Welcome

If you’re anything like me and have been

MEET THE TEAM

GEORGINA CROTHERS is Build It’s homes editor. Go

Contemporary home rooted in the forest

JIM STEPHENSON Hidden in a clearing within the

Geometric volumes

PROJ ECT OF THE MONTH Home to a

Visit a Passivhaus in person near you

Are you interested in building or renovating your

Lake District to host custom build homes

Hugr Homes has secured planning for 50 custom

Labour’s grey belt proposal could help deliver more homes

The Labour party has announced plans to bring

need to know

Should you project manage your self build?

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

spend v save

FROM £970 Made from anorthosite stone, this stunning

3 of the best VERTICAL TIMBER CLADDING

1 Hardwood Southern Grandis Organowood, from £70 per

interiors notebook

Elevate your home’s interior scheme with complementary shades of classic sage green

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

8th & 9th June: Maximise your chances of self build, home renovation or extension success with a visit to our next Build It Live show, in Oxfordshire

Ask the EXPERTS

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

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

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

ENGLAND

BEDFORDSHIRE BEDFORD Mill Road Plot in open countryside

SELF BUILD OPPORTUNITY IN SUNNY DEVON

LOCATION Bradley Barton, Newton Abbot, Devon GUIDE PRICE

SCOTLAND

ABERDEENSHIRE ALFORD Muir of Fowlis Plot 1 extends

WALES

CARMARTHENSHIRE BANCYFELIN, CARMARTHEN High Street Full planning application

Build It Live

Every month, we round up some of the UK’s best products and suppliers for self builders and home renovators. Over the next few pages, we put the spotlight on what’s in store at Build It Live Bicester on 8th & 9th June

Developing your home design

Delphine Dryer associate director at CDC Studio, shares

URBAN RENOVATIONS

While self building in the countr yside may be a dream for many, urban areas are packed with plenty of historic, characterful buildings just waiting to be transformed into modern homes. From old shops to redundant warehouses, Sander Tel uncovers a collection of fantastic renovations

Readers’ homes

SELF BUILD + RENOVATION + EXTENSION + CONVERSION + IMPROVEMENT

CONNECTING OLD WITH NEW

John and Melanie Stott have transformed their Victorian terrace into a family home thanks to a renovation and extension that now offers open-plan living

CATCHING THE WAVE

Jan Burroughs and Kate Sutherland found the right plot at the right time to self build a low-impact, low-energy home that invokes classic beach house style

Natural beauty

Jonathan and Joanna Lunn left city life behind to build their own contemporary home on a stunning woodland site in the South Downs National Park

Renovation & building

SELF BUILD + RENOVATION + EXTENSION + CONVERSION + IMPROVEMENT

CREATING A BETTER HOME PART 4: VENTILATION & AIR QUALITY

Getting a constant supply of clean air in your home is vital for the health of your building and its occupants. Georgina Crothers looks at the side effects of poor ventilation and the steps to take to achieve a comfortable, fresh living environment

INSTALLING MVHR: KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Designing and fitting MVHR requires a considered approach

5 STEPS TO YOUR DREAM OAK HOME

Want a reliable and timeless option with great design potential? Erika Chaffey takes a look at the steps to specifying an oak frame

ROOF DESIGNS FOR EXTENSIONS

A key part of an extension, the style of roof can add architectural wow as well as function. Lindsay Blair looks at the different options and where each might be best suited

WHAT IS A TURNKEY HOME?

If getting your project finished as soon as possible is a high priority, so you can start enjoying your bespoke home sooner, here are some ideas for speeding things up on site

Recycled & second-hand building materials

Looking to be more sustainable and cost effective with your build? Kate Sandhu delves into what you need to know about sourcing second-hand and recycled materials

Outdoor living ideas

Unlock the full potential of your outside space with smart desig n options and st ylish solutions that provide an inviting and enjoyable extension of your internal living areas

Expert help

SELF BUILD + RENOVATION + EXTENSION + CONVERSION + IMPROVEMENT

Contextual design

Architect Opinder Liddar discusses the importance of building with your local area in mind and shares how to create a distinctive home that celebrates its surroundings

What is EnerPHit?

PASSIVHAUS RENOVATIONS

BUILDING IN THE GREEN BELT

These protected areas have strict rules around development. Martin Gaine looks at what projects are possible in the green belt and how to spot agood opportunity

VAT RECAIMS what you need to know

Emily Batesmith takes a look at how to get the HMRC process right to ensure you maximise the value of your VAT reclaim

COST CALCULATOR

Want to understand how much it costs to build your own home? Our ready reckoner, powered by the Build It Estimating Service, will help you gauge what size, style and quality of house you can achieve on your project budget