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
While energy efficient homes are gaining in popularity, many homeowners still wonder what they actually entail. Expert in the creation of high-performing, energy-efficient homes, Andy Mitchell, Managing Director at 21°, demystifies the concept. Good planning means you can secure the benefits and the best features that make these properties low energy, comfortable, healthy and sustainable.
Through practical elements like airtightness, thermal insulation, and efficient ventilation, Andy explains how energy-efficient homes are far more accessible than many people realise.
An energy-efficient home comprises three main pillars – minimal air leakage, effective ventilation, and a thermally-efficient core building shell (wall, roof, floor, windows, and doors) and connections between them. All of these elements must work together in synergy for optimal results.
In fact, these ‘optimal results’ provide a level of health and comfort that often far exceed what most people have experienced. It’s therefore essential these components are carefully considered as a whole system, rather than being viewed in silo, to guarantee their overall effectiveness.
For example, installing thermally-efficient windows and doors is not enough to foster a comfortable indoor temperature if there is uncontrolled air movement throughout the house.
Airtightness is crucial in preventing uncontrolled air leakage, which can lead to energy loss and increased heating costs. Airtightness is often overlooked, yet accounts for approximately 30-40% of a home’s heat loss. An airtight home helps to maintain a stable indoor temperature and improves energy efficiency.
From tapes and membranes to advanced sealing solutions, airtightness products are essential for creating a well-sealed building envelope.
These solutions should also extend to products such as windows and doors – where not only the frame is well-sealed to the building, but the opening element has gaskets that ensure an airtight seal when shut. Class 4 (BS EN 12207) is the best grade of airtightness for windows and doors These products prevent air leakage which can typically account for as much as a third of a home’s heat loss.
Effective ventilation is essential for maintaining indoor air quality and comfort while also being energy-efficient. Although making our homes airtight is key to improving efficiency, some air changes are still required to stop the moisture buildup. If this is not done correctly it can lead to mould and dust mite issues, as well as the accumulation of other toxic gases such as VOCs.
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems are engineered to provide continuous fresh air while recovering heat from exhaust air, maintaining a comfortable indoor environment and alleviating the need for additional heating, further reducing energy consumption.
MVHR systems provide optimal ventilation, ensuring properties remain fresh and healthy – without compromising on energy efficiency.
For example, in addition to providing triple-glazed windows and doors, we designed and supplied the MVHR system in a new build Passivhaus home project, utilising a Zehnder ComfoAir Q MVHR unit with rigid steel ducting.
For this project 21° worked with oak frame specialists, Oakwrights (also a NaCSBA member), to develop an MVHR system that would work alongside the encapsulation system. The client cited the quality of the products and the precise installation as being “crucial for the airtightness of the project, ultimately contributing to the Passivhaus certification”.
The thermal efficiency of the building elements is integral to overall energy efficiency, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling by maintaining a consistent indoor temperature. High-quality insulation materials and solutions ensure every part of the home, from walls and the roof to floors and the foundation, is well-insulated.
High-performance doors and triple-glazed windows are also an essential factor in a properly insulated property, as they’re designed to minimise heat transfer and ensure warm air stays in during the winter and out during the summer. Windows and doors should also contribute to the overall airtightness of the home, furthering energy efficiency.
A whole house retrofit in Cambridgeshire springs to mind in highlighting the role of windows and doors as part of wider thermal performance considerations. Here, our client chose inward opening windows, a lift and slide door, a fold-aside door, and two entrance doors (styles PA2 and GR1) from the GBS78 triple glazed timber range. The result was a comfortable, sustainable home that came as near as possible to Passivhaus standards.
At 21°, we believe that energy-efficient homes are not just for the eco-conscious few, but for everyone. By combining high-performance products with the right specifications and integration, homeowners can achieve remarkable energy savings, improved comfort, and a healthier living environment. Whether building a new property or retrofitting an existing one, solutions are available to meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Energy-efficient homes are characterised by airtightness, thermally efficient building elements, and efficient ventilation, all working together to create a comfortable, healthy, and sustainable living space.
Through advanced construction techniques and technologies, energy-efficient homes are becoming more practical and accessible to all. As an industry leader, we are committed to advancing the knowledge and application of these solutions, helping to build a more sustainable future for all.
MEMBER UPDATE
NaCSBA member The Modern Builder is an online marketplace bringing together architects and house manufacturers who use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
As a new marketplace, The Modern Builder streamlines the process for self builders, giving them access to extensive expertise and intellectual property at the planning stage of a project. This helps them to make informed decisions, providing the architects with an opportunity to showcase their work while building links with the experienced MMC companies that can construct the houses.
