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

PLANNING Mike Dade is a land and planning specialist. He is a contributing editor of Build It, a plot hunting expert and author of several books on planning and plot issues. He is one half of Speer Dade consultants (www.speerdade.co.uk).

FINANCE Rachel Pyne is director of financial services at BuildStore (www.buildstore.co.uk). She has worked in self build finance for over 10 years and deals with a diverse portfolio of lenders across the whole market as well as on exclusive self build and renovation mortgage products

SUSTAINABILITY Nigel Griffiths is director of the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (www.stbauk.org) and a consultant working mainly on energy efficiency policy and evaluation. He is the author of the Haynes Eco House Manual.

SCOTLAND Angela Doran is NaCSBA’s self build representative for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, brought in by Glasgow City Council to coordinate a pioneering new self build project in Maryhill. She works to promote alternative, community and individually led housing in Scotland.