Welcome

W hen this issue hits the shelves, we’ll

Contextual countryside build

JIM STEPHENSON Designed by Oliver Leech Architects, this

Urban self build

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which aims to drive

400+

is the number of self build plots set

UK Passivhaus Awards announces shortlist

The Passivhaus Trust ( passivhaustrust.org . uk) has

What’s on?

SELF BUILDING AN ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME 9TH JUNE

Skipton launches zero-deposit mortgage for first-time buyers

Skipton Building Society ( skipton.co.uk ) is offering

need to know

The importance of retrofitting older buildings

spend v save

£30.34 Made using FSC-certified timber, this honey-toned composite

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

3 of the best STEEL WINDOWS

1 HomelightPlus window, £POA, www.crittall-windows.co.uk 2 EB20

interiors notebook

Combine bright orange and earthy green with wood tones for a mid-century modern aesthetic

Get Free Advice & Ideas for Your Project at Build It Live

Whether you’re self building, renovating or extending your home, maximise your chances of project success with a visit to Build It Live Bicester

Self build & custom build mortgage table

Looking to fund your bespoke home project? Each month we round up the best deals from leading lenders and update you on what you need to know to secure the right finance

Ask the EXPERTS

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

FIND YOUR DREAM BUILDING PLOT

PlotBrowser.com is a 100% free-to-use plot and property finder, packed with 1,000s of home building opportunities. Here’s a taster of the fantastic self build plots, renovation properties and conversions currently for sale near you

ISL AND LIFE

LOCATION Camus Croise, Isle of Skye GUIDE

InFocus

See these exhibitors and more at

Building with nature in mind

Wendy Perring, founder of Pad Studio, gives her take on designing a home that is sympathetic to the environment and encourages biodiversity

CREATIVE RENOVATIONS

Undertaking a high-quality home renovation requires imagination. Lucy Keech shares some inspiring projects where creativity is at the forefront of design

OLD MEETS NEW

Kevin Adams and Lucy Miller gutted an old stone building on their family’s farmland to transform it into a beautiful new home

BUILDING MEMORIES

Kevin O’Mahony and Claire Edwards joined forces to overcome supply issues and build a striking brick-and-block home on a greenfield site

THE QUARRY HOUSE

An award-winning timber frame home in Oxford has been built on an infill site in a disused quarry, requiring some clever thinking to provide privacy

Planning notes: EXTENSIONS

Thinking of taking on an extension project? Anna-Marie DeSouza’s guide to securing consent highlights everything you need to know to get a successful result

PIVOT DOORS around the home

Georgina Crothers explores the ins and outs of this innovative design, from its functionality to the various internal and external styles on offer

Saving money on structural costs

Re-Structured’s James Nevin explains how a technical sense-check can help you avoid costly over-engineering

garden buildings

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO

STAIRCASE IDEAS

From marble helical flights to timber U-shaped designs, Georgina Crothers shares a selection of innovative ideas to inspire your stairs

CONSERVATION ROOFLIGHTS

Before you specify roof windows for a heritage scheme, you need to know the basics of the specialist glazing options for your property

Build It Live: Sustainable Building Products Pavilion

NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2023!

WHAT IS A DESIGN & BUILD SPECIALIST?

Having one company package together different phases of your self build project will take the risk and uncertainty out of your hands. Here, we’re looking at what stages can be bundled together and how the process works

8 AMAZING PACKAGE HOME

The package home route offers a unique and efficient path to a new dwelling – take a look at these inspiring self builds to see what’s possible

PACKAGE HOME DESIGN OPTIONS

From adapting an existing scheme to starting from scratch, working with a design and build specialist gives you control over the style and spec of your new home

DESIGN & BUILD STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

There are strong pros for all the construction methods available to self builders, so how can you decide which one is right for your home project?

WHO CAN MANAGE MY PACKAGE HOME PROJECT?

Chris Bates gives a quick introduction to project management routes – whether you want to be heavily involved in running your site or leave things in the hands of the pros

BUILDING PLOTS ASSESSING POTENTIAL

Finding a suitable plot for your self build can be a time-consuming process. Martin Gaine looks at how to work out the potential of a site

PART O

DESIGNING YOUR HOUSE TO PREVENT OVERHEATING

Getting airtightness right in new homes

Sustainability expert Nigel Griffiths looks at how you can address uncontrolled air leakage to boost your self build project’s performance

VAT FOR CONVERSIONS

Planning on undertaking work to turn a non-residential building into a home? Save money with our guide to navigating the VAT rules for conversion projects