A new online mapping service aims to take the confusion out of sourcing the Ordnance Survey plans needed for planning applications.
PlanningMapsUK has launched a new online platform designed to help homeowners and property professionals obtain licensed Ordnance Survey mapping for UK planning applications and design projects.
For self-builders and renovators, the platform allows users to search for their property by address or postcode, identify the site, add planning boundaries and generate licensed mapping online. Plans can be produced in A4 or A3 format and downloaded following purchase.
The service supports commonly requested planning scales, including 1:1250 and 1:2500 location plans, as well as more detailed 1:200 and 1:500 block and site plans.
Site location and block plans are routinely required for planning applications covering projects such as extensions, loft conversions, new homes and outbuildings. PlanningMapsUK says its maps can include features such as red and blue site boundaries, surrounding roads, nearby properties and a north point.
The platform also offers editable Ordnance Survey CAD mapping for architects, designers, planning consultants, surveyors and developers. Files can be supplied in DWG and DXF formats, with British National Grid coordinates, while optional terrain and contour information is available where elevation data is required.
PlanningMapsUK says the service currently provides mapping across Great Britain, with plans to continue expanding its range of digital mapping products.
New research shows that while only around 15% of households currently have solar installed, 51% say recent global instability has increased their interest in adopting the technology within the next one to two years. The findings, from Good Energy, suggest a growing shift towards solar as a practical planning consideration rather than a purely environmental upgrade.
Energy security and bill reduction remain the dominant drivers. Nearly nine in ten respondents (91%) believe geopolitical instability will keep upward pressure on electricity prices, reinforcing the appeal of generating power on-site and reducing reliance on the grid. Around 38% of those surveyed believe solar could deliver meaningful bill reductions within one to two years, compared with 24% who see switching energy supplier as an effective alternative.
The trend is already being reflected in market activity. Installers have reported sharp increases in domestic solar demand, with some providers recording a 91% rise in sales earlier this year and sustained momentum into the second quarter. Online search activity for solar solutions has also more than doubled since the start of the year, indicating rising intent among households actively exploring installation.
For self builders and those planning major renovations, the data highlights a continued shift in how renewable energy is being factored into early-stage design decisions. Solar is increasingly being considered alongside core specifications such as insulation, heating systems and fabric performance, rather than treated as a retrofit add-on.
Battery storage is also becoming more commonly paired with solar installations, as households look to maximise self-consumption and reduce exposure to peak-time electricity costs. This is further strengthening the case for integrating energy systems at the design stage of new builds and major refurbishments.
While interest continues to rise, cost and technical understanding remain key barriers for some households, particularly around upfront installation costs and system performance.
However, the broader direction of travel is clear: solar is moving from a niche upgrade to a mainstream consideration in residential energy planning, with implications for how self build projects are designed, specified and future-proofed.
Checkatrade has expanded its home improvement offering with the launch of Checkatrade Shop, a new online retail marketplace designed to bring together trusted products, vetted sellers, and installation services in one platform.
The company, already widely used by consumers to find and book verified tradespeople, says the new marketplace will extend its ecosystem from services into product procurement, aiming to support homeowners and tradespeople from product selection through to installation.
At launch, the platform features more than 40,000 home improvement products, covering key categories including heating, energy systems and essential home upgrades. The service is designed to allow users not only to purchase products, but also to arrange installation through connected trades where required.
For self builders and custom home projects, the move reflects a wider shift towards integrated project platforms, where materials, systems and labour can be coordinated in a single place rather than sourced separately across multiple suppliers.
The marketplace is open to both consumers and tradespeople, with Checkatrade positioning it as a “single destination” for completing home improvement projects. Consumers can browse products and optionally link directly to vetted installers, while tradespeople benefit from access to a curated supply chain and trade pricing on selected items.
The launch builds on Checkatrade’s ongoing evolution from a trades directory into a wider home improvement ecosystem, increasingly linking planning, procurement and delivery in one environment.
For self builders, the development points towards a more streamlined approach to sourcing key building products and coordinating installation, particularly for higher-consideration items such as heating systems, energy upgrades and fitted home infrastructure.
However, as with all marketplace models, the long-term impact will depend on adoption from both trades and suppliers, and whether integrated purchasing and installation can deliver genuine efficiencies across more complex residential projects.
