About
Oliver Steele-Perkins
Hello and Welcome
I help homeowners structure and deliver residential building projects with confidence.
With 25+ years of experience across, pre-construction design and site delivery, I created Homebuilding Essentials to show homeowners how to avoid costly mistakes, stay in control, and actually enjoy the building journey.
Where It All Began
My path into construction was deliberate, and hands-on from the start.
After growing up in Somerset and getting an early introduction to the property world through my father’s professional career, I went straight into construction. At 18, I joined a local contractor in Yeovil and later worked on a major nursing home development of over 100 bedrooms. The project was delivered by E. Thomas Construction, a subsidiary of the Mowlem Group, one of the UK’s largest construction companies at the time.
This was a formative stage in my training, practical, structured, and grounded in real construction environments. I worked closely with a project programmer, gaining early experience in how to sequence and schedule construction works effectively.
That hands-on experience was supported by formal study, first with an HND in Building Studies and later with a First-Class Honours degree in Construction Management. The combination of practical site work and technical education laid the foundation for what would become a structured, systems-based approach to residential project delivery.
Today, that same structured approach has evolved into the framework behind Homebuilding Essentials based on professional standards like the RIBA Plan of Work, but reimagined for homeowners and self-builders. Clear stages. Transparent processes. No fluff. Just the essential tools to move forward with confidence.
Developing Professional Expertise
After earning a First-Class Honours degree in Construction Management, I began working in Oxford and West London, managing residential portfolios and delivering light refurbishments for property investors.
I moved into full project delivery for private clients, overseeing high-value extensions, basements, structural remodelling and full-house refurbishments. As my experience deepened, I took on my first self-build project, securing private development finance, managing the entire process directly, and refinancing on completion to repay the loan. This project was later featured in Your Property Network magazine for its successful delivery and financial outcome.
Following that, I delivered several high value projects, applying the same structured approach, with detailed planning, risk management, and cost control at the centre of every decision.
More recently, I’ve led construction for an award-winning design and build company in West London, managing multiple £1M+ projects at the same time. I’ve worked closely with cost consultants and external professionals, led in-house construction teams, and supported architectural and interior designers with build-led guidance throughout the process.
I hold Chartered Construction Manager status with the CIOB, alongside an NVQ Level 7 in Senior Construction Management and SMSTS certification combining strategic oversight with deep delivery experience.
My First Self-Build
Featured in Your Property Network Magazine — planned, financed, and delivered independently.
Highlights & Recognition
Ask an Expert advisor at Grand Designs Live (London & Birmingham), offering one-to-one guidance on project structuring and delivery
Speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, focused on pre-construction preparation
Former Head of Construction for an award-winning design and build company in West London
Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB), NVQ Level 7 and SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) merging site experience with technical qualification
Featured in Your Property Network, Homebuilding & Renovating, House Beautiful, and more
Hilltop House, a private self-build, Highly Commended in the Daily Telegraph Renovation Awards - Self Build category
Why I Created Homebuilding Essentials
Homeowners often face avoidable stress, delays, and overspends, not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because residential construction is fragmented, unclear, and unregulated.
Homebuilding Essentials was created to change that. It gives homeowners access to the structure, tools, and insights that professionals use every day, made clear, practical, and built for real projects.
Not everyone can or wants to hire a project manager. But that shouldn’t mean building without clear information and knowledge. This platform exists to give people the knowledge, guidance, and tools they need to take control, with confidence, not guesswork.
“Oliver combines deep technical knowledge with practical site awareness and a methodical approach to project management. He’s an excellent communicator, able to manage consultants, contractors, and clients with equal professionalism.”