The cost of solar batteries to store charge from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is set to drop. As electric car companies look into ways of recycling and repurposing the batteries from their vehicles, many such batteries are finding a second life in

ARCHITECT Neil Taylor at TAP Architects: www.taparchitects.co.uk STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Robertson Eadie: www.robertsoneadie.co.uk MAIN CONTRACTOR AND JOINERY Ardinn Homes: www.ardinnhomes.co.uk LARCH CLADDING Russwood: www.russwood.co.uk FLOORS Ora

The submission is made through the Planning Portal which sets out the required documents and the correct fees. Once submitted, applications are checked by the registration team to ensure all documents and fees required are correct. Once the applica

The government presented its 10 Point Plan for reducing carbon emissions in the future, in late 2020. Following this, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy presented a white paper to parliament, titled ‘Powering our Net Zero Fut

Think like a developer and search out opportunities others overlook. Get out and about in your chosen area or use Google Maps to look for homes on large plots that have either a large side garden, or infill land. Register with specialist plot service

Editor Claire Lloyd Deputy Editor Michelle Guy Associate Editor Natasha Brinsmead Assistant Editor Amy Reeves Production Editor Jacob Barlow Web Editor Sarah Handley News Editor Jack Woodfield Digital Editor Katie Corcoran Digital Editor Hugh

• Work out how much you can afford to spend • Double check your numbers. Is there asnything you’ve forgotten? • Have a self-build mortgage broker review your plan • Make sure the plot will support a project you want to build • Carry out a plot apprai

PLANNING CONSULTANT KVA Planning: www.kvaplanning.co.uk DEMOLITION Nigel Jagger: www.njagger-demolitionandplanthire.co.uk OAK FRAME AND CLADDING Parker Oak: www.parkeroak.co.uk SIPS SUPPLIER SIP Build UK: www.sipbuilduk.co.uk ROOF Ben Dowker Roof

• Masonry Modern masonry homes consist of an inner loadbearing skin, a cavity, which is fully or partially filled with insulation, and an outer skin, which often protects the structure from the elements. Materials are readily available and most build

“Careful surveying of the original building and extensive site investigations revealed poor ground conditions; the raised areas of the site were made up of ground with poor load-bearing capacity and running water at quite high levels, meaning a conve

Focus on what the area needs to achieve — what are your key objectives for converting the space? Is it for additional storage to accommodate awkward household items, such as the vacuum cleaner, steamer and ironing board? Is it to accommodate a washin

is Deputy Editor. She is an experienced homes journalist, and has just completed her kitchen renovation. She’s currently lining up trades to decorate the next room on the reno hit list!  is Associate Editor and has worked for the title for nearly 20