As we reach middle age some thought must be given to where we will live once we retire. Many eventually move into retirement homes where they can be looked after but what about the self-builder?

There seems to be a romantic image that surrounds the words, build your own house. A mock Tudor set in the countryside, an ultra modern town house built of glass, perhaps an Eco-friendly barn type building. Weve all seen the programmes and dreamed the dreams. Reality is a different prospect and many dreamers drop at the first hurdle. How about you?

Planning an underground house can have some very tricky elements and although underground homes are still rare, they are increasing in number, particularly for self-builds, because they can be built on land where a normal house simply could not be built.