From reserving a serviced plot to moving into a high-performance home, Martin and Siobhann reflect on two challenging, rewarding years of self-building on the edge of the Lake District.
If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be writing a diary entry about building my own house, I’d probably have laughed. Like many people, I assumed self-build was something other people did – architects, developers, or those with endless time and money. And yet, two years on, that’s exactly where we are, after one of the most challenging and rewarding projects of our lives.
The idea didn’t arrive fully formed. My wife and I had lived in the same house for almost 20 years, and while it had served us well, it was hard to keep warm, and the awkward spaces never quite worked. I had always considered a renovation, but each time I explored it seriously I came to the same conclusion: what we really needed was a blank canvas, not the unknowns that come with altering an existing building.
That thinking led us to self-build, and more specifically to a serviced plot where the key infrastructure and services were already in place. We found a plot in Bootle, Cumbria, on the edge of the Lake District. There was no dramatic lightbulb moment, just a quiet sense that this could work. The location, the landscape, and the opportunity to design a home that genuinely suited how we wanted to live all felt right. We reserved the plot in August 2023 after just one visit to the site.
From the outset our priorities were simple. We wanted to build once and build properly, and we were clear that if we were going to stretch the budget anywhere, it would be on the things that affect how the house performs every day. Energy efficiency was non-negotiable. The house would be all electric, highly insulated, and designed around long-term comfort rather than short-term trends. Triple glazing, an air source heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and solar panels with battery storage were all part of that thinking – not because they were fashionable, but because they made sense.
The biggest challenge came right at the beginning, before we had a main contractor in place. Reserving a plot immediately triggered a chain of questions with no obvious order. What happens next? We didn’t yet have a design, we didn’t yet have the funds in place to buy the land, and we were suddenly responsible for decisions that carried long-term consequences. Buying the plot wasn’t just a transaction; it came with legal and planning obligations, and I found myself reading every line of the covenants to understand what we could – and couldn’t – do.
We were extremely fortunate in one important respect. This was a serviced plot, with the developer having already secured planning permission and provided all the key services. The plot sits within the Lake District National Park, which naturally brought restrictions – uPVC windows were not permitted, so timber or aluminium were the only options. The real advantage, however, was the design code. Set out over just three sides of A4, it clearly defined the parameters we had to work within. If we followed those rules, we would have real freedom to design the house we wanted.
We decided early on that a timber frame house delivered through a main contractor was the right route for us. Speed of construction and clear accountability mattered. In practical terms, we dealt with two suppliers and the coordination of everything else sat with the contractor. It cost more in pounds, but it saved us many months in time and removed a significant amount of day-to-day complexity.
Even so, the early stages felt relentless. Land purchase, house design and cost planning all ran in parallel rather than in sequence, often crossing over and pulling in different directions. I also struggled at times with hesitation – knowing when enough analysis had been done and when it was time to commit. Looking back, the first six to nine months were without doubt the steepest part of the learning curve.
In May 2024, we sold our old home and moved into rented accommodation to release the funds needed to make the build possible. It was another moment where the project stopped being theoretical and became very real.
Building close to the coast in Cumbria has brought its own challenges. Wind and horizontal rain are constant factors, and they have a habit of finding their way through the smallest gaps. It quickly teaches you that detailing and build quality matter because the environment will test them.
Despite everything, there has been a huge amount to enjoy. Seeing the timber frame go up on 20 January 2025 was a genuine turning point – suddenly the project felt real. Walking through the rooms for the first time, Siobhann understood space in a way drawings never quite capture. Decisions that once felt abstract suddenly became tangible.
One thing I’ve genuinely enjoyed is how much the process forces you to engage. On a self-build, decisions are your decisions. You can take advice and learn from others, but ultimately
this is your house. Whether it’s choosing the right heat pump or deciding how much control you want from your phone, these are choices you will live with. It’s worth taking the time to think them through.
If I had one piece of advice for anyone considering a self-build, it would be this: slow down at the beginning and prioritise clarity. Remember, this is your dream – don’t let others dilute it. A clear framework, whether that’s a design code, a good contractor, or a well-thought-through brief, makes everything else easier.
Two years after reserving the plot, we moved into the completed house in August 2025. Turning a long-held idea into a real home has been incredibly satisfying, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.