Great Days Out for Self-builders

ABOVE: BedZED in London is a development of 100 exemplary green homes

Fancy a day out looking at some inspirational housing? Or going on a guided tour around a project which might contain some new techniques you have read about? Or perhaps you just want to see the various products on offer for your new home. There have been a number of interesting projects and educational centres developed over the past few years that are well worth a visit.

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Snowdonia

CAT first opened for business in the 1970s and has been at the forefront of green building developments ever since. Its sevenacre display site is situated in the foothills of Snowdonia, and includes interactive displays of renewable power systems as well as working examples of environmentally responsible buildings, energy conservation, organic growing and waste management. It’s a great place to take the kids and can thus easily be combined with a holiday in the area. A range of informative courses are also on offer.
Log on to cat.org.uk for details

BedZED, South London

BedZED or the Beddington Zero Energy Development – designed by the renowned green architect Bill Dunster – was completed in 2002 and consists of 100 homes arranged as blocks of flats. BioRegional, who manages the exhibition centre, runs guided tours every Wednesday and Thursday at a cost of £22 per head, including a visit to a show flat and an insight into how the energy is generated.
Call 020 8404 4880 or visit bioregional.com

Wolseley Centre for Sustainable Building, Leamington Spa

Located at the HQ of multi-national builders’ merchant Wolseley, the Sustainable Building Centre in Leamington Spa was opened in 2007 in a £3.2 million state-of-the-art building, dedicated to demonstrating sustainable technologies available through the Wolseley chain. Everything from green roofs, hemp and lime to heat pumps and low-water showers is on display.

Since its opening, the Centre has proven to be very popular and so visiting is currently restricted to pre-booked groups. However, Wolseley is very aware of interest from self-builders and has now arranged a series of self-build days.
See wolseleysbc.co.uk for more information

National Selfbuild & Renovation Centre, Swindon

Swindon is home to the UK’s only permanent centre for self-builders and renovators. Opened in 2007, it features two permanent houses, cut-aways of foundations, floors and roofs and over 240 stands in the trade village, as well as numerous weekend events designed to attract self-builders from across the country.
Visit buildstore.co.uk/mykindofhome

Hockerton Housing Project, Nottinghamshire

Hockerton is home to an earth-sheltered terrace of five houses where the residents generate their own clean energy, harvest their own water and recycle waste materials, causing no pollution or carbon dioxide emissions. The houses are amongst the most energy-efficient purpose-built dwellings in Europe. Visits to Hockerton for self-builders can be arranged in a number of ways, though all require pre-booking. The standard tour (£20/person) – one Saturday a month – may be not be technical enough for many self-builders, so consider the Master Classes which last a full day (£75 + VAT).
See hockertonhousingproject.org.uk

BRE Innovation Park, Watford

The Building Research Establishment in Watford, near London, has been home to many of the country’s top building scientists since the 1920s, but it’s only recently opened its doors to the public to allow access to a collection of showhouses built to high environmental standards. There is an exhibition centre and tours are available.
Check bre.co.uk or call 0845 223 2966

Self-build Shows

Homebuilding & Renovating plays host to six self-build shows a year. The biggest is held at the NEC, Birmingham, usually in March, but there are regional shows held in Glasgow, Peterborough, Surrey, Harrogate and Somerset throughout the year. Subscribers to Homebuilding & Renovating get free tickets.
Visit the Events and Exhibitions section for details

Further reading:

• The Homebuilding & Renovating Beginner's Guide
• The 12 Steps of Self-build