London, 6 September 2024 – Four of the NaCSBA executive board members – including the chair and deputy chair – are among the expert speakers at this month’s 30th anniversary London Homebuilding & Renovating Show giving tips to help London self-builders and renovators save on costs and make their projects run smoothly.
Sponsored by leading lift supplier Gartec, the show, taking place between 27-29 September at ExCeL, brings together top speakers who will share their insights and strategies to help London homeowners with their most common challenges under the banner of ‘building London better’.
The four NaCSBA speakers are Mark Stevenson, Michael Holmes, Tom McSherry, and Sally Tagg and they have shared some of their advice ahead of the London show:
NaCSBA chair, Mark Stevenson, self-build expert for the London Homebuilding & Renovating Show, director at Elsworth Projects, says:
The first steps to managing the tension between these goals is to know the options and which are more cost effective. As the building regulations advance, the requirements are getting more stringent but designers with experience of achieving the targets will understand how to do this cost effectively due to raising construction costs. Loading a house full of renewables might sound great but the upfront cost is high and it will take many years to get the money back. A better option might be to opt for a fabric first approach such as timber frame or structural insulated panels (SIPs) which will be energy efficient and reduce the renewable tech needed. Also be wary of designers who have a personal agenda of building award winning zero carbon homes. There’s nothing wrong with the ambition, but if you let them hijack the project, you could find the design is much more expensive than you can afford.
In built up areas there are plenty of external influences such as minimising impact on neighbouring properties. About half of all self builds are replacement dwellings and therefore it’s highly likely that plots in urbanised areas such as Greater London will be a knockdown and replacements. In theory, these plots are low risk as they come with a guarantee of planning consent, but exactly what you’ll get will be down to some finer negotiation with the planners. Before putting pen to paper, it’s best to engage a planning professional who understands the planning policies and can navigate the planning maze without getting too drawn into design aspirations which might prove unachievable in an established street scene.
Whilst building on tight sites is an art, if you know what you’re doing it’s perfectly possible to build on even the tightest of sites. The key is planning and organisation and London builders will be very familiar with the problem and will know exactly how to deal with it. Building sites are places of work and the regulations are quite clear about what’s needed. Welfare facilities where workers can rest, get dry, heat food are essential as is a toilet with warm running water. The regulations don’t say how these should be provided so a suitably prepared shed at the back of the garden will be perfectly acceptable. Just make sure you can get the thing out at the end of the build, or better still, leave it in place and covert it to a summer house or garden office.
Building sites in urban areas where the construction work is being undertaken next to occupied homes is a problem and one which must be addressed. The best way to do this is engage a professional such as a fire engineer who can assess the risks and identify what mitigations are needed to limit any spread of fire to the neighbours. The solutions are usually obvious: don’t let waste build up and make sure there are no sources of ignition such as smoking on site. If you’re building with a timber system such as timber frame or SIPs, use a member of the structural timber association (STA) as they’ll automatically follow the 16 steps of fire safety and will carry out a detailed fire risk assessment to make sure the building site is safe.
Michael Holmes NaCSB Deputy Chair, the show’s property expert, presenter of over 150 television property shows suggests:
Ensure your contractor is VAT-registered and can apply the reduced rate for eligible works. Take advantage of the 5% VAT rate for installing energy-saving materials like insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps. If converting a non-residential building into a home or renovating a property that has been empty for 2+ years, you may qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate. Projects that increase or decrease the number of dwelling units, such as splitting a house into flats or vice versa, can attract a reduced 5% VAT rate. Renovating properties that have been empty for 10 years or more, or changing the use of a building, may also qualify for the reduced 5% VAT rate on all eligible labour and materials.
First-time buyers can benefit from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) relief on properties up to £500,000. If you are transferring equity (ownership) of a property, SDLT may only be payable on the portion being transferred. Purchasing a property that includes both residential and commercial elements can qualify for the non-residential SDLT rates (often lower than residential rates). If you are purchasing multiple properties in a single transaction, such as a house with an annex, you may qualify for Multiple Dwellings Relief, which can lower the SDLT payable. Try to negotiate the purchase price to fall just below an SDLT threshold to benefit from lower SDLT bands. If possible, structure the purchase agreement to include deferred payment arrangements, which can spread the SDLT liability over a longer period. When buying through a shared ownership scheme, you can choose to pay SDLT in stages based on the share you purchase, which can reduce the initial SDLT burden.
