Winning entires show at this year’s Grand Designs Live event

An ideas competition to design £40,000 ‘granny annexes’ for a retirement community has been launched by the National Custom & Self Build Association.

The individual homes must be constructed for that amount or less, or the whole community of 30 homes – which must also include a range of shared community facilities – has a maximum budget of £1.5 million.

The homes will be no more than 40sq m with selected entries shown at this October’s Grand Designs Live in Birmingham.

Judges for this year’s Self Build on a Shoestring competition include TV presenter George Clarke. Winners will share a £5,000 prize fund.

The deadline for entries is September 21 with more details here.