News 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 Latest news Council’s £70k error stayed hidden for years, until one man refused to back down By Joseph Mullane published 13 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 12 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 12 July 25 With South East Water and Yorkshire Water enforcing hosepipe bans and Thames Water poised to follow as thousands 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 By Joseph Mullane last updated 11 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 10 July 25 DIY-friendly solar kits now start under £65 Councillors shouldn't be able to veto approved self build sites, new report says By Joseph Mullane published 9 July 25 No more death by committee? Why Tier A Classification could be a gamechanger for self-builders Book a 15-minute call with an expert to help you with your next self-build, extension or renovation project By Teresa Conway last updated 7 July 25 With a Homebuilding & Renovating Premium membership, you can access experts who can provide face-to-face help with whatever advice you need for your project How indoor solar panels could power the next generation of smart devices By Joseph Mullane published 7 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 6 July 25 Can you really grow salad between block paving? I tried Monty Don’s “crack gardening” advice – and the results surprised me The new planning reforms that could help self-builders fix Britain’s broken housing market By Joseph Mullane published 5 July 25 Is the government shifting power away from big builders to local people? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives Get the Homebuilding & Renovating NewsletterBring your dream home to life with expert advice, how to guides and design inspiration. Sign up for our newsletter and get two free tickets to a Homebuilding & Renovating Show near you.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors LATEST ARTICLES1Who will be crowned Shed of the Year 2025? You decide2How many homes have Labour managed to build in their first year in power?3The secrets of successfully bricking up a window as revealed by experts4Self-builders could skip the queue with new fast-track route for building regulations approval59 decking cover ideas that will instantly transform your deck into a 24/7 space, whatever the weather Our sponsors
Council’s £70k error stayed hidden for years, until one man refused to back down By Joseph Mullane published 13 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 12 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 12 July 25 With South East Water and Yorkshire Water enforcing hosepipe bans and Thames Water poised to follow as thousands 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 By Joseph Mullane last updated 11 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 10 July 25 DIY-friendly solar kits now start under £65
Councillors shouldn't be able to veto approved self build sites, new report says By Joseph Mullane published 9 July 25 No more death by committee? Why Tier A Classification could be a gamechanger for self-builders
Book a 15-minute call with an expert to help you with your next self-build, extension or renovation project By Teresa Conway last updated 7 July 25 With a Homebuilding & Renovating Premium membership, you can access experts who can provide face-to-face help with whatever advice you need for your project
How indoor solar panels could power the next generation of smart devices By Joseph Mullane published 7 July 25 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 By Joseph Mullane published 6 July 25 Can you really grow salad between block paving? I tried Monty Don’s “crack gardening” advice – and the results surprised me
The new planning reforms that could help self-builders fix Britain’s broken housing market By Joseph Mullane published 5 July 25 Is the government shifting power away from big builders to local people?
