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 books on planning and plot issues. He is one half of Speer Dade consultants (www.speerdade.co.uk).

INSURANCE

Simon Middleton runs insurance and structural warranty provider Protek. A former construction engineer and executive director of NaCSBA, he has over 20 years’ experience in the selfbuild and development sectors.

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.

CONSERVATION

Alan Tierney is a historic building consultant and conservation specialist. He runs Picketts Historic Building Conservation (www.pickettsconservation.co.uk), which offers hands-on advice to period property owners.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Tim Doherty was the founding MD of the National Self Build & Renovation Centre and a founding member of NaCSBA. He runs Dobanti Property Consultants (www.dobanti.com), a specialist surveying & building consultancy for the residential and commercial sectors, including project management and custom build solutions.

SELF-BUILD

Mike Hardwick is a self-build consultant, project management specialist and NaCSBA’s consumer representative. He has first hand experience of the processes involved and helps to deliver a three-day course at Swindon’s National Self-Build and Renovation Centre (www.nsbrc.co.uk).