Custom build offers a more guided process to building your own home than a traditional ‘DIY’ self build.
‘Custom build’ is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘self build’ in conversation, but that’s not necessarily the same.
The first notable difference is that the majority of ‘doing it yourself’ self builds tend to be individual plots found in isolation and dotted where there is a suitable piece of land which can be built on.
Custom build sites tend to be small sites of 3 or 4 house plots upwards. Other schemes planned in association with local authorities (such as Graven Hill in Oxfordshire) are much larger. The majority of custom build sites have between 10-50 housing plots available.
In terms of the details Custom Build models can be as individual as the sites and developers involved, however it is a process that operates around a different structure than a traditional DIY self building. Understanding the distinction between the two will help you identify the best option for your own self build journey.
So What is Custom Build?
Custom build homes are self build homes facilitated in some way by a developer or landowner and professional team. This still offers the chance to have a unique home that suits your needs, lifestyle and design preferences, but through a more hands off approach than a DIY style self build.
This method can mean a single one-off home commissioned by an individual and built by a developer, through to a group of homes, built by a developer, but with the offer of bespoke design for the individual. This removes some of the usual frustrations of self build, such as having to find a plot with planning permission, and also offers more support than building your home on your own.
It's likely that a custom build site will have some limitations on what can be built on a plot of land, and what can't. These parameters will have been set by the local authority and their planning regulations in most instances, although depending on the particular site, the land owner or developer may have particular ones which are relevant to the look or smooth running of the site.
If the developer or build company involved has set house types, this will restrict the nature of your build, in that you will be able to choose from a range of designs and tweak them. With these homes purchasers have a ‘blank canvas’ and can configure the internal spaces the way they want.
Others, like Strawberry Grange, don’t have house types and therefore each house is individually designed by the plot purchasers and an architect. These are designed within a Design Code or Plot Passport so that the local authority can be reassured that externally the overall site will have a cohesiveness and pleasing look.
Some sites will offer a completely ‘turnkey’ move in service, while others will have more flexibility and facilitate lots of individuality as well as the opportunity to do some of the internal work finishing off the build yourself, or using your own suppliers.
One well-known example of a custom build site is Graven Hill, which is a good way to see how these parameters may come together once built out. While the site is full of unique self builds, these all fit within a set of specific parameters outlined by each plot's Plot Passport.
Graven Hill also offers custom homes in a more traditional sense, offering a range of architect-designed homes to choose from that can be then customised for the internal layout and finishes.
Benefits of Custom Build
· Ability to design your home to your specifications within a design code. You get to decide on all the interior layout, floorplan, kitchen, bathrooms and finishes.
· A developer or Main Contractor provides build team and project manages
· Plot supplied with planning permission
· Services such as electricity, water and sewage already supplied to site
· Overall, a customised home with less hands-on work required
Custom build is much more straightforward than pure self build and you also have a great deal more assistance from a team of specialist professionals and contractors helping you to build the house on a serviced plot.
These advantages mean that Government advisors believe that the custom build route will become more popular in the UK.
It already accounts for 25 to 85 per cent of new homes in many other countries.
The parameters of plot will have to meet planning permission requirements for the land intended to be built on. These parameters will likely include the footprint of the home,maximum roof height and some local design regulations for the exterior of the property.
Typically, a custom build developer will:
· Provide a serviced plot. This means that all the utility connections (water, electricity, sewerage, broadband, telephone etc), as well as access to the nearest road, are all in place .
· Organise outline or (particularly in the case of having house types to choose from) full planning permission.
· Deliver as much of the build as you wish, up to watertight shell or full ‘turnkey’ completion.
· Manage the project — working within your set budget and taking responsibility for building works including health and safety.
In the UK, there is now a healthy range of specialist custom build suppliers, offering a wide range to choose from. Some schemes offer relatively limited choice, such as the choice of layout, kitchen and bathroom, internal fixtures and finishes, and maybe cladding. Other schemes offer almost complete freedom.
At Strawberry Grange we offer serviced plots and have a landowner (who is responsible for the overall site landscaping and infrastructure until the build is complete), a principle architect, nominated timber frame supplier and main contractor so that we have the best of expertise at hand to help things run smoothly. There is Design Code to follow and the build zone footprint for each plot is specified. This ensures that the site will be in line with Aberdeen City Council’s planning regulations and that the finished Strawberry Grange will have a cohesive, yet individualized and bespoke look which planners are very keen to achieve.
If you’d like to find out more about Strawberry Grange and how we could help you achieve your dream of designing and building your own home fill out the ‘contact us’ form on the website and we’ll have a chat !
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