Dan-Wood, the manufacturer of energy-efficient, pre-fabricated timber frame homes has introduced a new S-Line range of six house designs into its standard offering.
Dan-Wood’s S-Line range takes quality to the next level with features that include unique architectural detailing and extra-functional design elements.
The S-Line has been developed to offer self builders an even more luxurious home at affordable prices, with the same trusted Dan-Wood design and technology that customers expect.
The architectural elements vary depending on your home design and customisation, but the range typically includes:
Windows – create drama with higher sash windows and balcony windows with French balustrades. Corner windows also feature, making the most of the plot, and extra elements, such as an additional stairwell window, flood the home with daylight.
Eaves – Depending on the design, the homes have a choice of eaves to complement the architecture, including minimalist or wider than standard.
Entrances – look out for designs with a cube roof over the entrance complemented by higher external doors to create a statement entrance.
Floor space – the S-Line range features spacious floor plans and a generous feeling of space, thanks to a raised ground floor of 2.67m and concealed joists. Integrated sliding patio doors visually extend the living area and create a seamless connection to the outside.
Luxury bathooms – the range features a spacious bathroom designed as a relaxing retreat, with enough room for a large bathtub, a separate shower and a double washbasin.
Like all standard Dan-Wood designs, S-Line is available with the full turnkey option. This includes the design and associated architectural drawings and the manufacture and construction of the house structure. This includes external and internal decorating and finishes, heating and ventilation systems, stairs, sanitary ware, doors, flooring and plumbing.
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) and underfloor heating (UFH) throughout are all included in the standard Dan-Wood turnkey package.
Once designed, the house is manufactured in Dan-Wood’s factory in Poland before being shipped to your plot on your chosen date. The house itself is then typically constructed onsite in eight to 12 weeks, with a dedicated project manager looking after every stage of the process and taking care of the skilled Polish team of builders.
Main picture: Dan-Wood S-Line design Park 183s
After 30 years of trading as Green Building Store, the building products supplier and high-performance homes specialist has rebranded itself as 21°. The new name reflects 21°’s vision to support customers to create life changing homes that are healthy and comfortable, secured by optimising energy performance.
21°’s supports self builders by advising and supplying a range of products and services to help make their build as airtight as possible, such as by incorporating triple glazing and MVHR.
By concentrating on airtightness, the home benefits from fewer draughts and air that’s free from outdoor pollutants. This enables the home to maintain a year-round ambient temperature with the added benefit of ensuring that the building is ultra low energy.
Andy Mitchell, managing director at 21°, commented, “We’re thrilled to announce the rebrand of Green Building Store to 21°, and our customers can enjoy the same exceptional service and expertise they’ve relied on from us. While we’ll continue to offer advice and guidance for obtaining Passivhaus certification, we’ll also support those not able or looking to achieve full accreditation, but who still want to create a home that’s designed with wellbeing at the forefront.â€
“When specified correctly with one another, windows, doors, and MVHR, along with airtightness and insulation, are the core products for optimising for energy efficiency and comfort. It’s this interconnected specification that is key, and central to what we do.â€
Image, from left to right:Â Paul McGurk, MVHR designer, Mark Redmond, windows estimator, Luke Gilman, windows department manager, Tom Heywood, MVHR department manager, Mike Shufflebotham, sales manager.
21° is a NaCSBA member meaning you can trust them on your project.
Find all our members in the – and you can find all our members in the Membership Directory
The National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon has launched a new event called Market Day, where many of its exhibitors will be encouraged to be on stand to chat to self builders in a relaxed and informal setting.
Kicking off on Friday 8 March, 10am-3pm, the Market Days will be on the second Friday of each month. The event is being organised following requests from visitors, to give people the chance to discuss projects in detail away from the busyness of the traditional show days.
Plus, visitors will be able to join a free guided tour of the NSBRC’s new-build educational zone at midday.
A list of exhibitors who will be on stand for the next upcoming Market Day is available on the NSBRC’s website, so you can plan you trip to speak to the right companies for your project.
Find out more about the NSBRC’s Market Days
All new builds must comply with Building Regulations, which set the minimum standards for new housing in England*. Many self builders build far beyond this standard, but it is important you know what each standard is in relation to your own build.
Part L of the building regulations sets the standards for energy performance for new and existing homes. The 2021 changes put more emphasis on the performance of the building fabric and minimising the impact of thermal bridging, with your build route having an impact on how you achieve the standard.
