A 3D representation of how Graven Hill could look once fully developed
The first project of its kind in the UK, Graven Hill is a council-enabled development specifically aimed at self and custom builders – offering opportunities for up to 1,900 bespoke homes. The goal is to make creating your own home easier by addressing a number of early-stage barriers.
Over 12,000 people manage to find land and build every year; but tracking down a suitable plot is still one of the biggest challenges for anyone who wants to create a bespoke home. It’s not just about identifying a gorgeous countryside or edge-of-village site. You need to be sure you can actually get planning permission for a house design that will suit you. And even if the plot looks viable, you still need to check there are no nasty surprises in store, such as bad ground conditions or difficult-to-access utilities, which could add cost and delay to your scheme
Graven Hill is a new model for self build that seeks to smooth out the bumps in the road and de-risk the process. Planning permission and services are already in place, for instance, and the foundations for your individual design will be built into your plot purchase.
The development is in Bicester, Oxfordshire – right in the heart of England and with easy access to both London and Birmingham. It also happens to be round the corner from one of our three annual Build It Live shows.