WHY WE SHOULD BUILD MORE Basements
Anthony Spinney from basement specialist Glatthaar Keller shares the benefits of including a subterranean level in your self build
Our neighbours on the continent have recognised the advantages of home basements for many years, but here in the UK we’ve been a bit slow on the uptake. In places like Germany and Switzerland, most houses have one, so the benefits in terms of space and cost versus value are well understood.
The scarcity and high cost of plots, decreasing size of new build footprints and planning constraints limiting height are squeezing available space for new houses. As self builders are often the first in the home building sector to implement new ideas, it’s no surprise that many appreciate the value of the space under their building site. No longer dark and dingy zones, they can be used as hobby rooms, home cinemas, gyms and swimming pools, even self-contained apartments. By creating an additional floor downstairs you get extra accommodation without changing the footprint of the property – useful even if you just use the space for building services, laundry or storage.