Building your own home in Britain is often seen as the preserve of the wealthy or eccentric.
By Robert Winnett, Political Editor 'The Telegraph'
Television shows such as Grand Designs suggest that the only way to succeed in such a task is to possess limitless quantities of cash or an iron clad will to persevere, preferably both.
Perhaps surprisingly then, for the first time in the modern era those designing their own home have become Britain’s biggest group of housebuilders.
Last year, more than 13,000 Britons designed and built their own homes, making them the single largest group of housebuilders when compared with the number constructed by individual developers.
The Government is hoping that the trend shows that self-build is not an elite pastime but a cheap way to get on to or move up the housing ladder.
Grant Shapps, the housing minister, wants the number of self or custom-built homes to double over the next decade. Under plans to be unveiled next month, as much as £30 million will be lent to self-builders to help support the growing market.
Public sector land is expected to be made available for those wishing to design and build their own properties.
The self-building boom is ...Continued