The changes meant that new homes have to have a 31% reduction in carbon emissions in comparison to the old Part L standards.
In terms of building with brick and block, the Self Build Portal asked Ali Riza, Technical Manager at H+H, manufacturer of Celcon Blocks, how high-performance building materials, such as aircrete, can help you meet building regulations.
H+H produces aircrete blocks, which have inherent thermal properties that make them a good choice for energy efficiency. Ali explains more about the Part L implications.
When planning your build, you need to consider cold bridges in any materials. A cold or thermal bridge is an area in the building envelope which allows heat to pass through more easily. This usually happens where there is a gap in the insulation layer or where an element such as a joist crosses the walls.
As the industry now insulates buildings to much higher levels, such thermal bridges become a critical pinch point that can lead to significant heat loss. In fact, they can account for as much as 30% of a build’s total losses, compromising the energy efficiency of your home.
Therefore, the regulations advise that you choose materials or systems that minimise thermal bridging. Using a product like aircrete can significantly reduce the thermal bridge effect at junctions, as it has better thermal resistance than denser materials.
The 2021 amendments to Part L made recommendations regarding building fabric for masonry construction, suggesting the same material should be used to build the foundations and external walls. Aircrete can be used in both foundations and external walls with H+H Foundation Blocks offering self-builders a simplified groundworks solution.
Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations are used to demonstrate that your build meets the standards set out in Part L of the building regulations. A SAP calculation establishes the energy performance of a dwelling and are a requirement for new builds in the UK.
As a self builder you should engage with an accredited SAP assessor as early as possible. The assessor will generate your SAP calculation based on your design, which takes heat lost from junctions and thermal bridges into consideration.
Once built, your final SAP calculation is submitted to building control by the assessor for what has been built, rather than what was proposed. If your build varied from the original plans significantly then a new SAP calculation is needed, and this could show your home is not compliant with Part L. This is why it is important to plan ahead, and stick to your plans.
To mitigate this risk engage with your assessor at the design stage to get advice on meeting Part L. You need to follow their advice and assess build quality regularly throughout the build to ensure you have suitable evidence that your self build complies with the regulations.
*Different Building Regulations are in place in Northern Ireland while Scotland has its own Building Standards.
There are many guides and resources available about Building Regulations, including H+H’s own free resources for anyone building with aircrete.
Find out more about building with H+H Celcon Blocks at www.lifetimehouse.co.uk
Many self builders make the mistake of thinking about their landscaping at the end or their project, rather than planning for it as part of their build. But this often results in it not being budgeted for. Self builders easily overspend on their journey, sometimes due to the unexpected, but sometimes as they upgrade elements or choose renewables that require upfront investment.
The result can be that landscaping can be an afterthought, but why let your build down when you’ve invested so much money and time to create your perfect home? Plus, your planning permission may include a reference to the completion of landscaping too.
Planning early will ensure you have a ring-fenced budget for landscaping and can also ensure that any heavy lifting or tree planting can be done while you’ve the right machinery on site.
We caught up with NaCSBA member Arbour Landscape Solutions, which has in-depth knowledge as a trade landscaping supply company with more than 60 years in the industry.
Richard Bickler, MD of Arbour, filled us in with this guide to getting started with garden surfaces, as he explains:
Hiring a garden designer is always the most efficient way to get the garden you want, and they will be able to advise on the right garden surfaces for you. But on a self build where all costs are carefully monitored this might be beyond your budget.
However, when it comes to purchasing materials, self builders can register as customers on Arbour’s site, which gives you the advantage of being able to buy landscaping materials at wholesale prices.
When it comes to garden surfaces the preparation of the ground is vital on a building plot, where compression, rubble and contaminants can all be an issue. Time spent managing and preparing the ground – and looking after it during a build – will be well worth the effort.
It helps to keep a tidy site and ensure trades are clearing up after them and that skips are used for waste that cannot be reused on site.
Many selfbuilds are knock-down-and-build opportunities, and planning can often require materials to be reused as much as possible on site. In which case consider crushed brick or concrete to create sub-levels for surfaces, but these need to be the appropriate size and properly compressed – so always seek professional advice if this is what you plan to use these materials for.
One final consideration is that architects on high-end houses love taking an internal material outside via level thresholds, so a stone floor flows straight onto a terrace to create a seamless look.
