Vote for Britain’s Best Home 2017

Welcome

It’s awards season at Build It HQ, which means the

Modern village home

Keen to self-build but eager to stay in the community, Dennis and Maureen Stephens came up with a clever contemporary design for a farmland plot that won over the planners

A man with a plan

Finding the perfect home in the UK capital is no mean feat, but Andrew Overin saw the potential to transform a dilapidated terraced house into a modern dwelling

Out of the ordinary

Kevin and Emma Kniveton’s vernacular cottage is anything but traditional, as their self-build has brought passive house design to the Isle of Man, and could help to kickstart many more projects like it

Labour of love

Sue and Richard Cansdale had a very special reason for using new government legislation to convert their cattle barn into a compact, characterful rural retreat

Best of both worlds

Jayne and Alistair Lewis’s self-build project has resulted in a two-in-one home that complements its rural setting

The benefits of prefab homes

Off site-manufacture is a buzz word in the housing world – but is it suitable for self-builders looking to create one-off homes?

Underfloor heating for renovations

The latest UFH systems are designed to depose radiators as the go-to retrofit heating option – but are they all they’re cracked up to be? Chris Bates takes a look at how lowprofile setups could work for your project

Building a garage

10 key things you need to know when planning your new

Garage door showcase

Be inspired by our hand-picked selection of striking entrances

Practical guide to wetrooms

Rebecca Foster unveils the key factors to bear in mind when planning your dwelling’s new showering zone

Guide to: biomass boilers

Looking for a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to mains gas? Nigel Griffiths explains the benefits and costs of these wood-fuelled heating systems

Guide to kitchen-diner extensions

It’s one of the most popular additions to a modern home, but you need to know the basics before you start planning this new open-plan zone, says Julian Owen

Planning essentials: getting to know your Local Plan

Understanding the intricacies of your council’s development policies will stand you in good stead when looking for the perfect plot and gaining planning consent for your project, says Mike Dade

Insulating a new masonry home

The external walls will be vital in controlling the thermal efficiency of your new house. Tim Doherty explores the energy performance of key brick and block systems

How to get value for money on your self-build

Whether you’re on an ultra-tight budget or simply want to stay in control of your spending and make the most of your hardearned cash, Mike Hardwick’s tips will help you keep your project on track

Plumbing & period homes

Out-of-date heating and plumbing installations are common in heritage houses – even if they’ve been renovated in the past. Alan Tierney reveals his top tips on bringing your property up to scratch

Ambitious endeavour

The Speltons want to self-build on a plot large enough to be subdivided into further sites that can be sold off later on. Could a small pasture owned by some friends provide a viable option? Mike Dade investigates the route to planning success

Highland gem

This striking home in rural Perthshire is the result

Sowton Barn

Situated within the grounds of a working farm, this

Norfolk MP calls for self-build revolution

Richard Bacon MP wants more land to be made available

Graven Hill releases new pocket plots

A selection of sites, aimed at people who want to build

What’s on?

New financial packages launched for self-builders

Saffron Building Society has introduced a new interest-only

Need to know

Some months I’m sitting here chewing the end of my

Spend v save

Featuring attractive grey veining across its surface

Product news

Great shopping ideas for your custom home project

3 of the best: traditional woodburners

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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Next month…

October issue on sale 30th August

Focus on:

We catch up with Rachel Pyne, operations director at BuildStore, about how specialist mortgages can benefit self-builders