Put simply, repurposing existing designs enables architects and MMC house builders to share designs and specifications for homes that have previously been built. Reusing these past projects makes good use of years’ of expertise, paving the way for greater efficiency and effectiveness in the construction process.
The existing designs can then be tailored for new sites, a strategy designed to simplify the self build process, reduce project risks and unlock new opportunities for builders of all backgrounds. This can result in greater manufacturing efficiency, reduced costs, and increased confidence in the self-build process.
The process lends itself to multi-plot projects, which often have greater design freedoms in comparison to a single self-build opportunity, and the emphasis is on the self-builder to do due diligence in terms of whether a design would be permissible for their site. Thanks to the Right to Build legislation, more and more multi-plot sites are emerging, evidence that the self build registers do have an impact. Find and sign your self build register here.
“Design repurposing has the potential to create a lean self-building structure by making proven designs accessible to a wider audience, empowering self-builders and offering a new route to market. But it goes beyond the mere recycling of old designs – it’s about extracting the valuable insights and lessons learned from previous projects and incorporating them into new designs.
“From feasibility assessments to planning acceptance, and cost analysis, architects can leverage their wealth of experience to streamline the self-build journey for their clients,” says Rhys-Evans Edet, Director and Co-founder of The Modern Builder.
Image: Storyboard Designs
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.”
For the third consecutive year the National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) is repeating its survey into your experiences around custom and self build.
The anonymous survey is a vital for compiling data on people’s experiences as there remains limited information on activity, and this is key for informing policy and practice moving forwards.
10 minutes of your time can help more people build, as it provides a picture of activity that allows the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) to evidence its recommendations to government and industry.
NSBRC Managing Director Harvey Fremlin has recorded a message about the importance of the survey on YouTube.
A large majority of people planning a build have visited the NSBRC in person or attended an online event, and the survey will capture their experiences in the research and delivery of their home.
As a thank you for your time taking the survey, the NSBRC is offering a 10% discount on any of its essential educational courses (valid for 3 months) for every completed survey and the chance to enter a random draw to win one of five £50 John Lewis vouchers.
When sourcing suppliers for your custom and self build, getting the right knowledge about products and services is vital to empower you to make the right decision for your project. All NaCSBA members sign up to its Code of Practice, meaning there’s a level of trust you can relying on when it comes to specifying. We asked Ali Riza, Technical Manager at H+H, manufacturer of Celcon Blocks, about aircrete – one of the most popular building blocks for a variety of builds.
He shares ten reasons why aircrete could be the ideal product for your home, from on-site practicalities and thermal performance to the comfort and safety of your finished project.
“Masonry has been the go-to building method in the UK for decades,” says Ali. “Robust, resilient and high-performing, masonry homes are a fantastic option for self-builders.
“Aircrete is a lightweight masonry building material made from cement, lime, water and Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA). It has long been a popular choice for its combination of strength, durability and thermal efficiency and the ease of use that comes with a lighter material.
“So, what benefits does aircrete bring self-builders and why should they choose it for their homes?”
Should you choose to build your house with aircrete, you will get a solid house that meets every aspect of the building standards within the UK. Aircrete has excellent thermal insulation properties to help keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, leading to lower energy bills and a more comfortable living space.
Celcon Blocks are also perfect to accompany energy saving technologies, like underfloor heating and air source heat pumps, that many self-builders are now factoring into their home’s design.
For self-builders, delays to construction can be particularly costly, so speeding up your build by using aircrete makes sense. A report by market research consultants, Emergen Research found that aircrete blocks help reduce construction time by about 20% versus other forms of dense masonry.
Aircrete offers fantastic acoustic insulation, reducing the transfer of sound from room-to-room and helping block out unwanted noises that might come from outside a home.
Unsightly and unhealthy, damp and mould are the last things you should see in a modern home. Aircrete is resistant to moisture and sulfates, and the effects of freeze/thaw cycles. It will not rot or warp and cannot be attacked by pests such as termites, insects, or vermin.
Compared to market alternatives, aircrete offers superior fire resistance. Celcon Blocks provide excellent fire protection and are classified as A1, non-combustible in accordance with BS EN 771-4. H+H aircrete block walls built using our 100mm blocks offer up to four hours fire resistance.
