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

PLANNING

Martin Gaine runs planning consultancy Just Planning (www.just-planning.co.uk). A former case officer, he has experience on both sides of the planning divide and now specialises in helping homeowners win consent at appeal. He is the author of How to Get Planning Permission: An Insider’s Secrets.

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

Steven Way is a chartered building surveyor and practice principal at Collier Stevens (www.collier-stevens.co.uk). Steven has built a wealth of experience and expertise across both residential and commercial building surveying as well as reporting on residential building defects and domestic building contract disputes.

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.