Latest articles by Joseph Mullane
Could a quiet planning reform finally help self-builders break ground?
How a quiet planning rule change could unlock thousands of self-build homes
Inside one of Britain’s greenest homes: Award-winning Essex eco house relisted after price drop
Sustainable Essex home with sustainability award relisted at £1.5m
Why your energy bill still follows gas prices and how ‘Pot Zero’ could change that
With support growing across political lines, ‘Pot Zero’ offers a way to shift older renewables into fixed-price contracts and potentially reduce the impact of gas prices on household bills
Can smearing yoghurt on your windows really cool down your house?
Unusual home cooling hack tested by UK scientists shows Greek yoghurt can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 3.5°C, but is it really worth the mess?
Households with solar panels missing out on hundreds of pounds by sticking with Feed In Tariffs, report suggests
A quiet energy revolution is underway, and it could mean extra cash for over 850,000 UK homes
How air con installation grants of £7,500 could soon be available from the government
Air conditioning could soon be covered by government heat pump grants
Lewis Capaldi’s off-grid dream rural retreat hits a snag as neighbour objects to 'oppressive' 3.5m fence
Lewis Capaldi’s countryside escape hits local resistance as neighbours object to towering fence
Freedom to Buy: Will it really open the door for buyers with low deposits?
A permanent mortgage guarantee scheme aims to help first-time buyers, but experts question whether it tackles the real barriers to homeownership
Zonal pricing isn’t dead yet: Could regional energy costs still happen?
Government shelves zonal energy pricing, but with experts divided and reforms still underway, the debate over how to fairly charge for power is far from over
Ed Miliband plans to make home wind turbines easier than ever
Garden and rooftop turbines could soon be installed without planning permission under Miliband’s clean energy push
Thames Water announces new hosepipe ban, affecting over 1 million homes
Thames Water to restrict usage in parts of southern England as they claim there is an urgent need to “make every drop count”
Who will be crowned Shed of the Year 2025? You decide
22 incredible sheds, 1 national title – cast your vote and help crown Britain’s most brilliant backyard creation
How many homes have Labour managed to build in their first year in power?
Statistics reveal the government is over 110k short of its annual housing targets
Self-builders could skip the queue with new fast-track route for building regulations approval
Government introduces a dedicated fast‑track approval process, 100+ new Building Safety Regulator staff and in‑house teams to slash delays for self‑build regulations
Council’s £70k error stayed hidden for years, until one man refused to back down
A Godalming resident’s six-year battle with Waverley Borough Council over a misapplied £70,000 planning charge has laid bare a culture of bureaucratic inflexibility and institutional delay
Manchester to become UK’s heat pump capital with historic five-year agreement
Manchester are leading the way on low-carbon heating with plans for 64,000 heat pump installations by 2030
Hosepipe bans begin with fines of up to £1,000 — and more could follow soon
With South East Water, Yorkshire Water and Thames Water enforcing hosepipe bans millions of households face restrictions and fines as the UK endures one of its driest years in over a century
Are mortgage rates going down? July sees major cuts as lenders compete for your business
UK mortgage rates are tumbling as lenders ramp up competition ahead of an anticipated Bank of England base rate cut in August
Balcony solar panels are now on sale on Amazon — and they’re cheaper than you’d think
DIY-friendly solar kits now start under £65
Councillors shouldn't be able to veto approved self build sites, new report says
No more death by committee? Why Tier A Classification could be a gamechanger for self-builders
I got a robot pool cleaner to avoid having to clean the swimming pool myself – here's how it performed
The AIPER Seagull SE proved to be a hassle-free, cordless way to keep my pool clean – whilst barely lifting a finger
How indoor solar panels could power the next generation of smart devices
New indoor solar panel technology could offer a potential power source for low-energy devices using everyday indoor lighting
I grew lettuce in my new 'crack garden' following advice from Monty Don
Can you really grow salad between block paving? I tried Monty Don’s “crack gardening” advice – and the results surprised me
