010/09/03

ANDREA WATSON takes a look at one way of acquiring the house of your dreams

FALLING land values, greater availability of plots and improved information on self-build projects are boosting sales of "readymade" timber-frame homes.

According to Potton, the country's leading manufacturer of self-build housing, there has never been a better opportunity to build the home of your dreams.

"Self-builders are leading the way when it comes to building high-quality, individual homes which serve to improve the integrity of the towns and villages in which they sit, " said Neil Horton, general sales manager at Potten.

Mr Horton also argued that this new type of "developer" should be treated more fairly by planning authorities, particularly in terms of meeting housing targets.

"Not only are the finished properties higher in quality, they are environmentally sound and in many cases replace old, decaying properties or make use of disused brownfield sites in towns and villages across the UK, " he said.

Potton estimates that as many as 40 per cent of its customers are replacing existing dwellings with new, with another 40 per cent making use of garden space across the UK.

The company also said that in most self-build projects, planning permission on garden sites was not difficult to obtain, despite the fact that they are no longer classified as brownfield sites.

Potton offers a hand-holding service for people who wish to build their dream home right from the basics of finding their way through the planning maze.
One couple, Jacqueline and John Barker, were given permission to build two houses from the Heritage range in a conservation area in Wheatley,
Oxfordshire.

Another, Jill and Barry Deeks, are nearing the end of the build of their dream home in Barnet, north London.

Their Queen Anne-style property is taking shape on what was an old pub garden and is also in a conservation area. The house meets level 3 of the new code for sustainable homes.

Mrs Deeks said: "This kind of development is surely preferable to sacrificing greenbelt land across the UK. The plans for this property were passed without question and when you look at its environmental credentials, it's easy to see why."

Maxim Porcaro and Keith Hughes are another couple who have managed to build their dream home and save money.
Christmas House in Hertfordshire cost just £240,000 to build and is now valued at more than £1million.