A young couple from Somerset are set to save more than £100,000 on their housing costs by constructing their own home using innovative polystyrene building blocks instead of traditional bricks and mortar.
The Self-Build Dream
Hannah Bird and her husband Charlie, both 26, purchased a quarter-acre plot of land in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset in June 2022 for £70,000. Rather than buying a new-build property in their area, where prices start at £375,000 for a two-bedroom home, they decided to take on the challenge of building from scratch.
The professional golfer and his travel blogger wife have taken on approximately 80% of the construction work themselves to avoid labour costs of around £30,000. Their secret weapon? Insulated concrete framework (ICF) blocks - interlocking polystyrene blocks that are filled with concrete.
The Polystyrene Building Method
Their 140 square metre property is currently at the midway point of construction, with roof installation scheduled soon and utility excavation nearly complete. Hannah estimates their hands-on approach will ultimately save them £100,000 compared to buying a similar property.
"We originally always wanted to renovate but the renovations in our area were £200,000 and had no roof," Hannah explained. "We did look at new builds but they're not for us. We knew so many people with new builds whose stairs broke or pipes broke two weeks in."
The couple discovered the ICF building method at a construction show in December 2023. "They had really cool stuff there including three different suppliers doing these blocks," Hannah recalled. "For what a bricklayer took a week to do, together we could do in an hour."
Financial Planning and Future Plans
The couple have been careful with their finances, saving diligently throughout their seven-year relationship while studying at college and university. Their total budget for the project, excluding the land cost, is approximately £100,000.
"Inside we'll have a nice kitchen, nice bathrooms - Charlie's obsessed with having a laundry chute," Hannah shared. "We do want heated floors. If you bought a house in our area you would pay £375,000 and that's for a rubbish one."
The couple are currently living with parents in Burnham-on-Sea while they complete their project and anticipate moving into their self-built home in summer 2026. Although they don't plan to stay there forever, they're restricted from selling for two years to avoid significant tax penalties.
Breakdown of their projected costs:
- Plot of land: £70,000
- Plot preparation and groundwork: £18,000
- ICF structure, concrete and steel: £40,000
- Roof and windows: £22,000
- Plumbing, electrics and heating: £18,000
- Internal works and finishes: £22,000
- Total project cost: £190,000