Inform your neighbours about your plans early to foster goodwill and potentially agree on informal terms, reducing the need for formal procedures. Appoint a single agreed surveyor for all parties involved to split the cost, rather than each party appointing their own surveyor. Provide detailed and clear plans to your neighbours to minimise misunderstandings and objections, which can lead to costly disputes. Ensure full compliance with the Party Wall Act 1996 to avoid legal complications and additional costs. This includes serving the correct notices and obtaining necessary agreements. Consider using mediation services to resolve disputes amicably and cost-effectively, rather than resorting to legal action.
Tom McSherry, the show’s self-build mortgage and financial specialist and National Business Development Manager, Buildstore.recommends:
There are some self-build mortgage deals which will provide you with up to 95% of your land and building costs so you can build with as little as 5% of your costs, although most will offer around 80 – 85% of your costs.
If you only have the minimum deposit, then an advance stage payment mortgage could be a solution. Self-build mortgages release money to you as you progress your build and these deals will provide money up-front to cover the costs of each upcoming stage of work. There are no valuations during the build – each stage release is agreed as part of your mortgage application, so you know exactly what you’ll get at each part of your build.
Sign up to the Right to Build Register with your local council. Under national legislation, councils have to make enough plots available to fulfil local demand over a rolling three-year period. Demand can only be identified by potential self-builders registering an interest, so sign up today!
Or, why not renovate and bring back into use a run-down or uninhabitable property and become part of an existing community? You can arrange a self-build mortgage to buy the property and fund the repair work. You’ll save a lot of money on architect and planning fees compared to building a new property and you can retro-fit energy efficient features into your new home.
Sally Tagg, planning expert for the Homebuilding & Renovating Show and Managing Director at Foxley Tagg Planning Limited, says:.
A complex planning process
It is evident when talking to would be self-builders that many are not really prepared or understand what the planning process entails and the nature of its complexities, so that can be a bit of a shock. Additionally, very often they do not know where to start or the best ways to proceed. The planning consultant really is the person who is the go -to for everything in terms of bringing a site through the planning process. They will have tried and tested contacts with other experts such as ecologists, heritage consultants, highways engineers and flood risk experts with whom they regularly work and architects with the appropriate design skills to suit specific circumstances.
What I am trying to do as a planning consultant is to ensure that the right approach is taken from the get-go for a specific set of circumstances, looking at the fundamental issues first before considering detailed issues such as the house design and investing in drawings. For example, if you do not carry out a feasibility study or site assessment from the outset you could be proceeding with a site that is not going to be deliverable through the planning process. It’s vitally important to understand some of the basic parameters before investing too much time and money.
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ExCel London will house thousands of products and services presented by over 250 exhibitors and visitors will be able to attend any of a series of around 80 seminars, including those at the Self Build Theatre (sponsored by Self Build Zone) and masterclasses at the Masterclass Theatre (sponsored by Kitchens 4 DIY). Showgoers will be able to discuss their building projects with leading industry specialists as well as book 15-minute expert one-to-one consultations at the Advice Centre (sponsored by Internorm).
To attend the London Homebuilding & Renovating Show 27-29 September 2024 for free, click on this link to register for a pair of tickets for any of the show days.
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC), has reached a notable milestone.
The unique Swindon based business is celebrating ten years of employee ownership, with a new company (The Homebuilding Centre Ltd) having been formed back in 2014 to operate the much-loved venue, which is dedicated to offering independent homebuilding advice and support.
Ten years on, the NSBRC’s twenty employees now own 80% of the flourishing business, through a combination of direct shares, and shares held in an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The remaining shares are held by Capital for Colleagues, an investment group who specialise in transitioning businesses to an employee owned model.
