Whilst many of us are familiar with heat pumps or solar panels, the real work in designing an energy efficient home starts with the local climate and the surrounding environment.
Is the orientation of the plot beneficial to capturing sunlight? Is there anything within the plot to provide natural shading or buffers to prevent overheating?
Most homeowners are looking for more space, and believe an extension is the way to make this happen. But as architects, we are trained to look at the existing space first to see if it is being used to its full potential – and in most cases, more could be done to utilise the space!
Planning permission is more tightly regulated in conservation areas to ensure that any changes or developments respect the character of the area. This means even relatively minor alterations that might not require permission elsewhere and could be achieved under permitted development rights, such as changing windows, adding a porch, or demolishing part of a building, could require consent here.
Building a house is a dream for many, but it’s also one of the most significant financial undertakings you’ll ever encounter. With building costs currently coming in at over £4000 per square metre, how do you protect your budget and avoid the common pitfalls that often turn a dream project into a financial nightmare?
Purchasing a bungalow for renovation, extension or even the intention of turning it into a house is an exciting and rewarding venture. With their single-story charm and potential for renovation, bungalows provide a unique opportunity for homeowners to create a space tailored to their lifestyle and needs.
Whether you want an open plan living space with a spacious family kitchen, or an area of the home that offers more privacy for a home office, gym, or even an annex for a growing family, a garage conversion could provide the perfect solution.
So you’ve finalised your drawings and you are ready to submit your planning permission application.
What happens next?
In this blog post, we unravel the mysteries of the planning permission process, breaking it down into stages so you know exactly what to expect.
First things first, you must formally submit your application.
If you are about to embark on a renovation or home build project, you’ll no doubt be aware of planning permission and building regulations. However, these two terms often cause confusion.
While they both regulate construction activities, they serve different purposes and are governed by distinct sets of rules.
There’s no doubt that the process can be complex and demanding, but with careful planning and execution, and working with the right professionals, your dream home could become a reality.
Once again we are challenging ourselves to predict the home design trends that are set to be big for 2024. A big theme for this year is going to be sustainability. It’s all about making our homes more energy efficient, and building with more sustainable materials.
