Self Build Homes – the Architect for your build

Self Build Homes are Hunter Architects speciality and passion.

Since our inception in 2007, we have created numerous self build homes across the UK, with a range of scales from 1,000 to 10,000 sq ft.

We have obtained many self build homes planning permissions, utilising out in-house planning expertise and our projects incorporate backland, brownfield, green belt, Greenfield, infill, replacement, open countryside and Paragraph 55/ 79 self build homes among others.

We also have first-hand experience of self-build homes, having created our own sustainable house for our growing family and therefore understand and appreciate the issues, efforts and emotions involved with creating your own home.

Self Build Homes – our story

Finding affordable land is extremely difficult but when a piece of land, with problematic planning history, came to market, in 2005, we jumped at the chance to try and develop our own self build home. The site owners had tried unsuccessfully to achieve planning permission over a number of years and appointed numerous professionals to assist them. Ultimately planning policy and planning appeals went against each attempt. At our first attempt, albeit via the appeal process, we achieved planning permission for a contemporary family home, which ultimately started our business creating self build homes for others.

Following this self build homes planning approval, detailed designs were undertaken to develop the house to achieve a Code for Sustainable Homes rating. We decided that building self build homes to higher than building regulations would put us in the best position to advise our clients as well as creating a high-quality sustainable environment. We were also keen to incorporate Secure by Design and Lifetime Homes accreditation into the house. The lifetime homes accreditation ensures that the property can be enjoyed by a wide range of people at differing times of life, including ensuring the property is robust but fun for our young children.

The property was developed to achieve a 25% betterment on current building regulations energy use requirements. This has been done by increasing the efficiency of the wall, floor and roof insulation, installing high-performance glazing in the windows, and installing a specialist self build homes solar hot water heating system end energy efficient boiler to supply the underfloor heating system. A reduced water consumption has been achieved, including the use of rainwater harvesting to flush the toilets and feed the washing machine. Other keys aspects (that we now incorporate into our self build homes projects) include good daylighting, defensible space around the property, generous internal and external storage areas, and defined space for refuse and recycling without comprising on the design or enjoyment of the property. This illustrates our understanding of what makes a house a home and how contemporary self build homes can create usable, functional but interesting buildings. Whilst these features seem fairly common sense, they are often overlooked, especially when considering typical house-builder offerings.

From Inception to Completion – The process for Self Build Homes

Whilst this stage can only be a brief resume of the various aspects to the project, it highlights the need for high-quality professional advice and assistance from the earliest stages of the project. We have a wide range of expertise and capabilities, relating to self build homes, and can help you through each stage of the project.

Developing your brief and initial concepts

Initial meetings and early discussions are critical to develop a brief which sets out your requirements, aspirations and design ideas. Initial sketches are developed to hone these discussions. At this stage we encourage and facilitate the use of design journals, magazines, photographs to enable us to understand your thoughts. Often it is difficult for clients to put these thoughts into words and our unique approach helps with this. We also have a wide range of material we can let you use to assist with these matters as well as pointing you in the right direction for your needs.

Planning Permission

the planning system is now a very complex process with numerous factors, including flood, ecology, planning policy, affordable housing, section 106 or other financial contributions and energy efficiency aspects that play a major part in the development of a home. Successful negotiation of this aspect can save a large amount of time and money as well as increasing the potential of the project. As Architects and Planning consultants, we are uniquely positioned to provide you with a cost effective service.

Tender and Contracts

finding a suitable contractor, and entering into a proper contract, is vital to ensuring a high-quality finished project which is completed on time and on budget. We work with a range of professional builders who have created a large number of homes from small starter homes to substantial family homes with the latest features and fashions, and can advise you on the most appropriate contact for you and your builder to use.

Fit out/ Interior Design

depending upon clients requirements, we can assist with a wide range of services in relation to the “look” of the finished home, including assistance with a wide range of internal finishing’s, furniture and ideas. These services can include the design and development of bespoke pieces of furniture or products.

If you are looking to create your own self build home, please contact us to discuss how we can assist to build your dream.