NATIONAL BUILDING SERVICES

Community Group Self-Build Management Consultants

Build your new home at cost price!
No Deposit - 100% Funded
Idyllic and Scenic Locations
The latest energy saving features

National Building Services was established in 2015 to focus on solutions surrounding sustainable housing accessible to those wishing to access property ownership status.

Community Group Self Build Housing offers a great opportunity for participants to learn about the process of constructing a property, and who ultimately gain a new home which they played a major part in the creation of.
You don't have to work on site, and only qualified and experienced tradespersons will be conducting the work, which will be professionally managed throughout the build process.
If you are a tradesperson, or have your own business within the construction industry, your hands-on involvement in the build process would be very welcome, and would be paid for as with any contractor.
We believe that customer service, quality management and building excellence is key to our success.
We specialise in the organisation, logistics and management of setting up and running a construction site environment, acting as an integral communication hub for the association members, the architects and local authority agencies, as well as the fiscal aspects of each project.
Each site is allocated a dedicated Contracts Manager, who oversees the site activity and works to keep the project on track and to budget.

  • All sites professionally managed
  • We take care of all legals, funding and local authority liaison
  • Latest designs with a focus on energy saving technology
  • Carefully chosen locations to offer a balance of tranquillity and practicality
Our community self-build housing schemes help participants access the housing market through this hands-on activity process.

When you join a scheme, you become a member of the housing association Committee, where you will be part of the development team and can have you say in the many aspects of the build process.

What is a community ‘self-build’ housing project?

‘Self-build’ doesn’t mean doing the building work yourself, and you don’t need professional skills to take part

In fact, a very common approach for community housing in both the UK and Europe is for the group to commission a contractor to undertake the major building works.


With some self-build group projects, there may be flexibility in the amount of work that each household chooses to do on their own home. 

Some residents may choose to do the work themselves if it is their trade, while others may be suited to project manage contractors, or a bit of both.

Our self-build projects are supported all the way by a dedicated team of professionals. 

This has the added benefit of inspiring and mentoring members into developing new skills that might lead to future employment for the self-builders.

All our projects work by contracting out all of the building work on a standard paid-for basis, meaning that the project can move forward quickly and smoothly and perhaps leaving the residents to do only the finishing touches themselves. Of course, members can also be a contractor, and this is encouraged, with external building contractors and local trades brought in as required.

We consider it vital that all the building works are carried out by trained professionals, to ensure a high standard of finish and installations using all the correct methods and equipment, and only members with such skills would be allowed to participate in the build process.

Of course practical construction work isn’t the only useful skill to bring to a community self-build project.

When working as part of a group there are many other skills that will be invaluable right from the start – such as group facilitation and leadership, project management, book-keeping, minute taking, legal expertise, financial expertise, and environmental management to name but a few.


Living collectively can be easier with self-build

The idea of living more communally is growing in popularity. 

The common theme is equality in decision making, with each member receiving one vote in all collective decisions.

This is achieved when you join as a member, with the housing association formed as a legally constructed entity. This is done by a solicitor specialising in the creation of associations, trusts and legally registered groups.

The Housing Association consists of a 'Committee' which is made up of the members, - each member representing a property on the scheme.

The 'Committee' elects a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer as part of the structure, and all of this is managed in a disciplined process of regular meetings, town halls and structured communications with record keeping and sound governance.

The whole process is put together and managed by National Building Services who are expert in the running of such schemes and will guide the Housing Association through all the stages of the project.


Self-build groups are already very successful in some parts of Europe

Although collective self-build projects are still relatively uncommon in the UK, they are very common in other European countries.

In Berlin, ‘Baugruppen’ (build groups) account for around 10% of new homes built in the city.

The groups are self-organised, often with the support of a dedicated project manager, and there is a structured process for bidding for sites that are allocated by the local council. 

Knowledge about these European models of community self-build is gradually becoming more widespread in the UK. 

As most of them rely on specific support from local councils, they will only catch on here if the support is made available.


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Being involved in a community self-build project can improve your quality of life

Some food for thought:

  • 1 in 10 people have no close relatives or friends to turn to in case of an emergency
  • In the past 15 years, the number of people aged 55-64 who are living alone has increased by 50%
  • £2.5 billion = the estimated annual cost to the NHS due to sub-standard housing
  • 3 out of 4 people would prefer not to buy a home built by a mainstream developer.

Being involved in a community self-build project offers many benefits – both to residents and to those who are responsible for the project. The chance to contribute towards your local area, a sense of belonging and the ability to influence local decisions all give a powerful sense of wellbeing. Residents of group schemes have also reported a greater level of trust in their neighbours and a lower fear of crime. This is in addition to the personal benefits of having a safe, comfortable and well designed home to live in, the new skills, friends and job opportunities that may be created, and of course a treasure chest of stories to share for years to come.


Bryneglwys near Corwen (North Wales)

19 Beautiful energy-efficient family properties in an area of outstanding beauty, just a few miles away from the towns of Corwen and Ruthin.

St Asaph (North Wales)

9 energy-efficient family homes in Gemig Street, St Asaph. The smallest city in Wales, this picturesque location has all amenities on the doorstep.

Penycae, Wrexham (North Wales)

5 superb energy-efficient family homes in this picturesque rural village just a few miles from Wrexham.

More Info

If you would like more information on any of the above planned schemes, please click on the following link and we will send you more information https://forms.gle/cPSUQT67Pp79Rqq19

After you have requested the information, click the 'Back' (or back arrow) button in you browser to return to this site.


  • 61 Bridge Street, Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3DJ
  • Local Depot: Unit 12, Garden City Industrial Estate, Deeside CH5 2HW

Please complete the form opposite with your details and a brief description of the scheme you are inquiring about, and the best time to contact you. We will be in touch with the information you require.

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