Editor's Blog

Spec Housebuilders are Unique to the UK

Mark Brinkley — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:41:38 +0000

In November 2011, the Government published its ‘Housing Strategy’, which consisted of measures designed to get the housebuilding scene back on its feet. Self-build got a prominent role — the first time it has ever been taken seriously as policy.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Jason Orme — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:20:20 +0000

So this week I've begun looking in some detail at the first batch of announcements by local authorities about their intended charges for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). What I've found is pretty depressing - so here goes.

On Boilers, and Experienced Installers

Jason Orme — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:15:48 +0000

I'm sure I'm not alone in having central heating problems over the Christmas period, but - with the benefit of happy hindsight and having fixed the matter at hand - it did raise some useful points.

When we built our house a few years ago, we installed a boiler (I won't name it) that at the time was a state-of-the-art model - condensing (when it didn't need to be), with full controls and weather compensation.

UK Homes Aren't Fit for Purpose

David Snell — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:58:18 +0000

In the August 2011 issue of HB&R one home in particular caught my attention — a bungalow (‘Community Spirit’) built as part of a group self-build scheme. It had the redolence of the bygone era when group self-build reigned supreme and the individual self-built home was just a hope on the horizon for many.

LED Lights

Jason Orme — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:13:30 +0000

A simple and slightly desperate plea for help from homebuilding.co.uk visitors: anyone know of any decent LED lights?

Permitted Development & Renewables

Jason Orme — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:02:25 +0000

The landscape for existing homeowners who want to add renewables just got easier.
As of December 1st, ground source heat pumps are allowed under Permitted Development (alterations to your home that don't require planning consent).

Land availability and funding for self-build projects improving

Michael Holmes — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:08:51 +0000

The self-build mortgage market is at last beginning to get more competitive with a larger number of active lenders and a wider range of products than has been available in recent years. Terms are also becoming more flexible, especially on loan to value for land and build.

Interest rates are also historically low - although there is a premium on self-build funding during the construction phase, after which it is usually possible to remortgage to a more competitive rate. For a full table of 26 current lenders follow http://ow.ly/7JtrK

Housing Strategy and Self-build (or Custom Homebuilding)

Jason Orme — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:37:01 +0000

The Government today (21st November) published its long-awaited Housing Strategy to kickstart the housing market. As Mark Brinkley said to me at the weekend, it's pretty much the Government's only policy for growth and so it had better work.

The strategy, which sets the framework for the Government's approach to housing over the period of this parliament, is notable for self-builders in that it brings together the various plans that I've mentioned before on this blog. They are:

Cutting Through the Self-build Red Tape

Mark Brinkley — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:56:21 +0000

'Cutting the red tape'. It’s a phrase that slips easily off the tongues of politicians, and yet there’s still always too much of it around and our lives seem to be bedevilled by red tape at every turn. Self-builders know this better than most — they have to grapple with all manner of unfamiliar authorities, agencies and regulations.

A Microcosm of Local Planning

Jason Orme — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:50:42 +0000

Parish councils are likely to have more power to decide planning issues on their patch under the new Localism Bill, currently in the House of Lords. With that in mind, I'm reprinting this article from last night's edition of our local freesheet, The Chronicle:

Councillor Faces Wrap Over Water Throwing

A parish councillor threw water over an architect at a meeting that approved plans to build a four bedroom house overlooking his home.

Seventy-two year old Graham Howard is now facing a demand from the council chairman to explain his actions.

PV as a Pension?

Jason Orme — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:47:06 +0000

Planning Controversy

Jason Orme — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:11:08 +0000

Reading the Times over the weekend, I remembered why I don't read newspapers as much as I used to - talk about bringing stress and unease to a Sunday morning!

Planning Permission Just Got a Lot Easier

David Snell — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:16:57 +0000

It’s not often that I, or indeed the readers of this magazine, evince sympathy for the NIMBYs (‘not in my backyard’). But do spare a thought for these poor tortured souls in the depths of their despair. For they are in danger of losing one of their most treasured possessions: the planning system.

People or groups of people can’t possess the planning system, you might say. Surely planning exists for the benefit of all?

Self-build and Planning Policy

Jason Orme — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:43:59 +0000

Have a read of the following extract from the new National Planning Policy Framework, launched yesterday:

"Local planning authorities should have a clear understanding of housing requirements in their area. They should:
• prepare a Strategic Housing Market Assessment to assess their full housing requirements, working with neighbouring authorities where housing market areas cross administrative boundaries.

