Welcome to the latest self build news, ideas and opinions from Houseplansdirect.
Looking for the latest self build news, or just interested in what we’ve been up to in the last week? Check out our round up below.
Browse by topic: Planning Permission & Strategy | Self-Build Costs | Design & Layout | Process & Planning | Expert Insights
July 24, 2026
A self-build planning application is much easier to manage when the work is done in the right order. The form itself is only one part of the submission. The local planning authority also needs enough accurate information to understand the site, assess the design and confirm that the application meets(...)
Read MoreJuly 17, 2026
One of the questions we’re asked most often is, “How long will it take before we can move in?” It’s an understandable question, but one that doesn’t have a simple answer. Every self build timeline is different, influenced by factors such as the complexity of the design, the planning process(...)
Read MoreJuly 10, 2026
One of the earliest decisions many self-builders face is whether to start with a stock house plan or commission a completely bespoke design. Both approaches can produce excellent homes, and there isn’t a single “correct” answer. The best choice depends on your plot, your budget, your priorities and how much(...)
Read MoreJuly 3, 2026
One of the most reassuring phrases a self-builder can hear is “fixed price building quote.” On the face of it, it sounds simple enough. Agree a price, sign the contract and know exactly what the project will cost. In reality, it’s not always quite that straightforward. A fixed price quotation(...)
Read MoreJune 26, 2026
If you’ve been researching self-build projects recently, you may have come across references to the Future Homes Standard. It’s one of the most significant changes to residential construction in recent years, yet many prospective self-builders remain unclear about what it actually means and how it could affect their project. The(...)
Read MoreJune 19, 2026
Artificial intelligence seems to be finding its way into almost every industry at the moment, and the planning system is no exception. The Government has recently announced plans to trial AI-powered tools designed to help local planning authorities process information more efficiently as part of its wider ambition to accelerate(...)
Read MoreJune 15, 2026
Many people assume that replacing an existing house with a new one should be relatively straightforward from a planning perspective. After all, there is already a dwelling on the site. However, while replacement dwellings are often viewed more favourably than entirely new homes in open countryside, full planning permission is(...)
Read MoreJune 5, 2026
One of the biggest advantages of a self-build project is the opportunity to create a home that works not only for your current needs, but also for the years ahead. When people think about future-proofing, they often picture specialist adaptations or significant additional expense. In reality, many of the most(...)
Read MoreMay 29, 2026
One of the advantages of working with self-builders over many years is that certain patterns begin to emerge. Every project is different, but many of the challenges we see tend to arise from a relatively small number of recurring mistakes. The good news is that most of them are entirely(...)
Read MoreMay 22, 2026
One of the earliest questions in a self-build project is also one of the hardest to answer: How big should the house actually be? For many people, the natural instinct is to maximise space wherever possible. But in practice, the “right” self build house size is rarely about building the(...)
Read MoreAt Houseplansdirect, we are constantly involved in the latest developments in the self-build industry. We speak to local authorities, developers and suppliers on a daily basis. This gives us great insight into the challenges facing those wanting to build their own home.
This page collects all of our thoughts on what’s new in self-building. We look at the latest news to see how it might affect planning laws or funding. We’ll share opinions from industry leaders, and articles which may be of interest to anyone looking to build their own home. At the same time, we also keep you updated as to what’s been going on at our offices and any interesting or unusual projects we’ve been working on. There are also new designs constantly in the pipeline, so we introduce them here when they’re ready.
Not everyone is in a position to build their own home right now, of course. With this in mind, we also look at improving your current home, and how to go about it. Our team are happy to share tips and articles which may be of interest to our customers. We appreciate that the world of self build can be daunting but we hope we can make it easier to navigate!
Please let us know what you think of our news and blog posts. We are always interested in feedback from visitors. If there’s a subject you’d like us to look at, email admin@houseplansdirect.co.uk or send us a message via our Contact Us page. Thanks for reading this far down the page and we hope to hear from you soon!
