NU living – Leading the way with custom build

Despite the increased popularity for custom and self-build homes abroad, the UK has been slow to provide this ownership option, remaining a pipe dream for buyers across the country. NU living has plans to tackle this shortage with a release of custom build homes on the third phase at Craylands, Basildon.

Currently there are only 10,000 custom build homes expected to be built across the UK in 2015. According to a survey recently carried out by the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) 26 million British adults would like to build their own home at some stage in their life, with 6.5 million currently doing research or planning into the process.

We are now leading the way to meet this increased demand with the upcoming phase of our Basildon development. The project is part of the regeneration of Craylands Estate which comprises 971 affordable, shared ownership and private apartments. Phase 3 will create 258 private sale properties over a 5 year period, with 10 per cent of build plots allocated to self-builders. Expected to go on sale in the autumn of 2016, Phase 3 is located next to the Fryth Park and will mainly consist of three bedroom semi-detached and four bedroom detached houses.

This pioneering phase will allow our customers to choose from a range of housing types, and a choice of external finishes already preapproved with planning permission from the local authority, to enable them to design their bespoke home and demonstrating a viable model for the 21st century.

We have taken our inspiration from Almere, in the Netherlands where over 2000 custom build homes have been completed. Built over the last 10 years, Almere is a new town situated on the outskirts of Amsterdam and is made up of custom and self-build plots leased for commercial and residential use. The land was developed to provide residents with the opportunity to design and build their dream homes without restrictions from local authorities on aesthetics.