Hebridean Home Building

This page is not only a guide to Hebridean home building, but also a journal of our own home build.

There has been a building boom here in the Outer Hebrides within the past few years. This is for various reasons: someone has an old house on their croft, but the cost to renovate is far higher than to build new, particularly with all the new building regulations; some farms are chopping up bits of their land and selling the building plots for new homes; someone has bought a croft without a house on it and wants to build.

We bought a 10 acre freehold croft on the Island of Gt. Bernera not long ago and are going through the process of building a new home there. There are a couple of derelict buildings on site - an old 1920's 'white house' and an even older 'black house' attached to it. We looked into renovation, but the costs (including the exorbitant architects fees) were too high and the project would take a very long time as we would need an expert stone mason to deal with it. At some point, we'll fix these buildings up as they are part of the heritage but for now, we've decided to get a 'kit house' built.

Here are the steps to each phase.

1. Finding a house site.
2. Getting House Plans
3. Arranging for Outline Planning Permission.
4. Finding a builder.
5. Preparing the site.
6. Building the home.
7. Finalising everything.

Be sure to check back regularly for updates as the project goes on!

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