You don’t need planning permission for a loft conversion or extension if the work falls within permitted development rules, and these rules apply to your property. Generally, the following types of loft conversion will not require planning permission: A basic conversion of your existing loft into a habitable room (e.g. bedroom), perhaps inserting skylights. Note… Read more »
If you are starting to plan your home extension or renovation project, you might be wondering if you should hire a structural engineer or an architect. For most home extensions or renovation projects, you will usually require both an architect and a structural engineer. Featured image from Will, architect in Brighton. See his full… Read more »
Do I need planning permission for a holiday let (change of use from a house to a holiday let)? In short, there is no definitive answer here and it depends on local planning regulations. Planning permission is required for a ‘material’ change of use, i.e if you are going from one use class to another…. Read more »
Do I need a feasibility study? All projects, big or small, will go through the feasibility phase; which is basically a research phase to help decide whether a project will proceed or not. A feasibility study will usually also inform the design and construction method. The decision to proceed lies with the client of course,… Read more »
Should you local hire movers or go DIY? Hiring Movers vs. DIY A three-bedroom house averages around £1700, rising to £5500 for long-distance relocations. Item count matters. Movers often prefer flat rates over hourly charges, which can get expensive. International moves may exceed £15000 when factoring distance and items. DIY moves entail heavy lifting,… Read more »
Straw-bale construction is becoming a new phenomenon in the UK. Unlike the common misconception that houses constructed with straw will be “blown down,” presumably by a wolf, this method of construction has actually been proven to be both energy efficient and cost effective for self builders. What is Straw-bale Construction? Straw-bale construction is a building… Read more »
Interior designers in South West London for your home If you’re planning a home interior design or renovation project, finding the right interior designer can be a critical first step to get right. We’ve compiled some of the best residential interior designers in South West London to give you a starting point, and hopefully provide a little inspiration too. South West London is brimming with… Read more »
Cheryl from Milton Keynes posted her project to Design for Me looking for a garden designer to design a low maintenance garden. Situated in a new build development, this garden started out as a muddy yard following the construction of a new extension to the downstairs kitchen. After registering her project with just a few… Read more »
Shipping containers are used for, well shipping, but did you know that they could also be used as the skeleton of your next self-build or extension project? Shipping container homes are becoming the new eco-friendly alternative when it comes to building or renovating a home in the UK. Why not use one for your next extension?… Read more »
All buildings have a use class. The original Use Class Order 1987 has been recently updated in the Use Class Order 2020. List of use classes There is no official list of use classes is therefore open to interpretation of the above legislation. There are sometimes disputes (and varies between local planning authority) about which… Read more »