Unlike many other masonry blocks, Celcon Blocks can be cut on site with a hand saw. This makes it easy to achieve the detailing needed for elements like spandrels and gable ends. It also means site wastage can be kept to a minimum because special shapes and infill pieces can be easily cut.
Building walls with H+H aircrete can reduce heat loss in a home and achieve impressive airtightness. Aircrete walls can have extraordinarily low U-Values and are able to meet and even exceed Passivhaus requirements.
Aircrete is an extremely versatile building material. It can provide cost effective solutions for wall, floor and below ground construction, including aircrete foundations.
In fact, Part L of the building regulations recommends using aircrete foundation blocks where aircrete is being used in the construction of external walls. This is to ensure continuity of insulation levels within the building fabric.
H+H aircrete is manufactured using Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA), a by-product from coal-powered fire stations. Celcon Blocks are made from up to 80% of this recycled material, while waste aircrete generated from the manufacturing process is recycled as an aggregate back into the process.
When you’re building your forever home, you want it to be built to last. H+H aircrete has a lifespan of over 100 years providing a resilient home for you and for generations to come.
For stockist of Celcon Blocks and to discover more about building with aircrete, visit lifetimehouse.co.uk.
If you work in the custom and self build sector don’t miss NaCSBA’s first conference, on 1 November at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon.
Themed around the idea of remaining resilient in the current market, the Custom and Self Build Conference marks Right to Build Day 2022, the date when the registers close on the 30 October for another complete base period of the local authority registers.
While numbers on the registers are growing, research shows that many people remain unaware that they can sign up to the registers, six years on from them commencing.
For these working in the industry, the conference is an essential opportunity to find out more about a range of factors impacting development, including many environmental changes.
Free for NaCSBA members, the conference brings together leading stakeholders from across the sector, such as custom build enablers and planners. Self Build Portal users can get 50% off, using the code PARTNERS (see below for instructions).
Running order to be confirmed, but sessions include:
PLUS
*Speakers and subjects may change. Conference runs from 9:30-4:30
FREE – NaCSBA members (up to two tickets for Regular members and six tickets for Gold Partners).
£195+VAT for conference only
£295+VAT combined conference ticket and NaCSBA’s Custom and Self Build Market Report (PDF and hard copy while stocks last).
Anyone joining NaCSBA as a member during or in the week following the event will have the cost of their ticket repaid.
To access the 50% discount, use code PARTNERS to generate a halfprice ticket – simply click the link and then the TICKETS button on Eventbrite – then click ADD PROMO CODE (in blue) and APPLY to generate the discount.
If you are a NACSBA member contact Duncan on media@nacsba.org.uk for your code to get a free ticket.
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) is repeating its survey into the aspirations and expectations of people willing to build for 2022.
This is a vital piece of research as it feeds in to wider views on the sector, which in turn helps the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) to represent the sector’s hopes and ambitions in its discussions with government and high-level trade organisations. Hear from NSBRC Managing Director Harvey Fremlin about why the survey is so important.
Like the National Custom and Self Build Association, the NSBRC believes that people deserve better homes, with a visit to the NSBRC being an essential activity for anyone planning a project. As such, the NSBRC is also looking to compile data that reflect visitor’s experiences, to support the centre to improve its offering, from training to exhibitors.
The experiences of people hoping to build provides valuable insight into the aspirations and expectations of people interested in the model, identifying common problems people experience and trends, that are important to track, such as people’s attitudes to sustainability.
The survey takes just a few minutes, and any data you provide is completely anonymous. As a thank you, the NSBRC is offering a 10% discount on any of its essential educational courses (valid for 3 months) for every completed survey. In addition, respondees can enter into a random draw to win one of five £50 John Lewis vouchers!
Find out more about the NSBRC, whats on at the centre in Swindon and its training courses, and how they can help you with your dream project.
Responding to the need for a bespoke architect-designed home without the cost of commissioning from scratch, Lynn Palmer Architects has launched BluPrint, a suite of pre-designed homes that self builders can purchase.
BluPrint came into being when Director Lynn Palmer, identified a gap in the market between the package companies customisable homes and a one-off architect commissioned home.
Not all price-sensitive self builders can afford to commission an architect from scratch, but still want to access the benefits that working with an architectural practice can deliver.
Key to this is delivering homes that have sustainability at their heart from the design stage, and are able to meet the challenges of more energy-efficient homes in the future.
This led to the idea of BluPrint, a catalogue of three pre-designed homes – with more to come – that can be adapted to suit the buyer’s needs.
