A Typical Self-Builder

Just who is the average self-builder?

People with the desire to create their own home come in all shapes and sizes, and all have very different views on the type of property they wish to live in (not to mention the way they want to construct or renovate it).

I’m lucky enough to get to visit lots of our readers and see the fruits of their labour first hand. In the past month alone I’ve seen a charming traditional build that was commissioned to a turnkey package company, a contemporary abode designed by a talented architect that the owners project managed and a small infill development that the homeowners had practically built by hand (with the help of a few key specialists).

My next visit will be to a renovation scheme in its infancy, where the owners are utilising the Green Deal to ensure the property will run at optimal efficiency. All the schemes that I’ve mentioned are equally brilliant, all are unique and they have a diverse set of owners – including a pair desperate to get on the housing ladder, a young family and a couple creating a home for their retirement (you’ll see them all in the magazine over the next few months).

With this variety mind, it’s made me wonder what exactly the demographic of self-builders in the UK is. So, I was extremely interested to hear about some research being carried out by York university, led by Dr Michaela Benson for the sociology department.

The project examines self-building as a way to meet Britain’s housing needs from the perspective of self-building households. Unfortunately, at present, there’s a limited amount of research on who today’s self-builders are. Popular TV representations often focus on high-end projects, but as Built It readers show time and again, this isn’t what self-build represents for a significant number. The empirical data collected through the study will provide critical insights into the future of custom homes in Britain.

The university survey is welcoming respondents from those that are interested in building their own homes – from novices through to seasoned enthusiasts. It also includes an option for people who are considering self-build and asks what (if anything) might be preventing them from undertaking a project at this point in time.

“I designed the survey to capture a sense of who is self-building or wants to self-build in the UK today,” said Dr Benson when I caught up with her at Build It Live. “In an era when the government, professionals and industry stakeholders are trying to promote self-build as a sustainable and affordable housing option, the knowledge that this survey will generate is crucial. But what I am really keen on, is making sure that self-build in all its different dimensions is represented in the survey. To get a true picture of this I need as many people to respond as possible.”

So, have your say, let Dr Benson know about you and your project. Build It will report on the findings later this year. And I, for one, am intrigued to see the results.

To have your say and be part of the ground breaking research, visit:

http://www.centralsurvey.york.ac.uk/selfbuildinbritain