Self Build Guide - Building Cost
One of the biggest deciding factors as to whether your self-build project can proceed is the building cost.
The most common way of calculating the cost of building is by using square footage rates. The square footage rate is based on the habitable space of the building measured internally, including an integral garage but does not include a detached garage.
Prices of materials tend to be fairly constant nationwide as most builders merchants have national prices. The cost that will fluctuate most is that of labour, the most expensive area of the country to build in is London followed by the Home Counties. (e.g. Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire.
Preliminaries
Prelims allow for cost of planning applications and drawings (professional advice and help ie. architect and planners). They also allow for setting up the site, soil surveys, fencing off the boundaries, making the site secure, marking out the site ready to dig the foundations, providing hard standing for materials and vehicle access, site office, phone, water, electric and toilet facilities.
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September 2004