Securing planning approval for your new self-build home can feel like an arduous task, especially when your site is in the picturesque English countryside. Getting to grips with Paragraph 55 of the National Planning Policy Framework could be the key that unlocks your development, as Richard Hawkes of Hawkes Architecture…

When looking to build your own house, effective cost and time are considered to be key components to a successful build. Each factor is minimised when a pre-manufactured structure is specified – just one reason why this method of construction is a popular choice for self-build projects.

Innovative use of vaulted ceilings and clever glazing has transformed an urban infill site into a four-bedroom family home.

While timber cladding has boomed in recent decades, it has become particularly popular in the self-build market, and for good reason. Here, cladding expert Vastern Timber explains why.

Paul Joyner, Managing Director of Sustainable Building Solutions, part of the Travis Perkins Group, discusses how SAP assessments have heightened the importance of Y-values and how they can be used to save money and improve efficiency.

After building her own home Mandy Clark felt that the process deserved to be retold, so put her self-build experience into a book. Here, Mandy discusses the ups and downs of her homebuilding adventure.

Simon Orrells recognised the potential of offsite construction methods when he started he career in the early 1990s. Here, Simon offers his perspective on why the timber frame industry is at its strongest to date.

A multi-million pound refurbishment in Suffolk has sought inspiration from American architecture. The revamp has seen significant interior remodelling and extension work completed in order to create the desired look.

Tim Riley, Director of architects RCKa, discusses the hurdles his team had to overcome in order to gain planning permission for a Sussex home extension.

With a very particular set of design challenges, experienced building professional David Maxwell tested the flexibility and craftsmanship of materials in his own self-build venture.