The practice states that the advantages of this route is that it makes self build easier as much of the predesign work has taken place, meaning that the cost of this element is optimised. This is achieved as each design is costed as designed, rather than taking a bespoke approach, offering the equivalent savings that could be achieved when building at scale.
This can deliver up to 40% savings on professional fees, says the practice, which benefits the buyers, although the more the designs are amended the more the costs will increase to reflect this work.
Initial design work, pricing and planning are factored in to the plans to give buyers a starting point, and empowering them with the option to customise the design in the full knowledge of the cost implications that amendments will have. This supports informed decision making.
The homes are ideally suited to serviced plots sites, something NaCSBA is expecting to see more of, as increasing numbers of local authorities create policy that sets out to support custom and self build locally. Palmer expects the initial market to be buyers at Graven Hill, but the model is flexible and will work in a range of areas across the UK, as well as on single plots (planning allowing).
The designs of the three homes already created include a variety of modern approaches suitable to a range of budgets, in particularly the double gabled design, where the each wing can be pushed up or back to tailor the home to the buyer’s budgets and preferences.
One of the benefits of the route are that the designs can help speed up the process, by getting many of the elements needed for the planning submission ready in good time.
With all the designs the structural and energy calculations are pre-worked out, and this can put you six months further along on the process of preparing for your planning submission, states the practice.
Lynn Palmer Architects has teamed up with English Brothers to deliver the homes, both trusted NaCSBA members, and this partnership is another reason why the cost savings can be secured. What’s more, the homes are designed with as many costs factored in as possible, in advance, to empower people about the reality behind their build.
In addition, the homes are designed with sustainability at their heart, creating homes that not only look beautiful but are fit for the future.
“We’re really excited to have launched these homes, as BluPrint represents a genuine saving for consumers, with the designs providing a flexible alternative to the bespoke route, that encapsulates many of the costs, and the implications of design changes. This will empower people, helping them with the process of creating their ideal home, while balancing the realities of their budget with their ambition.
“Our designs offers self builders a new route to building, while the reputation of English Brothers meaning that buyers can trust the process from start to finish.”
Prices vary depending on plot location and topography, but construction start from £505,500 for the B1 Linear House design, shown at the top. This includes an allowance for everything from foundations to kitchens.
Work has commenced on the infrastructure for the first 18 plots on a 50 home custom build site in the Lake District National Park. The site is being developed by custom build specialist Hugr Homes, which has joined up with timber frame manufacturer Fleming Homes to deliver the timber frame houses.
Wellbank is a unique development in the Lake District National Park in the village of Bootle, with an emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable homes. Hugr Homes is acting as the enabler, having achieved planning permission, and is commencing with the infrastructure for the first phase of 18 homes. The houses will be provided by Fleming Homes, a manufacturer of bespoke, timber frame homes based in the Scottish Borders.
Wellbank, which is about one mile away from Bootle railway station and less than half an hour from Broughton in Furness, will be one of the largest custom build schemes in the UK, with 18 plots available in phase one.
Working with a timber frame manufacturer helps streamline the custom build site, as opposed to a self build solution where buyers are free to commission their own choice of company. Customers will work with Fleming Homes to design their home, working within the parameters of the Design Code, with a choice of plot types on offer for houses and bungalows.
Timber frame is a form of Modern Method of Construction (MMC) that is quick to erect on site, with the the average four-bed family home can reaching wind and watertight in a few weeks, which provides efficiencies when it comes to managing build schedules.
Joe Higginson MD and Founder of Hugr Homes, said, “We founded Hugr Homes to provide more opportunities for Custom Build, and it is all that we do as we firmly believe that the Custom Build model will grow.
“We are delighted to be starting on this site, which is located in the beautiful Lake District National Park. Both the site and the opportunity to custom build your own home is already generating interest, not just locally but also from the wider North West of England. We are also seeing lots of interest from people whose work is now more flexible, with working from home allowing them to relocate to more desirable areas of the country while still continuing in the same job.
“In terms of other sites, we have a site in Culgaith east of Penrith which will be custom build with 13 plots available. We are with Homes England for infrastructure funding on this and hope to be on site later this year.”
Sarah Mathieson, managing director of Fleming Homes, said: “We both align on the idea of helping more people live in higher quality homes. What Fleming Homes is keen to do is open-up the possibility of self and custom-building as a real option to more people to achieve more low-carbon, energy efficient, quality homes.
“It’s about giving more choice for homeowners to live their lives in homes that meet their aspirations for living and in homes that are ultimately fit for the future.”