This needs careful specifying in terms of levels and drains, as well as the type of stone, so again get professional advice if this is a detail you are hoping to achieve.
Check out Arbour Landscape Solutions’ guide to materials:
The instant appeal of a turf lawn, or the more economical seeded lawn, is a great solution for large areas. It is economical, quick and easy to work with, and can be easily removed for landscaping projects that are planned for the future when money has eased post build.
Ground care is important, as is levelling, and you can choose from different grass mixes to improve biodiversity, create interest or manage tricky areas, such as more shade tolerant plants. Shady or small areas can be hard to maintain for a lawn, so again choose the right product for the location.
Beloved by all, natural stone can often be reasonably locally sourced and makes a garden bed in with its landscaping relatively easily. Stone comes in a range of colours and textures, from inky-black slate to buff sandstone.
If you’re building with sustainability in mind consider where your stone is coming from, and also consider the finish. Highly polished stone can be slippery when wet, so may not be practical on steps or by pools.
Porcelain is one of the most flexible materials in terms of finish, as it offers colours, textures and patterns not available in other garden materials (see main picture). Stain resistant, stylish and durable, it creates a sharp look that works brilliantly in modern gardens.
Specifying is important – external porcelain should be winter-hardy by default if sold in the UK, and you can specify textured or matt finishes for extra grip.
There’s a lot to choose from so do your research, and think about how it will be used. On steps it can have hard edges that can be chipped, so consider the final design and use of the space.
Much is imported from abroad, so when researching ask about availability and lead times for orders – and ensure you order sufficient, with extras, so you have spares in case a line is discontinued or some are damaged during storage.
Gravel can be used beyond the drive to create interest and an easy-to-maintain surface for your garden, ideal if you’re future proofing your home. Used with membranes you can still plant in it and keep weeds to a minimum, and it is ideal for sloping, exposed or high-traffic areas where a lawn would struggle.
Plus its permeable, meaning more water is absorbed across the garden, unlike with solid pavers or porcelain.
For paths or seating areas you can opt for self-binding gravel, which can be compacted to make a more resilient surface, but it won’t stand up to car tyres.
Whether you choose timber or composite, decking remains a popular choice for patios. Composite is available in range of colours and is very low-maintenance, and is often made from, or partially from, recycled materials.
If a natural material is more important, only use FSC certified timber and opt for good quality preservatives or pressure treated wood, but be aware that these are chemical processes. Also, if you’re considering hardwood decking do your due diligence about where these are sourced from and if it is sustainably sourced.
For more self build tips on landscaping visit Arbour’s blog or case studies
Images: Gravel Tapestry Landscape Designs; Millboard decking by Grow Gardens
Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are a big ticket item that work very well in a self and custom build. This is because they can be designed in at the very earliest stages of your project, to work in conjunction with your building’s fabric.
But what do you need to understand about MVHR to ensure that it’s the right choice for you? NaCSBA member Airflow shared some of its experience with the Self Build Portal, to help you decide if investing in MVHR is the right choice for you.
Our changing climate means that homes in the UK need to not only provide heating requirements but also need to stand up to extreme heat for prolonged periods of time.
MVHR offers your the opportunity to control your internal environment, especially when combined with a fabric-first approach to building. This is because it needs an airtight building envelope to work efficiently, so how you build is as important as the MVHR system itself.
The heat recovery element of MVHR is an extremely energy efficient process, as no heat is lost, so reducing demand. Conversely, in Summer, many systems bypass this exchange process, to bring cool fresh air in from outside and allowing internal heat to be expelled. Be sure to ask when specifying if your system has an automatic bypass, or partial bypass for Spring and Autumn.
Used well this allows some degree of cooling, especially as the MVHR system will remove humid air, which can in itself make you feel warmer. Removing excess humidity is also important to reduce mould build up.
Heat recovery captures and retains heat that would otherwise be lost as it leaves the building. MVHR removes the heat from stale air as it is extracted from the building. This is passed through a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the outgoing air to fresh air entering the building. Incoming air is filtered to remove impurities, such as allergens, heated and then distributed around the building.
This requires good levels of airtightness in your build envelope to prevent air leakage, as well as ducting and the actual unit where the exchange takes place. MVHR does away with stand alone extraction systems, such as hob and bathrooms extractors.
In regards to cooling Airflow has some useful insight on comparing the two systems.
