Britain needs more self-build projects to help solve the affordable homes crisis and create model sustainable housing projects, a timber frame builder has told a conference in Wales.
Dr Michael Benfield, who runs Caldicott-based Benfield ATT, shared his ideas at the Greener Homes and Buildings conference, which included seminars, presentations and showcased environmental building products.
Dr Benfield, addressing a debate chaired by Welsh Assembly member Mick Bates, said: “Everything points to the fact that if the building plots were made available we could see a doubling or tripling of the present 20,000 or so self-builder projects undertaken in the UK every year.
“Self evidently such an increase in self-build activity would make a huge dent in our need for affordable, as well as sustainable housing.”
The event, held at Machynlleth in Powys, was dedicated to promoting green building concepts for homeowners, architects, planners, surveyors, procurers and anybody working in construction related industries.
Findings from the debate will be fed back to the Welsh Assembly, which is striving to fulfill its claim that Wales is one of only three countries in the world to have fully embraced the principles of sustainable development in its policies.
