PLANNING

Julia Riddle is a planning consultant with over 13 years’ experience in advising on self builds and other types of residential development. She runs Castle Planning (www.castleplanning.uk) and has been involved in writing guidance on custom and self build to inform the national planning approach.

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 MANAGEMENT

Mark Stevenson is managing director at Potton, a package home company helping self builders to create their dream property. He has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and an extensive knowledge of practical building skills and timber frame construction, as well as expertise in finding and appraising land.

PERIOD PROPERTIES

Alan Tierney is a period property and conservation specialist. He ran an historic building consultancy, offering hands-on advice to heritage homeowners, but is now focused on renovating yet another property: Old Barnstaple House.

DESIGN

Opinder Liddar is a director at Lapd Architects (www.lapdarchitects.co.uk). The practice specialises in residential projects from extensions to new builds, making him the ideal person to answer all your home design questions.

VAT RECLAIM

Kathy Tisdale runs Self Build VAT Reclaims (www.selfbuildvatreclaims.com), providing a professional VAT reclaim service which enables self builders and converters to focus on their project.