Self Build Devon.//
From the Coast to the Countryside
Our Approach to Self Build Homes
Building your own home gives you the opportunity to create a property around the way you live, the site you have and what you want from your home in the years ahead. But bringing a self build project from an initial idea through planning permission, technical design and construction can involve a lot of moving parts.
At ArchiCO, we provide self build design services in Devon, supporting self builders from the very first conversation through to delivery and completion. As a CIAT Chartered Practice, our team provides the design and technical expertise needed to develop your ideas into a buildable new home, while helping to coordinate the different stages and people involved throughout the process.
Our approach is designed to make the self build journey clearer and more joined up. Rather than leaving you to navigate the planning process, Building Regulations and construction separately, we can remain involved throughout your project and, when the time comes to build, introduce selected independent build partners suited to your project.
Contact us today to discuss your self build project
Starting Your Self Build Project in Devon
Every successful build starts with understanding what you want to achieve and what is realistically possible.
You may already own a plot in Devon, be considering purchasing land or simply have an idea of the home you would like to create. Wherever you are in the process, the first stage is to understand your aspirations, budget, site and any constraints that could influence the project.
A feasibility assessment can help establish what may be achievable before significant time or money is committed. This can include reviewing the site, access, planning context, scale of development and other factors that could affect the design or construction process.
This early assessment can be particularly important where rural locations, landscape designations, neighbouring properties, highways access, ecology or existing buildings may influence what can realistically be achieved.
Budget is an important part of these early conversations too. Understanding what you want to spend allows us to develop a brief that balances your ambitions with what can realistically be designed and built.
Once these starting blocks are in place, we can begin turning your ideas into a clear direction for your project.
Our Approach to Self Build Design
One of the challenges with self building in Devon is that design and construction can easily become disconnected.
You may have one team responsible for the design, other consultants providing specialist services and builders or contractors who become involved much later. Without clear communication between everyone involved, decisions made at one stage can create difficulties further through the building process.
Our approach is to create greater continuity throughout the project.
ArchiCO can support you from initial feasibility and concept design through planning permission, technical drawings and Building Regulations, before helping you move smoothly into the construction phase.
During the concept stage, we look at how you want the house to work as well as how it responds to the site. Room layouts, orientation, natural light, views, privacy, storage and the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces can all influence the outcome.
Every site is different. Devon includes coastal, countryside, village and more urban settings, each bringing different opportunities and constraints for a self build in Devon.
Devon's Landscape Character Assessment is used to help understand the distinctive characteristics of different areas and can inform the design and assessment of new development. Once a site has been identified, understanding its landscape character can help inform the siting, layout and overall design of a new home.
Rather than beginning with a standard house design, we create a bespoke response to the site, your brief, budget and surroundings.
Sustainability and energy efficiency can also be considered from the outset. Orientation, form, insulation, materials and building services can all influence the long-term performance of your new home and help improve its comfort and efficiency.
Where appropriate, different construction methods can also be explored during the design process, including traditional construction and timber frame homes.
By remaining involved as the project progresses, our team can help maintain the connection between the original design and what is ultimately delivered on site, while giving you a consistent point of contact throughout your self build journey.
Planning Permission and Building Regulations
For most new self build homes in Devon, gaining planning permission will be one of the most important stages of the project.
Once the concept has been developed, ArchiCO can prepare the drawings and supporting information required for a planning application and guide the proposal through the planning process.
The planning considerations will depend heavily on the individual site. Landscape character, ecology, heritage, drainage, highways and access can all influence a proposal, particularly on rural or sensitive sites.
Devon contains five National Landscapes: Blackdown Hills, East Devon, North Devon Coast, Tamar Valley and South Devon, as well as Dartmoor and part of Exmoor National Parks. Where a site is within or affects the setting of one of these protected landscapes, the siting and design of a new home may require particularly careful consideration to avoid or minimise impacts on the surrounding landscape.
Considering these constraints early allows them to inform the design rather than becoming problems later in the planning process.
Planning permission is only one stage, however. Once a design has been approved, it normally needs to be developed into detailed technical information showing how the building will actually be constructed.
