Self-build home: project plan

This is a free-to-use, open-access plan for the organisation, design and construction of self-build homes.

If you have ideas for things to add to the plan, you can either edit the plan and add them yourself, or submit a comment and we will add them for you.

There are a number of delivery routes for self-build homes:

Purchase a kit house.
Appoint a design and build contractor to design and build the home.
Appoint consultants to design the home then get a contractor to build it.
Appoint consultants to design the home then manage the construction yourself.

It may not be clear which route should be followed until initial assessments have been carried out, a plot located and a brief prepared. See: Develop a delivery strategy for more information.

It is also possible to work with other organisations such as social landlords, developers, or community groups to develop a self-build home, however, these projects are likely to follow a plan imposed by the lead organisation and so they are not covered here, although many of the project stages will be similar. Working with a developer is sometimes called ‘custom build’ rather than ‘self build’.

See Custom-build home for more information.

An outline project plan is presented below. It describes activities step-by-step from the first moment it becomes apparent a self-build home could be a possibility right through to occupation of the completed building. Most of the stages are common to all four self-build routes, but the appointment stages vary.

Clicking on any of the stages will take you to a detailed description of the tasks that need to be carried out.

Stage 1: Justify the project.

Stage 2: Prepare a brief.

Stage 3: Find a plot.

Stage 4: Develop a delivery strategy.

Stage 5: Raise finance.

Stage 6: Acquire the plot.

Stage 7: Appoint designers.

Stage 8: Prepare a concept design.

Stage 9: Submit a planning application.

Stage 10: Prepare a detailed design.

Stage 11: Submit a building regulations application.