The Public's Perception of Self-build

Jason Orme — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:13:15 +0000

So amidst all the humble pie in Parliament yesterday, the BBC website ran a story about the Government's plans to increase self-build. It ran a generally positive story about how changes in planning, finance and land supply might well help to boost the number of people who build their own homes.

The article was interesting in two ways for me. Firstly, a remarkable comment from someone from the Housebuilder's Federation who said: "I wouldn't live in a house I'd built myself." It really does beggar belief.

Should Green Belt Policy Be Relaxed?

Mark Brinkley — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:32:38 +0000

Why can’t we build in the green belt? Many would think this is a silly question as, by definition, the green belt is a non-building zone. If we built on it, it wouldn’t be green belt.

Behind the Scenes at the H&R Show

David Snell — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:41:07 +0000

I’m writing this in the aftermath of the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show held at Birmingham’s NEC in March, whilst, in all probability, you’re reading it in the fruitfulness of summer. I say ‘aftermath’ without rancour, but in recognition of the intensity of an occasion that left most of us absolutely exhausted. Don’t tell anyone but it took me nearly a full week to get over it.

The Upstairs/Downstairs Problem

Jason Orme — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:05:09 +0000

The more self-built homes I see - and it's particularly true on the bigger one-off property - the more I wonder quite what I'm going to see next when it comes to the use of ground floor space.

Glass Extensions

Michael Holmes — Mon, 23 May 2011 09:55:13 +0000

Just got back from a very busy Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the SECC. One of the recurring questions was about glass extensions and how to meet the building standards (as the building regulations are called in Scotland.)

Several frustrated readers who want to build extensions using large areas of glazing are being told by their architects that it cannot be done because the total glazed area of an extension cannot exceed 25% of the new floor area.

How Much Does it Cost to Build a House?

Jason Orme — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:54:16 +0000

So how much does it cost to build a house? That's probably the number one question anybody who professes to be an expert about self-build gets asked.

My number one response is to beware of answers that look too good to be true - they usually are. The simple fact is that in order to give an accurate response to the question, you need to have hugely accurate details about what the house will be. How big? What materials? Who will build it, and where?

A Very British Home?

Mark Brinkley — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:06:30 +0000

With our vernacular traditions steadily being infiltrated by Continental efficiency and innovative materials, has British house design lost its identity?

Learning How to Drive Your Home

Mon, 16 May 2011 10:44:00 +0000

Community Infrastructure Levy - Update

Jason Orme — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:31:17 +0000

The good people at Newark and Sherwood District Council are one of the first local authorities to raise their heads above the parapet and publish detailed information on the way the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will apply. Here goes:

CIL will be charged on all new developments (including individual homes and large extensions) over 100m2 (gross internal floor area). The good news is that the floor area of any existing buildings to be demolished is able to be deducted from the final total (clearly favouring replacement dwellings).

First Hand Experience

Jason Orme — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:27:15 +0000

I stayed in a top-end, very contemporary self-built home for a couple of weeks recently. It was quite something to experience first hand many of the things that the magazine features.

The house, which had been built about five years ago, pretty much had all of the contemporary home features included - almost as if they had been ticked off the list. Here they are, with my thoughts on what they were like to live with:

Shapps and the Self-build Revolution

Jason Orme — Tue, 03 May 2011 12:53:00 +0000

The Housing Minister Grant Shapps today announced a few things of interest to self-builders. Here's the full story:

To Downing St to Talk About Self-build

Jason Orme — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:27:33 +0000

Yesterday I visited Number 10 for a meeting about what the Government can do to help self-builders. This is a separate enterprise from the current self-build working party (working with Grant Shapps) which I'm also involved with.

The Future of Self-build

Jason Orme — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:55:01 +0000

A rather grand title for a blog posting, but that's what some current happenings are beginning to feel like. Let me explain.

Day four at the show

mimajoy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:14:01 +0000

There was a mix of feelings in the air today, the last day of the show; determination - to get those last sales, excitement - to meet the last lot of visitors, exhaustion - from working every day and dread - the thought of having worked all weekend and having to get up and back into the office bright and early tomorrow morning...obviously not my feelings of course!

Day three at the show

mimajoy — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 13:49:06 +0000

I thought that the past two days were busy...I was wrong!

Day two at the show

mimajoy — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:51:49 +0000

Although the extent of my self-build experience is building a bedroom set by myself (a flat pack from Ikea), I thought it would be good to try to experience the show as someone at the start of their self build project; so I walked around the entire hall (much to my leg's dismay) and tried to take in all that was on offer.

I very quickly realised that it was completely possible to arrive at the show with nothing and leave with your dream home – although I suspect there would be some trouble when trying to fit it into the boot of the car!