Primarily, air conditioning will cool more powerfully, but it does this by recirculating the stale air that is already in the room.
Whereas air conditioning is reliant on a unit per room, with associated running costs and local noise, MVHR is a whole house system. This means there is one piece of plant, in the loft or plant room, and ducts in individual rooms, rather than entire units.
As well as fresher air and a quieter system, this can result in lower energy usage, but check if this translates into lower running costs.
MVHR is better at maintaining a constant temperature using fresh air, but is more reliant on external air temperatures to secure this. Therefore regulating the temperature early in the day will result in a cooler building.
A more powerful MVHR system can move larger volumes of air which can help with cooling, so again, speak to your specifier about your expectations for the system.
MVHR needs to considered early on in your plans, and needs to work in harmony with your build model. If you are considering it speak to system manufacturers/installers and do your research in advance.
This can be from neutral sources, such as magazines, as well as supplier websites (although be aware they are promoting MVHR). The Passivhaus Trust and 21 Degrees are also good sources of information, and the NSBRC runs several courses on heat and energy.
If you decide it is for you, ensure that your architect and package manufacturer are planning for it from the get go, and that any follow on trades are aware of the need for airtightness. This needs a ‘fabric first’, whole house approach, and this might affect window orientation and shading and solar gain. For example, trickle vents on windows should be avoided, as they will reduce the airtightness.
Images:Â Airflow
Modular building gets referenced a lot by government as a solution for building more housing more effectively, but how does that relate to self build?
NaCSBA member MMC Build is a team that offers professionals services, such as project managing, and works exclusively with modular projects. As a specialist, MMC Build is ideally placed to share the benefits of the model, helping you decide if it is the right choice for your self build.
Also called prefabricated homes, modular builds are factory fabricated in sections, with the system quickly constructing the house’s structure once on site.
At this stage the homes are erected to weathertight stage, and in most cases this shell is then handed over to the self builder to commission the remaining trades. However, some companies will also take the house to completion, so it’s important to ascertain at what point the home is handed over to you when researching firms.
Working in the modular field means that MMCBuild is able to relate to the wider benefits of building with MMC, and put that into the context of self build. These include:
Building in a factory is an efficient process in terms of materials (usage and purchase), labour and streamlining, and this can make these homes cost effective. However, while standardised design makes this more affordable in a speculative market (ie regular housing at scale), for one-off homes this saving can be eroded. So discuss cost implications of complicated designs with your modular provider early on. While a single modular home might not be as cheap as a whole estate of modular homes, it often stands up very well when compared to other self build models.
Modular homes are quicker to build than traditional homes, and are especially quick on site due to the factory lead-time. This means there is less disruption locally due to a prolonged build, and less vulnerability to bad weather, which is ideal for self builders. On-site assembly is completed in weeks rather than months, but short on-site times need to be weighed up with lead times for busy companies.
Most people tend to think that MMC homes must be identical for the method to work, but modular homes have a wide range of design options. Modules are customised and arranged in various configurations to create unique floor plans. They can also be clad in a variety of materials to give different aesthetics, including brick or brick slips to give the appearance of a traditional ‘brick-and-block’ build. However, as with all self build, simple designs are cheaper to build.
Modular homes are specifically designed to be energy efficient. They use energy-efficient materials and components, and the factory fabrication ensures they are airtight and keeps waste to an absolute minimum.
Again, the controlled factory environment ensures precision and a carefully-monitored process.
Overall, the modular construction allows for speed and efficiency, the reason why government likes MMC so much, as it holds great scope for getting more homes built quickly. In the self build arena there are many companies operating as modular providers, and MMC Build’s Rhys-Evans Edet has the following advice for self builders:
“Do your research to find a reputable modular home builder with experience of the UK market. For example, Dan-Wood House sells 1,000s of modular homes a year across Europe, and delivers many of these in the UK.
“Experience of building in the UK means that the company will be familiar with working to UK building regulations and standards, as it’s ultimately your responsibility as a self builder to ensure your contractors are building to the correct standards.
“Also, check that professionals, such as consultants and follow on trades, are familiar with the build method. Most modular companies will be able to share contacts that are trusted for the build out of the home.”
Rowallan Castle Estate (image) in Scotland includes modular custom build homes, as well as other plot opportunities. MMC Build is working with the enabling company to provide project management and health and safety for the site.
