Category: Self Build
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Planning and Infrastructure Bill becomes law
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has received Royal Assent and is now law, marking a major change to the UK’s planning framework. For self-builders, the changes could make it easier to get permission, access land, and incorporate sustainable features into their projects. By reducing bureaucracy and legal hurdles, the law aims to make the process…
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Swift bricks now expected in all new homes
If you’re planning to build a new home, there’s a small but important feature you need to know about: swift bricks. These specially designed bricks provide nesting space for declining bird species like swifts, and new government guidance now expects them in all new homes. Understanding how this policy works, how it could affect your…
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Hebridean stonehouse becomes Grand Designs House of the Year
A tiny stone home built by hand on a remote Scottish island has just been named Grand Designs House of the Year for 2025 and it’s turned ideas about ambition and architecture on their head. Instead of glass palaces or dramatic loft conversions, this year’s winner is modest, elemental and deeply shaped by its place,…
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18th-century Cardiff farmhouse plot ready for redevelopment
A 0.61-acre former farmyard in Old St. Mellons has come onto the market, offering a redevelopment opportunity that combines planning certainty with genuine historic interest. Located on Bridge Road, the site listed on Plotfinder includes an early-18th-century farmhouse – more than 300 years old – alongside an agricultural outbuilding, all set within the village’s long-established…
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Mark Wright calls golf simulator in his home his ‘favourite Christmas present’
Former TOWIE star Mark Wright has released one of the best Instagram videos this Christmas as he has shown off the latest toy he has added to his self-build home. In a comical mock video based on the famous Love Actually cue card scene, he unveils his love for his… golf clubs. The reveal shows…
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A unique self-build plot in a quiet Suffolk village
In the quiet corner of Cambridgeshire known as Westley Waterless, a small rural settlement of around 150 residents, a new planning-approved site has appeared that’s attracting attention among self-build enthusiasts. The village, tucked between Cambridge, Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds, rarely sees development opportunities emerge, and Plotfinder has unearthed this gem of a plot. Its…
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Future Homes Standard delays frustrate housebuilders
Housebuilders across the UK are intensifying calls for clarity on the Future Homes Standard, which ministers originally planned to introduce in early 2025. Extended consultations and shifting timelines have left developers uncertain about how to prepare to build homes going forward, with little information being provided over the scheme. Now industry leaders say the lack…
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Graven Hill bats prove wildlife can coexist with housing
A bat conservation scheme at the UK’s largest self-build community in Bicester has been hailed as a success. Active bat roosts at Graven Hill have increased from eight in 2024 to 11 in 2025, with further growth expected. The development demonstrates that thoughtfully planned housing can support protected wildlife while delivering new homes. You may…
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Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s festive home entrance
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan have officially kicked off Christmas with a jaw-dropping festive display at their self-build Essex mansion. Sharing the moment on Instagram, the couple revealed a grand, glittering entrance that instantly wowed fans. With towering décor, luxurious greenery, and ambient lighting, the pair have truly gone all-out for their “extra special” Christmas…
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UK housing to drop 17% by 2026, OBR Budget leak shows
A leak from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) ahead of the official November Budget reveals that the number of houses built in the UK is set to fall sharply in the coming years. Net additions to the housing stock are projected to drop from 260,000 homes a year in the early 2020s to just…