Welcome

A s someone who’s recently bought a real

inspiration

Sleek & sustainable modernist home

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Vinyl House

Funding for green belt reviews

Labour is expected to give out £70,000 to

<4%

is the current rate available on the UK’s

UK building more Passivhaus homes

According to figures released by the Passivhaus Trust,

What’s on?

BUILD IT: START YOUR SELF BUILD 10TH

More heat pumps needed to meet climate targets

The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) seventh carbon budget

need to know

Self Commissioned Homes Unit at Homes England

spend v save

£204.12 per m 2 Crafted from recycled

product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

3 of the best ALUMINIUM FRON T DOORS

1 IDSystems Hoveton door with fixed frame

interiors notebook

Create a chic industrial look by mixing clean lines, metal finishes and rich hazel hues

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

BERKSHIRE HUNGERFORD High Street Plot of land

TYPES OF BUILDING PLOT

New homes can be built on a range of sites and knowing about the opportunities can help you spot land with potential. Here are the key options:

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

THORNBOROUGH Brevitts Farm Smallholding available in three lots

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

GRAPPENHALL Chester Road Plot with planning permission for

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PLOT?

The perfect piece of land would be in

EAST SUSSEX

FOREST ROW Hartfield Road A single plot of

CONVE RSION OF KESTLE FARM

1 The site is rural in nature 2

LINCOLNSHIRE

ROTHWELL School Lane A generous building plot in

NORFOLK

DOWNHAM MARKET Nightingale Lane Asingle plot with planning

HIGHLAND

AULTBEA Bridgend Aplot of just under three acres

SCOTLAND

ABERDEENSHIRE BANCHORY Inchmarlo A single plot with

PEMBROKESHIRE

PEMBROKE Cosheton A 0.2-acre plot with planning permission

WALES

CARMARTHENSHIRE TRIMSARAN Cae Linda Plot of land with

ASK AN EXPERT AT BUILD IT LIVE

Want more plot finding advice? Join us at Build It Live for our annual exhibitions in Bicester, Exeter and Kent.

next month...

June issue on sale 25th April

Getting your barn conversion right

David Nossiter , director of David Nossiter Architects , shares his advice on turning a traditional barn into your dream home

9 BRILLIANT BRICK DESIGNS

From creative extensions to contextual new builds, Sander Tel shares a collection of nine remarkable masonry projects and speaks to the experts about how to use this time-honoured building material effectively

MID-CENTURY MAGIC

Claire and Chris Lunt gave their 1950s home an awardwinning sust ainable renovation and extension on a budget

Barn life

Anthony and Alison Goodey built their traditional oak-framed home after a change in planning law allowed them to section off a piece of land belonging to their livery st able yard, bought some years before

OLD MEETS NEW

A sleek, modern extension has transformed Julia and Rowan Walker’s traditional 19th century cottage in East Lothian

DAYLIGHTING IDEAS

To create bright and inviting living spaces, maximising natural light throughout your home should be a priority on your project checklist. Erika Chaffey shares a selection of inspiring design features to consider

VENTILATION & COOLING FOR EXISTING HOUSES

Keen to boost air quality and maintain a comfortable living environment in your home? We sum up the main ventilation and cooling options

GUIDE TO BUILDING WITH ICF

Scarlett Deamer examines the key features of this innovative structural system to see if it could be the right choice for your self build project

SMART HOMES

If you want greater comfort, convenience and control over your living environment, then a home automation system will prove a great investment. Here’s how to get it right

OPENING UP SPACES

Renovation pro Kate Sandhu shares the key steps when renovating to create open-plan rooms, plus tips for a functional layout

The case for basements in new homes

Project management expert Mark Stevenson explores the benefits of incorporating a subterranean zone in your home design, and shares his expertise on how to ensure a successful and cost-effective scheme

Making the most of SOLAR PV

Drawing on his own experience of living with solar panels, Gerald Cole gives his top tips on how to achieve a high-quality PV install – and what he might do differently 14 years on

GETTING PLANNING CONSENT FOR AN ANNEXE

Planning expert Julia Riddle shares the key steps and common challenges attached to this type of project, including navigating local regulations and presenting your case

SLIDING DOOR COST GUIDE

A good set of sliders represents a sizeable chunk of your project budget, so you'll want value for money. Here’s what you should expect to pay and the key factors that influence final costs

EXAMPLE SLIDING DOOR SYSTEM COSTS

These are indicative costs for various sizes of

STAIRCASE DESIGN

Architect Julian Owen shares the core considerations for getting this element of your project right

QUICK LOOK BUILDING REGULATIONS

There are some rules governing how staircases are

STAIRCASE INSPIR ATION

From ultra-modern fully-glazed flights and sleek timber steps to charming oak desig ns, explore eight shining examples to inspire your new scheme

National Self Build & Renovation Centre

We take a closer look at the products and services you can discover at Swindon’s NSBRC –the UK’s permanent visitor centre for self builders and home renovators