Just off junction 16 of the M4 at Swindon, sits a huge industrial unit. With a 67,000 ft2 footprint, the building was intended to become a distribution centre, with excellent transport links to London, the South West and the Midlands.
However, in 2007 the building was turned into something quite different – The National Self Build & Renovation Centre – the UK’s only permanent Self Build visitor centre! Open 6 days a week (Tuesday to Sunday) the NSBRC is a ‘must visit’ destination for anyone thinking about building, or improving, their own home.
We have all watched ‘Grand Designs’ or ‘George Clarke’s amazing spaces’ and dreamed about building our own, unique homes. Well, in reality over 13,000 people do just that in the UK every year, and that number is growing.
ABOUT THE NSBRC
Self Building is certainly on the up, but if you're thinking about committing to it, where do you start? The majority of visitors to the NSBRC have never set foot on a building site before, so the visitor centre has created some brilliant, life-size educational zones, showing every single aspect of building a house in a way that is engaging and easy to understand.
From flooring to foundations, bricks & blocks to doors & windows; everything you can think of that goes into a house (and a whole lot more) is on display under their giant roof.
In the ‘Wall Zone’, you can compare a Timber Frame house to one constructed of Oak and another from ICF (Polystyrene building blocks filled with concrete) and understand the pros and cons of each system.
If you have paid a premium on a plot of land, you’ll want to maximise your living space, and the ‘Roof Zone’ shows how to use the roof space for more than just storing away a few suitcases and the Christmas tree!
If you are tackling a renovation project, their superb ‘Renovation House’ walks you through a full-size 1920’s style property so you can learn how to turn an old wreck into a modern home. There is always something going on at the NSBRC – with a wide range of Shows, Workshops, Courses and Practical Training sessions on offer, this a great place for home improvers, self-builders and skilled professionals.
SHOWS AND COURSES AT THE NSBRC
The NSBRC is full to the brim with events, and they offer something new on every visit. October sees the return of their popular ‘National Self Build & Renovation Show’. An unmissable 2-day event featuring an unrivalled line up of exhibitors and experts on hand to share their advice to prospective self-builders and renovators. Standard tickets are also free when booked in advance!
BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR THE 2024 SHOW HERE
Looking for something more specific to your project? Then attend one of our NSBRC Training Courses to build up your knowledge and build with confidence. The team have developed a suite of Training Courses for a wide range of projects; whether you are planning a fully-fledged Self Build, or perhaps a small-scale extension, they have a course that can help you.
These courses are aimed at individuals who are at the beginning of their self-build journey, with relatively little knowledge or experience of the build process. Led by industry experts with years of experience, the presenters are happy to help answers your technical queries. Even if you don’t have a project on the go, these courses are great for broadening your understanding of the industry.
The NSBRC also run a variety of popular one or two-day Workshops through the year which focus on very clear themes, covering topics such as selecting the right building system, Eco-Friendly home design, and perfecting a Passive House. These workshops allow you to speak to numerous experts in different fields, so you will leave filled with knowledge, ideas and inspiration.
The centre also offers free monthly online webinars with a host of experts covering a variety of topics. Check out their 'NSBRC Online Surgeries' page for more information.
The unique mix of show homes, guided educational tours and an outstanding collection of building experts, make this a great event for home improvers, self-builders and skilled professionals. Whatever stage your project is at, the show’s free talks cover a range of topics and the NSBRC’s ‘Live Demo’ zone is always popular as it allows you to see building systems up close.
Take it from us, taking part in these resources can save you a lot of stress and a lot of money!
We particularly love that fact that the business is employee-owned, with the friendly team always keen to share advice and help you find answers, no matter what stage your project is at.
The NSBRC is a welcoming, professional environment which allows you to build your knowledge, see some of the best technologies available and meet people who are genuinely keen to hear about your plans and help you.
TOP TIPS FOR SELF BUILD SUCCESS FROM THE NSBRC TEAM
#1. DO YOUR RESEARCH– The more time you spend on the design & research stage, the less time you’ll spend on site! We have over 200 permanent exhibitors all under one roof with a massive range of products and technologies to see and try out.
#2. KNOW YOUR BUDGET– Self building can be more affordable than you’d imagine, but it pays to speak to specialist experts. BuildStore are based at the NSBRC and they can help you with plot finding, finance, insurance and budgeting.
#3. FABRIC FIRST– Really think about what materials your house will be built with and the levels of insulation you’ll need. The best way to do this is by adopting the 'Fabric First' approach. It’s better to spend a bit more on better insulation, and efficient windows & doors, than have a heat-leaking house and a lifetime of high energy bills!
#4. LISTEN to the experts! We offer a free Helpdesk (staffed Wednesday to Sunday) offering impartial advice by experienced experts. You can also meet a variety of experts at our shows & workshops. They have ‘walked the walk’ and can help when you are unsure about what decisions to make to achieve your dream home.
#5. VISIT the NSBRC– Our team are here to help. With FREE parking and FREE entry – a visit to the NSBRC should be on every self-builders ‘to do’ list!
AC ARCHITECTS AT THE NSBRC
We've worked with the wonderful people at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre for a few years now, and are always happy to offer a helping hand to attendees. In May of 2021, we expanded our presence at the NSBRC by opening a permanent office stand. The talented Jenny Chandela is our dedicated Architect based in the centre who is available for face-to-face appointments with our clients in the South West. She and her team are supported by a state of the art Virtual Reality setup in the stand that will allow our clients to walk through their future home, making design changes as they go.
For several years, we have been proud to be part of the NSRBC's ‘Ask An Architect’ sessions, developed in collaboration with the RIBA. These sessions offer individuals the opportunity to have complimentary, personalised consultations with our chartered Architects. Whether you're contemplating constructing your own home or enhancing the layout of your current home, we're here to help.
The team at AC Architects and AC Structures are involved in a variety of events hosted at the centre, helping self-builders build their dream home. We always enjoy our time at the centre, and we look forward to attending all of the National Self Build & Renovation Shows in the years to come.
The NSBRC is open 6 days a week for visitors (closed every Monday). From Tuesday to Saturday, their standard opening hours are 10:00 – 17:30. Sunday opening hours are 10:00 - 16:30.
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Lydiard Fields, Great Western Way, Swindon, SN5 8UB
For more information visit: www.nsbrc.co.uk.