About this home:

Born from a Bernados drop-in centre, the BASE, Youth Self Build North Tyneside was initiated by 8 unemployed local youth. All of them were under 25, had housing need and 3 were homeless. The group spent 3 years negotiating a site with the council, raising funds and designing the houses with Constructive Individuals. During this time, they spent a year at college and on local building sites learning construction skills. A local construction company oversaw the site. The timber frame homes were completed in just over a year: 4 semi-detached houses and 4 bungalows. The process was empowering, challenged prevalent gender stereotypes and was instrumental in seven of the eight getting jobs by the end of the project.

Planning Insights:

The site was from the North Tyneside Council who supported the project. North British Housing Association funded 65% of the project while a mortgage from Darlington Building Society covered the rest. The self builders earnt sweat equity and owned 25% of their homes, with the opportunity to staircase and slowly buy the rest of their property from the Housing Association. In the 90s there was much more support and funding available for self build in the UK.