Best of both worlds

Dealing with planners can be a frustrating business, but to modernise a substantial Victorian building in Devon, Geoff Hall also had to negotiate heritage surveyors, ecologists, conservationists and archaeologists TEXT EWEN MACDONALD IMAGES CO CREATE ARCHITECTS A ramshackle 19th century home... View Article

Money to burn?

Installing a wood burning stove in your home can not only save you money on your heating bills but can also enhance the aesthetic value of your living space. Dennis Milligan of the British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA)... View Article

Gove issues six-week ultimatum to remedy unsafe cladding

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has given a six-week ultimatum to developers to sign a government contract to remedy residential towers with ‘unsafe’ cladding, or be banned from working in the sector.  Developers have received legally binding contracts from the Department... View Article

Higgins appoints Director of ESG

Higgins Partnerships has promoted Amy Ross to Director of ESG. Amy joined Higgins in September 2019 as head of social value and during this time has driven and developed the social value strategy for the Group, working closely with the... View Article

Building a case for keeping it clay

A campaign has been launched to inform self-builders on why they should stay with clay brick rather than look at concrete newcomers. Keith Aldis of the Brick Development Association explains further The campaign we have launched features an illustrated comparative... View Article

Converted to Class Q

For Kat & Tris Baxter-Smith, the challenge of converting an agricultural barn on the farm belonging to Tris’ family – to his own design – became a lesson in the pros and cons of Class Q permitted development  TEXT ROSEANNE... View Article

De-mystifying lighting design

Lighting plays a vital role both inside and outside our homes, setting the ambience and affecting the overall feel of a space. It’s imperative therefore that any lighting decisions are taken with consideration and care to ensure optimum performance. Here,... View Article

Partnership to bring new extra care facilities to South Tyneside

Plans to deliver much-needed specialist, extra care accommodation across South Tyneside are underway thanks to a new partnership project between South Tyneside Council and northern housing association Karbon Homes.  The multi-million pound programme will see Karbon deliver three, cutting-edge schemes... View Article

Home Styling: Designs that work for you

Hybrid working is here to stay, so it’s no surprise that a dedicated workspace has become a staple of houses’ layouts. But where do you start when planning a home office? Steve Hird of Edward Thomas Interiors gets down to... View Article

Ask the Expert: Fully kitted up

Your choice of construction method will affect almost every aspect of your project. Derek Dawson of Scandia Hus answers some common questions on kit homes, explaining how they can be the ‘ultimate solution’ for a self-build WHAT IS A KIT... View Article

Interior Inspiration: Lighting

Whether it’s for accenting individual items, creating overall ambience, or achieving the right light levels for working from home, getting lighting right is one of the first priorities for a great interior design. Here we round up a selection of... View Article

Fit for purpose

During their long saga to build a home with stables on an exposed site on the west coast of Scotland, David and Louisa Wallace discovered that bigger isn’t necessarily better when they had to edit their plans down TEXT NIK... View Article

Nine interior design trends for 2023

When it comes to interiors for 2023, this year is about bold colours, 70’s glamour and an opportunity to bring personal style and vigor to your space. Whether it’s a renovation or a refresh, interior designer Benji Lewis predicts the... View Article