On Friday 28th June the team held a special dinner, making full use of the Centre’s space and stunning backdrop of full-sized show houses, with over one hundred guests in attendance – each of whom have played a part in the NSBRC’s journey and success over the past decade. Popular BBC News presenter and journalist, Martine Croxall, hosted the evening, providing an insightful and highly-topical address on the importance of transparency and trust in the media. Martine also introduced other guest speakers including James de le Vingne, CEO of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA).
The evening concluded with a surprise awards ceremony, where the NSBRC team recognised and thanked several of their key suppliers and supporters who have helped the business across the last decade.
Martine Croxall said: “It was a treat to be invited to host the NSBRC’s celebration evening. The hard work of the first ten years of employee ownership and the team spirit they’ve created meant the atmosphere during dinner and the awards ceremony was joyful! Harvey and the other employee owners should be very proud of what they’ve achieved.”
Harvey Fremlin, the NSBRC’s Managing Director, said: ‘We were thrilled to be able to celebrate such an important moment for our business with so many of our colleagues, friends and supporters. Every employee was invited to bring along their partner – as our EO culture has created a caring, family environment. We were also delighted to celebrate some of our key suppliers, such as our amazing cleaning team – who are often in the background – but have made a massive impact on the customer experience we deliver. Having the EOA represented by James, and the fantastic support of Martine, was the icing on the cake and made for a memorable, inspirational night for everyone’.
Employee ownership is a rapidly growing business model in the UK, and EO businesses regularly outperform non-EO peers in almost every metric – they’re 8-12% more productive and invest more in their people, innovation, and communities.
James de le Vingne, CEO of the Employee Ownership Association, said: ‘Congratulations to everyone at the NSBRC on 10 years of EO, and for celebrating with such flair! Your energy and enthusiasm for all you do, and for one another, as fellow employee-owners made for a very special evening. As early adopters of the EOT, it’s fantastic to see you flourishing and to have this recognised by those closest to you. Thank you for inviting me and for being such fantastic EO advocates, you are certainly paving the way for others to follow.’
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre is located on Junction 16 of the M4. Open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday, it has welcomed over a quarter of a million visitors since first opening their doors in 2007.
Their next big event is a Heat & Energy Workshop on Saturday 10th August. The free event will provide over a dozen talks with topics such as Heap Pumps, Solar, Electric Vehicles, Smart Controls and Rainwater Harvesting.
For more information and to book free tickets: https://www.nsbrc.co.uk
NaCSBA member Potton is celebrating its 60th year in the timber frame business with its first open day in 2024 on Saturday 6th January at its St Neots show centre
The day is a packed overview of the entire build process when building with Potton, ideal for novice and serial self builders. As well as the opportunity to see the range of show homes on the site, visitors can drop in, without an appointment, to have a chat and their questions answered.
Potton’s self-build consultants will be in the Gransden to offer expert advice informally, or with one-to-one sessions, and there is a programme of morning talks visitors can join.
Seminar timetable
10.40am – 11.20am Build & Budget. An overview of the self build process.
11.40am – 12.20pm Timber frame or SIPS Discover the pros and cons of these different build systems and the benefits of offsite construction.
12.40pm – 1.20pm Designing your dream home. A step-by-step guide to designing your ideal home, including the local authority planning context, approvals and tailoring your home to your needs.
Plus on the day, each show house a specialist in it acting as a hub with the: Design Hub in The Milchester, the Land Hub in the Wickhambrook, the Build Hub in The Elsworth.
Plus you’ll get the chance to raise a glass of fizz to Potton to celebrate it’s 60th year!
Join self build specialists AC Architects to unlock the secrets to self build success on its monthly Self-Build Hour webinar series.
For 15 years AC Architects has been helping self builders realise their dream, and, for the webinars, it has a pool of experienced employees and associates ready to share their knowledge each month, supported with a Q&A session.
Each month a self build expert will be live via Microsoft Teams at 1 pm on the second Thursday of every month, starting this November, dealing with a range of topics, such as:
Sign up to hear about each monthly webinar on AC Architects’ website.
Jason Orme is the Editorial Director of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine, with two decades of experience in self building and renovations, who started his own self build journey at 28 and has since worked on several homes. If your keen to find out more about self building, join Jason for an insider’s guide, including the key steps, choices and pros and cons.
