Support, advice and guidance for young residents and workers interested in self-build on Exmoor

Exmoor Young Voices (EYV) supports young people who want to build their own homes on Exmoor. Our Self-Build Group provides guidance, mentorship, and practical advice to make the dream of owning a home on the moor achievable. Whether you’re just starting to explore self-build, or already underway, we’re here to help you navigate the process.
Get in touch: [email protected]
Who we support
Exmoor Young Voices Self-Build Group supports:
  • Young people living and working on Exmoor
  • Those interested in building their own Section 106 / local occupancy home
  • ​Individuals or families pursuing Rural Worker or Succession Farm dwellings
  • People looking to participate in community self-build projects
  • Anyone needing guidance on planning, funding, design, or construction
Why join the EYV Self-Build Group?
  • Access expert advice and mentoring from EYV advisers and experienced self-builders
  • ​Connect with other young self-builders on the moor
  • Gain practical guidance on plots, planning, mortgages, and construction
  • Learn design strategies likely to meet planning requirements in Exmoor National Park
  • Visit our members' in-progress self-build homes & learn from their experiences
How EYV supports self-builders
We offer a comprehensive support scheme to help you every step of the way.

Finding plots of land
Finding suitable land for self-build homes on Exmoor isn’t easy, as plots aren’t widely advertised. While we don’t currently have any plots available, we can support you in reaching out to landowners or advertising that you’re looking for an affordable self-build plot.
We’re also working with local partners to match aspiring self-builders with parishes where they have a local connection, helping identify potential opportunities for future builds.
If you’re interested, please complete this short survey to let us know your location preferences and self-build plans. It will help us in this work.

Design & planning support
Get free advice from our self-build adviser, Justin Tyers. We can also put you in touch with a local architect who is part of the EYV Self-Build Group.

Members of the Self-Build Group at various stages of their own projects are happy to share their experience, and Meg, our coordinator, will happily support young self-builders with planning communications, or any other help they need.

Funding
We can put you in touch with Lendology, a local social enterprise lender that offers self-build loans. Grants for self-builds are sometimes available through Lendology and Somerset Council.

Mentorship
Benefit from ongoing support throughout the build process. If we don’t have the answer to your question ourselves, we’ll find someone who does!

Materials sourcing
Guidance on cost-effective building materials and suppliers for your self-build home.

​Important: All self-builds are undertaken at your own cost and risk.
Meet Our Expert Advisor: Justin Tyers
​Justin Tyers is a self-builder with experience constructing two houses and a fifteen-ton wooden sailing boat! He is also the author of 'How to Self Build your Dream Home for £99,000 - or less!' Justin offers:
Design advice suitable for Exmoor planning requirements
Mentorship throughout your self-build journey
​Guidance on natural materials and sustainable construction
Exmoor Young Voices Self Build Update
File Size: 110 kb
File Type: pdf
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Read the Exmoor Young Voices Self Build Project Business Plan
File Size: 4468 kb
File Type: pdf
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Our Achievements & Impact
  • Organised several self build tours & seminars to inform and educate young people about building their own homes on Exmoor
  • ​Connected young people with local architects for advice and services
  • Assisted young couples with Highways issues during construction
  • Linked self-builders with Lendology, a social enterprise lender for loans and grants
  • Supported young self-builders with planning amendments and committee meetings
  • Raised awareness of self-build opportunities with local authorities and Exmoor National Park – self-build is now taken more seriously as a solution for young residents

​Useful links:
Affordable Housing on Exmoor info (Exmoor National Park Authority)
​Affordable Housing Local Connection form (Exmoor National Park Authority)
Self-Build Housing on Exmoor info & Self-Build Register (Exmoor National Park Authority)
Custom & Self-Build Housing Leaflet (Exmoor National Park & Somerset Council)
Lendology Self-Build Loan case study (Josh and Meg from Exmoor Young Voices)
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (including maps showing potential sites for 17 settlements across Exmoor)
Section 106 Agreements - Guidance and templates for planning obligations
Nomad Architecture (Local Architect experienced in working with Exmoor self-builders)
Exmoor National Park Planning
​Exmoor Self-Build Tours
We organise tours of existing self-build properties on Exmoor to inspire and educate young people interested in building their own homes here. All tour s include visits to completed and in-progress self-build homes and Q&A sessions with self-builders. We have also previously run sessions with Exmoor National Park representatives to discuss planning and practical advice. Read more: EYV Self-Build Tour 2026
​Get in touch
If you’re serious about self-building and would like support, email us at: [email protected]
Tell us where you are in the process (it doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out) and we’ll discuss how we can help you move forward.
EYV Self Build Tour Key Learning Points
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File Type: pdf
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EYV Self Build Tour - Exmoor National Park Press Release
File Size: 3826 kb
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Privacy Policy
© 2026 Exmoor Young Voices is a registered charity: 1182091