IMAGE: ANDREW SYDENHAM; *NACSBA; **BASED ON ENTRY AT THE NATIONAL HB&R SHOW
For a nation obsessed with our homes, and with property ownership, it’s a shame that building our own homes is not as commonplace for us as it is in other countries. In Germany, for instance, just over half of new builds are delivered in this way.The problem isn’t apathy —a third of us are interested in building a home* and I’m sure that given a choice most would opt for an individual home over the identikit new builds put up by some of the big housebuilders. However, the unfortunate fact remains that there are some key barriers to entry, like finding a suitable plot, planning permission, and finance.