Head of Client Development at the CIOB
Build Cost
Live 2025
18 November 2025
A free virtual event exploring the real home building costs in the UK.
Set your budget
How much do you need and how to stay on top of costs
Regional costs
Price variations across the UK and where are labour and material costs heading?
Advice and tips
How to keep tabs on costs, troubleshooting and where to make savings
Building, extending or renovating a home is exciting – but setting money aside for it is daunting. Build Cost Live 2025 gives English, Scottish and Welsh viewers clarity, expert insight, real-world cost data and lessons from people who’ve been there, done that.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore or already mid-project, this free online event is designed to help you make smarter financial decisions, spot budget surprises early, and avoid costly mistakes. Even if you can’t join live, registering gives you access to the full event recording so you won’t miss out.
SPEAKERS
RIBA/ARB-registered architect and Certified Passivhaus Designer, and the founder of RISE Design Studio (London & Barcelona)
First-time self-builders as seen on Channel 4's Grand Designs
Chartered Construction Project Manager (MCIOB) and Founding Director of Appledown Projects Ltd.
| TIMES | TITLE & DESCRIPTION | SPEAKER | SPEAKER |
|---|---|---|---|
10AM-11AM | How to budget for your self-build What's the minimum budget you need to build a house? Does the design come first? Difference between schedules of works and bills of quantities. How should you manage the budget throughout the project, from the earliest design stages to signing off. | Linda Stevens CIOB | Jack Hounsham Appledown Projects |
11AM-12PM | Build cost landscape How much does it cost to build a house today? What are the cost variations around England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland? What way are material and labour prices trending? | Jack Hounsham Appledown Projects | |
1PM-2PM | Professional fees What should you budget for architects, engineers and quantity surveyors; and what do you get? We look at fee models, when to appoint, expected deliverables, and how to avoid scope creep. Plus: why clear appointments and JCT contracts save money, what PI insurance covers, and practical tips to align fees, risk and value on real projects. | Sean Ronnie Hill RIBA/ARB-registered architect and Certified Passivhaus Designer, and the founder of RISE Design Studio (London & Barcelona) | |
2PM-3PM | The self-builder's journey: Costs and lessons learned Giuliano Rapoz and Zara Findlay of The Foxes Maltings walk us through how they tackled the budget on their own house building project in Lincolnshire. They explain how they kept tabs on costs, the features that were worth the investment, and the budget surprises along the way. Read up on the project before, or after, the main event here. | Giuliano and Zara First-time self-builders as seen on Channel 4's Grand Designs |
Frequently asked questions
A: We will email you 24hours before the event starts with a unique link to access the talks.
A: Anyone planning a new build, extension, or renovation
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Homeowners budgeting a future project
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Architects and designers advising clients
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Suppliers interested in understanding homeowner budgets
A: Absolutely. All registered attendees will receive on-demand access to the full recordings.
A: It’s completely free to attend. Just register to receive your access link.