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Welcome

The wider property market may be experiencing a touch

A BOLD MOVE

John Verrall and Jacques Bland have created a striking oak frame home that sits comfortably in the Sussex countryside

Leap of faith

A chance meeting led Richard and Zoe Berry to embark on the conversion of a listed Georgian church in an Edinburgh conservation area, in what turned out to be an emotional project, full of drama

American beauty

Mark and Kerry Yates have transformed their 1960s home, taking weatherboarded New England architecture as their primary inspiration

All change

David and Becky Innes’ third child inspired a major remodelling of their converted garage in Hull

New beginnings

Harriet and Rob Graham’s plans to renovate an old stone cottage unexpectedly became the chance for a completely new home

How to self build on a budget

Creating a bespoke home doesn’t have to cost a fortune – in fact, self building off ers fantastic value for money and can give you a betterquality home for less than you’d pay for an equivalent house on the open market. So how can you achieve the right result without breaking the bank? Here, we learn the key lessons from 10 inspiring budgetfriendly projects

Make your dream home happen

Planning a self build? Renovating a property? Looking

Complete guide to solar water heating

Daylight is fairly constant and predictable, even in

Design details: exposed beams

Could uncoventional structural components create a striking focal feature in your home? Emily Smith looks at how to add this detail

Covering options for your contemporary home

Your roof will add to the kerb appeal of your modern-style home, so choosing the right covering is essential when it comes to creating the desired aesthetic. Jane Crittenden explores the options

The secret to getting the most from solar PV

Want to maximise returns from your array? Then it pays to design it in at the outset, says Oliver Farr

10 things you need to know about structural insulated panels

Are you keen to build a sustainable home with excellent levels of airtightness? Rebecca Foster explains why SIPs could be the ideal solution for you

Designing a barn conversion

Many people love the idea of turning a barn into a home, but the wrong design could ruin the agricultural charm of the structure. Julian Owen shares his top design tips for taking on this kind of project

10 ways a visit to Build It Live can help make your dream home happen

Whether you’re planning a self build, renovating a property or adding more space to your current home, you won’t want to miss our next Build It Live show at Bicester. Here are 10 must-see highlights to plan into your visit

Why cash flow is crucial for self builders

By taking sensible steps to ensure you stay in control of cash flow, you can enjoy a positive experience throughout your build, says Mike Hardwick

Assessing a plot's potential

Architect Opinder Liddar gives his expert tips on how to identify whether a site offers a viable opportunity for your self build project

Planning & outbuildings

Mike Dade offers his expert advice on the best ways to proceed with this kind of scheme, whether your project falls under permitted development or you need to apply for full planning consent

5 inspiring outbuildings

Looking for ideas for your new garden room? These eye-catching structures could provide the perfect addition to your property

Rural escape

Ed Fisher wants to erect a holiday cabin on this countryside plot, with a view to converting it into a home in the future. Mike Dade assesses the viability of his self build proposal

A new look

As part of this building’s conversion from commercial

Clarendon Mews

Situated in the heart of London’s Bayswater conservation

New tool to help release more land

Housing and planning minister Gavin Barwell has announced

10

New homes built in every UK village over the next five

Graven Hill auction plots snapped up

Seven plots released for sale by the Graven Hill Development

What’s on?

NaCSBA task force to help deliver more homes

The National Custom and Self Build Association’s (NaCSBA)

Need to know

What’s your reason for self building?

Spend v save

Moulded from oak boards, these composite planks are

Product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

Interiors notebook

It’s never too early to start looking for the finishing touches for your self build

Your views:

Got a funny story, a gripe or some superb self build advice? Write to us at buildit@castlemedia.co.uk or the address below for your chance to win a prize

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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 mortgages

Looking for funding for your self build project? Each month we round up the best deals from leading lenders – and update you on what you need to know about securing the right finance

Land for sale

It’s FREE to subscribe to PlotSearch – the UK’s premier land finding resource with over 8,000 genuine building opportunities, all with planning permission guaranteed. The plots collated here are a hand-picked selection, but you can find plenty more in the online database. To find out more and to subscribe call 0345 223 4499 or visit the website at www.plotsearch.co.uk

Focus on:

We catch up with Karen Curtin, interim managing director of the Graven Hill self and custom build development in Oxfordshire