Upcoming topics:
As well as designing and supporting the delivery of homes, AC Architects is committed to educating people about the choices involved in self building, including via its popular blog.
ACA is also involved with in-person seminars at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon and a range of self build shows throughout the year, as well as having offices in Dunfermline and at the NSBRC.
NaCSBA member Beattie Passive is running a pair of free Passive Haus training events in October to support anyone considering adopting a passive methodology for their new build or retrofit project. One event is curated with self builders in mind and the other is designed to support professionals working in the sector.
Offsite modular specialist Beattie Passive, a member of the Passivhaus Trust, the Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) and the Good Homes Alliance, is holding the Passivhaus events at its offsite factory in Norwich.
The sessions offer attendees an insight into the principles of Passivhaus and how the standard can be applied to deliver energy efficient, net zero homes.
The sessions also include a guided tour of Beattie Passive’s 100,000 sq ft housebuilding factory.
This event has been specifically designed for self-builders that are interested in the energy and carbon-saving benefits of Passivhaus.
Attendance is free, but space is strictly limited, so register early to avoid disappointment.
Beattie Passive also has a second event for professionals interested in learning more about passive approaches to building:
This session is designed for local authorities, housing providers, policy makers, architects, builders, developers, and anyone else with an interest in building new net zero homes to Passivhaus standard (or retrofitting their existing housing stock to EnerPHit standard).
Ron Beattie, founder and managing director of Beattie Passive, said: “These events are part of our mission to promote sustainable building practices. Passivhaus has become synonymous with energy efficiency, and for good reason – a Passivhaus needs as little as 10% of the energy required by a conventional UK home – but we shouldn’t overlook the other benefits, such as thermal comfort, noise reduction and air quality.”
“Passivhaus is a panacea for many of the challenges facing the housebuilding sector – it can put an end to fuel poverty, raise living standards and eliminate damp and mould. At our net zero event, we’ll be paying particular attention to the environmental benefits of Passivhaus, and the role the standard plays in the delivery of net zero homes and retrofit projects.”
Grand Designs Live is back at the NEC in Birmingham on the 4-8 October, with a new show house forming the entrance to the halls.
Hosted by energy supplier OVO, the Grand Ideas House is a brand new showpiece that all visitors pass through as they enter the show. The house showcases innovative designs and materials, together with plenty of insight on ways to decarbonise your home by using renewable energy, such as air source heat pumps like Valliant’s (shown above).
Beyond the focus on decarbonisation include products such as ice baths, innovative materials, kitchens and a cinema room.
As always, there is a big focus on simplifying self build at at Grand Designs Live with lectures and a chance to hear from some of the self build stars of Grand Designs. Plus there is plenty of inspiration on interiors, exteriors, kitchens and bathrooms and innovative new products.
Check out Green Living Live, which runs alongside Grand Designs Live, for insight from eco experts and systems to future proof your house’s energy needs, and our favourite, Kevin’s Green Heroes.
Timber frame manufacturer Oakwrights specialises in oak framed buildings, which are held in high value for their timeless appeal by many self builders. If you want to find out more Oakwrights has a series of open days coming up in the summer for anyone wanting to experience its builds first hand.
Self builders considering an oak frame can visit the home of a self builder on the 2-3 June in Hampshire or Ayrshire, or in Herefordshire on 14-15 July to see two cottage-style oak frame homes close up.
The open days give you an opportunity to visit a real home built to the specification of its owners, with the self-builders introducing their project, sharing experiences and tips to support you in deciding whether timber frame is right for you.
As well as the owners, there will be a team member from Oakwrights available to answer your questions about building with oak.
On the 2nd and 3rd June you can choose to join Oakwrights in either Hampshire where you will meet homeowners Neil and Linn (whose home is pictured), or Ayrshire where you will meet builders Karen and Iain.
Alternatively, on the 14-15 July Oakwrights’ head office in Herefordshire will be open, where self-builders Charlie and Helen, and Craig and LB will open the doors to their homes, Church Cottage and Manuka Cottage.
