Join MTBO
[16] The 20 Year Self-Build and 50% Overspend
Map data: Google, Airbus

Location

  • South West England

Build Start

  • ~2000

Architect

  • Adrian Slocombe

Total Floor Area

  • 345 m²
  • [Source: EPC ]
Sue and Martin stitched together a 1600s cob-and-stone barn and an 1850s stone barn into a low-energy family home, but the real story is the timeline. They moved in during 2001 and kept iterating for two decades, finally reaching sign-off in 2021. The cost of that patience was a 50% overspend, yet it also bought them something most fast builds never deliver: a home refined by lived experience, where compromises were made consciously, priorities sharpened over time, and the finished result actually matches the life they wanted to build.

Site Purchase Price

  • £ 376,900

Site Area

  • 5,329m²

Site Cost Per m²

  • £ 71

Initial Budget

  • £ 452,200

Total Spend

  • £ 678,300

Budget Overspend

  • 50%

Cost Per m²

  • £ 1,966

Site Coverage

  • 5.09%

Plot Ratio

  • 6.47%
All Figures Indexed To
  • 02 May 2025

Construction Type

  • Oak Frame, Render, Timber Frame

Materials

  • Cob, Slate, Stone, Wood

Features

Sue and Martin stitched together a 1600s cob-and-stone barn and an 1850s stone barn into a low-energy family home, but the real story is the timeline. They moved in during 2001 and kept iterating for two decades, finally reaching sign-off in 2021. The cost of that patience was a 50% overspend, yet it also bought them something most fast builds never deliver: a home refined by lived experience, where compromises were made consciously, priorities sharpened over time, and the finished result actually matches the life they wanted to build.

Become a (free) member to keep reading

To help protect my work from web scraping, I've placed it behind this membership wall. Join today to get access to all content for free.

Already an MTBO Member? Log in to MTBO

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 1
Establish A Realistic Timeline

Avoid overly optimistic deadlines. The phrase “We’ll be in by Christmas” serves as a cautionary tale. Plan for potential delays and understand that unforeseen challenges will arise.

  • Time Management

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 2
Create Detailed Architectural Plans

It’s crucial to have a clear architectural layout before beginning construction. Deviating from this may lead to significant issues, such as the miscalculation of floor heights that can complicate the building process.

  • Time Management

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 3
Consider Traditional And Sustainable Materials

Embrace local, traditional building techniques like cob, lime mortar, and thatch, which resonate with the environment while minimising waste. Understand the environmental impact of modern materials as well and be ready to compromise for practicality.

  • Materials, Sustainability

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 4
Develop A Waste Management Strategy Early On

Having a sewage solution (such as the reed bed system Sue and Martin used) is essential for maintaining an eco-friendly home and can be intricately tied to the design of the house.

  • Challenges, Construction, Sustainability

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 5
Incorporate Flexibility In Design

While it’s beneficial to have visions of the end product, remain open to the building’s natural evolution. Letting the structure guide your design can lead to more spontaneous and personalised outcomes.

  • Design

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 6
Be Prepared For Compromises

Be ready to make compromises between ecological principles and practical requirements. For instance, despite Sue’s initial reluctance, they had to incorporate concrete to stabilise the foundation.

  • DIY, Professional

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 7
Budget For Unexpected Costs

Monitor your budget closely and prepare for it to change. Initial budgets can inflate due to unforeseen requirements (like increased concrete and oak usage) or project scope expansions.

  • Budget

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 8
Stay Engaged In Project Management

Take a proactive role in the project management aspect to stay in control of the build process. On-site involvement often leads to better outcomes than delegating entirely to builders.

  • Time Management

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 9
Maintain Good Communication With Tradespeople

Ensure clear communication with builders, architects, and tradespeople throughout the process. Miscommunication can lead to significant project delays and dissatisfaction.

  • Working With Others

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 10
Plan Living Arrangements Wisely

Living on-site can be both a boon and a burden. Ensure that you’ve thought through the implications of living in a mobile home on the building site for an extended period.

  • Reflections

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 11
Embrace Mistakes As Learning Opportunities

Mistakes will happen, such as design flaws that cause delays. View these as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than insurmountable problems.

  • Reflections

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 12
Expect Emotional Challenges

Understand that self-building can be emotionally exhausting. Prepare mentally for the ups and downs that come with long-term projects.

  • Reflections

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 13
Involve Family In The Process

Engaging family members in the building process can help spread the burden and create shared memories and bonds over the project.

  • Reflections, Working With Others

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 14
Utilise Existing Structures Creatively

When working with existing buildings, find ways to repurpose elements creatively, adding character and maintaining historical integrity while achieving modern living standards.

  • Design

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 15
Take Breaks To Avoid Burnout

It’s essential to take breaks and step away from the project occasionally. This helps maintain enthusiasm and prevent frustration towards what can be an exhaustive process.

  • Reflections, Time Management

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 16
Invest In Energy Efficiency

Prioritise energy-efficient materials and systems from the start. They may cost more upfront but will provide long-term savings and align with eco-friendly building principles.

  • Sustainability

Grand Review

  • 16

Lesson Learned

  • 17
Celebrate Milestones

Recognise and celebrate the small victories during the building process. These celebrations can boost morale and maintain momentum.

  • Reflections

Acknowledgment:

This is a non-commercial review carried out for the purposes of study in developing an understanding of the requirements of self-build in the UK.

The views and opinions expressed are my own and is not affiliated in any way with Grand Designs or Channel 4.  All information on this page has been gathered from publicly available sources.

The plot/site information was located using Land Registry and The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Data which contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The lessons learned are derived from my interpretations and observations of a publicly disseminated case study and are in no way meant to be a substitute to the original.

Click here to view the original case study on the Channel 4 website.

More
Reviews

Log in to read this content

We'll email you a magic code to log you in without a password.