ArchiCO can prepare the technical drawings and information needed to progress your self build towards Building Regulations approval and construction. This can include construction details, materials, insulation, ventilation, fire safety and coordination with structural engineers and other specialists where required.
This stage is also where decisions about construction methods, materials, energy efficiency and building performance can be developed in greater detail.
Having the same team involved from concept through to technical design helps retain the original design intent while developing it into a practical and buildable solution.
Choosing a Build Partner for Your Self Build
Once the design and technical information have been developed, the next major decision is choosing who will build your home.
Rather than simply handing over a set of drawings and leaving you to find builders yourself, ArchiCO can help you move into this stage of the project.
We can introduce three selected independent build partners considered suitable for the project and coordinate the tender process, allowing you to compare proposals and understand the options available.
We can review the submissions with you and help clarify differences between them, but importantly, the choice remains yours.
The contractor you appoint is an independent business, appointed directly by you, and remains responsible for its own construction work, contractual obligations and delivery. ArchiCO can assist with introductions, tender coordination and ongoing design support, but does not assume responsibility for the work or contractual obligations of independent contractors or other third parties.
This gives you the benefits of a more joined-up process without taking away your control over who you ultimately choose to build your home.
From Design to Construction and Completion
Our involvement doesn't necessarily end when construction begins.
ArchiCO can continue to support you during the build, helping maintain communication between the design team, contractor and other specialists involved throughout the construction process.
Depending on the level of support agreed, this may include site visits, meetings with the contractor and wider delivery team, responding to technical queries and helping resolve issues that arise as construction progresses.
Having a team involved who already understands the design, planning history and technical details can be particularly valuable when decisions need to be made on site.
It also provides continuity from the first ideas discussed at the beginning of the project through to your new home taking shape on site.
Self Build Design That Works for Devon
Designing a home in Devon means responding to the location as well as the people who will live there.
A coastal plot can present very different considerations to a rural inland site or a plot within an established town or village. Exposure, landscape, access, neighbouring properties, materials and local character can all influence the design.
Devon's planning guidance places importance on development responding to local character and being sensitively integrated into the landscape. This is particularly relevant for self build projects in rural, coastal and protected landscapes.
The aim isn't simply to replicate the buildings around you. Contemporary design can work successfully within a traditional or rural setting when the scale, form, materials and relationship with the landscape are carefully considered.
Sustainable design can also be incorporated throughout the project. Orientation, insulation, efficient building services and appropriate materials can improve comfort and energy efficiency while helping create a home designed for long-term performance.
If you're considering a self build in Devon, the best place to start is with a conversation about your site and what you want to achieve.
You may already own land, be considering a potential plot or have an early idea that you want to explore in more detail.
ArchiCO can help you assess what's possible, develop your brief and explain the likely route from those first ideas through design, planning and construction.
Get in touch with ArchiCO to discuss your self build project in Devon.
Start Your Self Build in Devon
Frequently Asked Questions//
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ArchiCO can support your project from feasibility and concept design through planning permission, technical design and into the construction stage. Where appropriate, we can also introduce selected independent build partners and help coordinate the tender process. Your chosen contractor remains an independent business responsible for its own construction work and contractual obligations.
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Most new self build homes will require planning permission. The requirements will depend on the site and proposal, with factors such as landscape, ecology, heritage, highways, access and neighbouring properties potentially influencing what can be developed.
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Yes. Assessing a potential site before making a major commitment can help identify opportunities and constraints early. A feasibility assessment can provide a clearer understanding of what may be achievable before progressing further.
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The design normally needs to progress into a more detailed technical stage before construction can begin. This includes developing the information required for Building Regulations and providing sufficient construction detail for the project to be priced and built.
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ArchiCO provides architectural technology, design and project support services. Where appropriate, we can introduce independent build partners and help coordinate the tender and construction process, but the contractor you appoint remains responsible for its own construction work and contractual obligations.
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Yes. The level of support can be agreed for each project and may include site visits, meetings, technical support and coordination with the contractor and other specialists as the build progresses.
