I should probably also point out that although I have no formal building qualifications this was definitely not my first attempt at building. I completely renovated (and partly rebuilt) my two previous houses. I also had the chance to work demolishing several old timber framed houses – excellent experience for seeing how the work is done.

I had to submit proper plans to the Council and I was allowed to register to build as an "owner builder". The work was subject to all the same Council inspections as a regular builder has. I also had a thick book of building rules that gave me the required timber sizes, spacings etc.

I think that you can still get an owner builder licence here, but I believe that they’ve tightened up the conditions a fair bit, as many who tried never really got the job finished.