Essential advice on your problems with building, budgeting, DIY & planning from the most experienced names in the self-build industry

PLANNING

Mike Dade is a land and planning specialist. He is a contributing editor of Build It, a plot hunting expert and author of several books on planning and plot issues. He is one half of Speer Dade consultants (www.speerdade.co.uk).

FINANCE

Rachel Pyne is director of financial services at BuildStore (www.buildstore.co.uk). She has worked in self build finance for over 10 years and deals with a diverse portfolio of lenders across the whole market as well as on exclusive self build and renovation mortgage products.

SUSTAINABILITY

Nigel Griffiths is director of the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (www.stbauk. org) and a consultant working mainly on energy efficiency policy and evaluation. He is the author of the Haynes Eco House Manual.

PROJECT INSURANCE

Peter Richardson is a Director at Sennocke International Insurance Services, the company behind the brands Self-Build Zone and Build-Zone. He has been in the Insurance Industry for just over 30 years and has a wide area of expertise. He wears many hats at Sennocke, including overall responsibility for construction insurance.