Welcome

PHOTO: DAVID BARBOUR It’s an exciting new era

inspiration

Low-carbon family home

The Brick House

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Brownfield plots in abundance

Brownfield sites across England could accommodate almost 1.5m

32

is the number of custom and self build

Nutrient neutrality rules scrapped

Housing secretary Michael Gove is set relax nutrient

What’s on?

DESIGNING YOUR DREAM HOME 3RD OCT £40, VIRTUAL

Energy efficient homes still on top of house hunters’ lists

Good energy performance is one of the most

need to know

Applying for a CIL exemption

spend V save

£13k This bronze front door has been hand

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

3 of the best STONE WORKTOPS

1 White Beauty Chinese marble from £560

interiors notebook

Injecting colour into traditional farmhouse decor gives this classic style a contemporary flair

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

Create your dream oak frame home with a custom build project from Oakwrights

Oakwrights’ latest custom build plot opportunities, in partnership with Webbs Meadows, offer thoughtfully-designed bespoke homes set in beautiful village locations where community and sustainability go hand-in-hand

In Focus

ARCHITECTS & DESIGN SERVICES

next month...

December issue on sale 25th October

The benefits of contract administration

Lior Brosh, founder of Brosh Architects, gives his take on having your architect involved throughout the build process of your project

Britain’s Best Self Build or Renovation Project

The judges’ shortlist of seven incredible homes is in, so now it’s down to you to help us crown the nation’s best home in 2023 for this year’s Build It Awards

Multigenerational contemporary home

KATY DONALDSON OWNERS Lowri & Andy Horstead PROJECT

Colourful Victorian terrace extension & renovation

SIMON MAXWELL OWNERS Alice Constable Maxwell & George

Innovative subterranean self build home in ICF

DAVID BARBOUR OWNERS Ray & Ruth Davis PROJECT

Holistic barn conversion & extension

Toby Diggens and his partner, Bella Lowes, were

Modern timber-clad family farmhouse

RICHARD GADSBY OWNERS Freddie & Katie Pack PROJECT

Hands-on timber frame home

MATTHEW SMITH After living in France for

Low-carbon agricultural renovation

SIMON BURT OWNERS Perry & Sally Morrison PROJECT

WOW-FACTOR FAMILY HOME

On the hunt for a bigger home for their growing family, Kate and Sandy Crerar fell in love with the beautiful views on a rural plot, which lead them to take on a self build project

Historic blend

Architecture spans the centuries in this grade II listed house, which had created a dysfunctional layout before Mark Camillin and Liam Denny resolved the problems by reconfiguring the floorplan and adding a multi-storey extension

Slice of paradise

Suzanne Mackey transformed her Cornish home with this stunning contemporary annexe

10 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR ENERGY BILLS

Whether you’re self-building, extending or renovating, Georgina Crothers takes a look at some of the measures you can introduce to reduce energy consumption, keep household bills low and minimise your carbon footprint

HEAT PUMP PROS & CONS

We look at the main heat pump options, along with the key factors that will help you decide if this efficient tech suits your project

GSHP DELIVERS LOW-ENERGY LIVING

PROPERTY TYPE Low-energy self build LOCATION Halifax, North

DO BOILERS STILL MAKE SENSE?

We explain the options for different appliances, as well as delving into what the future holds for conventional gas-powered heat sources

WHAT IS SOLAR THERMAL?

Make the most of the natural warmth from the sun by using it to heat water in your home

GENERATING ELECTRICITY WITH SOLAR PV

Harnessing energy from the sun to help run your lights, power sockets and electric car is a popular renewable setup, but how can you maximise efficiency and keep it sustainable?

QUICK GUIDE TO VENTILATION

Discover the best ways to maintain airflow in an energy efficient home

WOODBURNING STOVES

You can’t beat the warm flicker of real flames – but is a woodburner right for your home? We explore the advantages and key considerations of these appliances, and investigate how sustainable they really are

DESIGN IDEAS RADIATORS & TOWEL RAILS

Investing in a good quality radiator or towel rail will ensure a cosy and well-organised space all year round. Take a look at our top pick of products

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Discover how this type of tech could improve the efficiency of your home’s heating system

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SIPs

Rebecca Foster explores the benefits of this construction method, as well as investigating the key considerations and costs involved

ADDING CHARACTER TO AN EXTENSION

Extending is a sure-fire way to add light, space and value to your home – but how can you inject a little personality into your project? Sander Tel highlights some exciting ideas

RAINWATER GOODS

From shape and style to material options, Rebecca Foster explains everything you need to know when specifying this aspect of your self build project

STAIRCASE MATERIALS

Whatever your style or budget, you can mix and match different materials to create a flight that forms a functional focal point of your home’s design, says Georgina Crothers

BUILDING REGULATIONS WHY THEY MATTER

Government rules and regulations for self build and renovation projects are designed to keep you and your home as safe and comfortable. Architect Julian Owen explores a few of the ways in which the Building Regs can provide that all-important peace of mind throughout your development

HOW TO SPOT GREENWASH

It’s not always easy to understand just how sustainable the materials and technologies we use truly are. Nigel Griffiths arms you with the tools to ask the right questions and make considered decisions

CLOSER LOOK PARAGRAPH 80

This exception in the planning system allows the construction of new, beautifully designed houses in the countryside, but just how likely are you to gain approval? Martin Gaine looks at the details

Ask the EXPERTS

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