In addition and available on request, visitors book to see our Show Home ‘The Woodhouse’ and join an organised tour of our the workshops where the oak frames and encapsulation panels are prefabricated.
More sites will be open in Autumn, including in Warwickshire, Essex and Ayrshire – visit the Events page for details.
In addition to one off self builds, Oakwrights also has a range of custom build sites with plot opportunities for under between 2-10 homes, find out more the plot opportunities on offer on its website.
To reflect the current appetite for energy saving measures, the September SelfBuild & Design South West will feature a brand new Green Home & Energy Efficiency area, dedicated to showcasing eco-friendly products and services from companies that put sustainability at the heart of their business.
At a time when the cost of living and the price of energy is soaring, this new feature will bring together a host of brands with expertise covering many aspects of the eco-home and eco-building.
Attendees at the show will be able to find out more about sustainable building materials and methods, insulation products and heating and renewable energy systems. In addition, they can find out more about and electric car-charging equipment works, especially pertinent as now all new homes must have, where possible, a car charging point. This falls under Part S of the updated building regulations, with many measures now included to ensure that new homes produce less carbon emissions.
As well as exhibitors, there will be a host of Green Homes & Energy Efficiency talks throughout the weekend on green energy, energy efficiency and sustainable building methods, including Dr Richard Lowes advising on how to retrofit an existing building to improve energy efficiency.
With 18 speakers delivering 30 free seminars and masterclasses over the weekend, visitors will also be able to learn more about smart control, tips for working with architects, planning, plot finding and hear first-hand experience of a build from fellow self builders.
Look out for the Green Home icon across the SelfBuild & Design Show website to discover talks and exhibitors who are part of the feature.
The SelfBuild & Design Show South West takes place at Westpoint Arena, Exeter on 10th and 11th September.
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) runs a calendar of invaluable training events, both live from its Swindon base, and online, meaning that anyone can join. NaCSBA is delighted to be teaming up with the NSBRC for a brand new online surgery – Grants, Legislation and Latest News on 23 June, 19:00-20:00.
The online surgery sessions are part of the NSBRC’s 15 year celebrations, and this session provides would-be builders with a focused update on the political and legislative factors affecting self-builders today. Right now, there’s never been more high-level support for custom and self builders, creating a favourable climate for anyone wanting to build.
During the event, NaCSBA CEO, Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, will be offering updates on the following areas:
The surgery also includes a Q&A slot where you can raise your own issues.
NaCSBA’s aim is to make custom and self build a mainstream choice for all those seeking a home of their own, and shares the NSBRC’s own vision of helping people enjoy better homes.
The NSBRC has a host of other training courses and sessions, essential guidance for anyone setting out on a project of their own. Other events for summer include a Planning Surgery, Virtual Renovation Course and Ask An Architect appointments.
Find the full list on its website.
Head to the National Self Build and Renovation Centre for its show on Friday 16-Sunday 18 October, which is one of the few shows still running a live event.
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre is a permanent exhibition space dedicated to self building, with permanent stands and educational exhibits helping you to navigate the process of self building or renovating a home.
The show is the ideal event to meet experts and see and test products in a spacious and relaxing setting – with measures in place to ensure social distancing requirements are met.
The show offers something for everyone, no matter what stage you are at with your project – whether you are still at the early planning stage or part way through.
The centre has experts on hand with offering a range of advice, from finding a plot and arranging your finances to deciding on the best building method for you. As well as lots of information about heating systems, green building and more.
When: Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October
Time: Fri & Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm; Sun: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Where: NSBRC, Just off M4 Junction 16, Swindon, SN5 8UB
Tickets: Free in advance, £12 on the door.
Special measures have been put in place to ensure the NSBRC and show safeguard its visitors, exhibitors and staff. It is working hard to ensure it complies with current guidelines and as such this show will be a little different from previous events.
In order to maintain social distancing, the centre is reducing the capacity of the event and requires all attendees to book in advance on this occasion. Tickets are limited to a maximum of 2 adult members per household, and children must remain with their parents at all times.
Additional measures have been implemented for the safety of all, which will be explained on the day.
