It's not super easy but not as bad as you think it is. If you get away with it for long enough without complaint you can do it in the U.K. I think it just needs to be there for 7 years or so. It's easier in Wales too if it's a low impact house and you are earning a living from the land. In England too Ben Law did it in his woodland. Maximus Ironthumper on YouTube have done it too. He has a good video on how to do it.
That’s the thing. Try doing this in the UK and it will be demolished, even if you own the land and regardless of how sovereign one’s intentions are. There is no freedom here. One can go ahead and do it but you will end up with no peace and a lifelong fight in your hands to avoid jailtime like this guy:
https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/03/farmer-castle-home-haystack-demolition
Discussion
Yep. But I believe in those cases you still have to buy the land, correct?
Ben Law, and I quote, also “endured a 10 year struggle to obtain planning permission to build a house in his own woods, made mainly out of materials from the woodland itself.”
Thank you for the pointer to Maximus Ironthumper though, found this very interesting:
Yeah but it's because the bureaucracy really don't like "development' or 'dwellings' on woodland. Probably helps set a precident or something so if I remember they had to write a load of code for him e.g I dont he can sell it to anyone and if he moves he has to demolish it. Something like that.
Interesting stuff! 👍🏼