#self-build

#self-build

Yet, recent changes to national planning policy could unlock new potential avenues for tracking down land; specifically, alterations made to the policy around brownfield sites. In 2024, the government pledged its support for the development of brownfield land - that is, land that's previously been developed for another, usually industrial, purpose. It also released £68 million's worth of funding to select local authorities to help clear empty buildings, former carparks and industrial land for house building, including self and custom build.

(Image credit: Getty Images) When television presenter and former footballer Mark Wright began work on his £3.5 million Essex self-build with wife Michelle Keegan, he had one room in mind as a personal priority: a private gym. Several years later, that space is complete - and it's a transformation that blends high-end design with practical training needs. The gym started as an unfinished shell, with wires hanging loosely from the ceiling and walls left bare.

The property that homeowners Heather and Chris discovered was a mid-century detached house, on a steep slope overlooking the beach, damp and barely habitable.

The government has committed to supporting self-build and custom housebuilding through a new £16 billion National Housing Bank, helping individuals and small builders get projects off the ground.