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DIY property development

Even tiny-scale self builders can make the same juicy margins as large listed housebuilders.
November 8, 2013

Grove Park, a once-private street of large 19th century homes at the top of Denmark Hill in south London, is usually a sleepy place. But during September's weekend festival of architecture, Open House London, one unobtrusive home attracted 765 visitors in just two afternoons - a rate of nearly 100 an hour. "It was a busy weekend," recalls architect Niki Borowiecki, who has developed the home on part of his long back garden. With an open-plan design wrapped round a top-lit central atrium, he now hopes to sell it as "Paddock House" for £1.95m.