Section 106 agreements, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and the new Infrastructure Levy are all similar in that they impose additional conditions on the developer, linked to planning permission. The new ‘Infrastructure Levy’, which was announced in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill (May 2022), is intended to broadly replace both Section 106 agreements and the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Advice and tips
Do you need planning permission for a holiday let?
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 »
Hiring a designer: important questions to ask
Hiring a designer is an important decision since this person will have a huge impact on your home and the way you live for potentially a very a long time. A good personal connection is key! Yes, of course, compare quotes. But there is so much more to the decision than this, and it’s personal. You’ll… Read more »
Getting the most out of Design for Me
Design For Me is here to help you find a great designer who is the right fit for your residential project. To give you the best chance of finding them, simply ask yourself these 5 questions: 1. Have you given all the details you can? You don’t need to know exactly what you want to… Read more »
Cheapest Way to Build a House UK
What’s the cheapest way to build a house in the UK? More and more people in the UK are considering building their own home, particularly as getting onto the housing ladder is becoming increasingly less affordable. There are new government initiatives to encourage self-building in an effort to help solve the nation’s housing crisis with… Read more »
How to get new residential projects on DfM
How to create a winning profile for new residential projects… 1. Be relevant for this market Design for Me is all about one-off private residential projects. It provides an opportunity to market directly for this part of your business. Although it may be tempting to showcase your large scale, non-residential work, this may ultimately be off-putting… Read more »
Should I choose solid or engineered wood flooring?
Which one to choose: solid or engineered wood floor? Choosing the finishes for your home project can be the most exciting part. Floors in particular can dramatically change the overall look of your new extension, so it’s important to get it right. People are increasingly opting for timber flooring over carpet for a look that’s… Read more »
What’s the difference between outline planning and permission in principle?
It’s a common assumption that terms are interchangeable, particularly in relation to new build housing. This is a simple guide to explain the difference between outline planning and permission in principle in basic terms, and which route might be the most suitable for your project. In short, they are essentially very similar. However, permission in… Read more »
How to write an architectural brief
This simple guide – ‘how to write an architectural brief’ – is aimed at homeowners planning a house extension, renovation or a self-build house. As an architect myself, I created this platform – Design for Me – to help homeowners find the best residential architect for their particular project. It’s free to use and we’re… Read more »
Glass Staircases : Advice & Inspiration
Glass is a material that has long been used in all kinds of structural applications. In spite on its fragility, glass is known to be robust and strong. In the right hands, with the right balustrade components and fixings glass can be used for just about anything. Unsurprisingly, homeowners are now finding that glass is… Read more »
