Switching from gas to electric heating

Heating our buildings is currently responsible for more than a third of the UK’s overall carbon emissions, with more than half of those produced by British homes.  And with the UK’s plan to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050,... View Article

Catalogue of errors goes to High Court

A dispute over property ‘tax’ which led to a landmark ruling at the High Court has been branded ‘a warning shot’ over the bows of local planning authorities. Mrs Justice Lang decided in favour of a planning applicant over her... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Bathrooms

For many people, the bathroom might just be the most important room in the house, providing absolute relaxation as well as the necessary functions. What are the products that will add the finishing touches – as well as the right... View Article

Accessibility begins at home

A plot on the family farm proved the perfect spot for John and Helen White to build a forever home for their family TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES JOHN & HELEN WHITE For many who have long dreamed of building their... View Article

Green shoots of recovery

When Mark Rainforth bought a dark and dated bungalow on the outskirts of Sheffield, he wanted to work out a way of creating an eco-home befitting the beautiful location, but achieving it was not without its construction woes TEXT HEATHER... View Article

The power of neutral

Interior designer Lucy Bartley from lucyb home shows how a neutral kitchen look can be enhanced with careful lighting and design touches to deliver a special ambience The biggest advantage to a neutral kitchen is that it will instantly create... View Article

Get hip to SIPs

SIPs systems offer an extremely low energy and eco-friendly construction method that’s also incredibly strong and quick to build. Matt Banks of SIPs Eco Panels explains more about the options available As we move into an era of low energy... View Article

Timber or composite?

Deciding on the best decking option for your garden makeover can be challenging. Tony Hobbs of Southern Sheeting offers some advice to help you choose The trend for durable and premium wood plastic composite (WPC) decking is now firmly established... View Article

Seeing the light

A dark and run-down Regency villa has been rebuilt ‘from the inside out,’ with a new basement level and exciting glass features which draw in the light TEXT DEBBIE JEFFERY IMAGES MATT CLAYTON PHOTOGRAPHY “When we first bought this house... View Article

A new lease of life

When David and Martin Ratcliff set about adding a top-floor extension to their handsome Victorian terraced house in South West London, they had no idea their project would end up taking such a different path TEXT JENNIFER GRIMBLE IMAGES RICHARD... View Article

The great bungalow rescue

Years of wet and windy winters in rural Shropshire had brought the 1960s bungalow on Bob Griffiths’ farm to the point of near collapse, but he decided to give it a new lease of life Text Roseanne Field Tucked down... View Article

Functional flooring

Darren Trivett of Ridgespear Group offers insights into why developments in underfloor heating make it a practical option, and gives some installation tips The commonest forms of underfloor heating (UFH) involve circulating water through a high-performance plastic pipe, set within... View Article

Radiating future relevance

With energy efficient heating systems fast becoming vital components of new homes, Chris Harvey of Stelrad Radiators looks at some of the hottest ideas when it comes to radiator innovation for self-builds With the major changes taking place in the... View Article

Power your life

Mark Chewter of Plug In Solar explains why solar energy remains a great investment, and how a solar PV system can be used to help you meet Building Regulations, while saving money on your self-build home’s future bills With an... View Article

Queen’s Speech centres on planning overhaul

New laws aiming to enable the UK to “build back better and stronger from the pandemic” were unveiled in the Queen’s Speech, including an overhaul of the planning system to increase building rates across the UK. The Government’s new legislative... View Article