Nina Bressington decided to change the outside appearance of her property in Bristol, which had a red brick exterior like many ex-local authority houses. She chose an Andura coating due to its durability, the no maintenance required and the 20 year guarantee, as well as the professionalism of Andy Gazzard
Sustainable Building Services UK has been appointed by Rykneld Homes Limited, a housing management company, to deliver external wall insulation and related services to 169 REEMA properties in Grassmoor, Chesterfield. The work is being undertaken on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council and it will be part-financed by the
Property development can be an incredibly profitable outlet for investors as it allows them to save money on real estate, make money from their work, build and diversify their property portfolios, and obtain easier finance on completion, which gives them better leverage for further investment plans. Property development is not
LCP’s latest LCPAca Residential Index found that new build sales are falling 13.8% in Prime Central London. Sales in Greater London have also slowed, with growth falling from 25% to 5.2%, resulting in a fall in market share to 15.6% from 20% a year ago. These concerning findings have now
Barratt Homes, an award winning housebuilder, will soon launch a new development in the popular town of Kirkintilloch. Braes of Yetts consists of three and four bedroom homes, with a mix of semi-detached and detached options that are suitable for both first-time buyers and homeowners looking to take their next
Following a strong first quarter, premier regional developer Mulberry Homes has continued its strategic expansion with nine current developments and several more launching soon, in prime locations cross Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire, Oxford, and recently branching into Bedfordshire, to meet local demand for quality new homes. Following the launch of six
The Scottish Property Federation (SPF) released a report at the end of Q1 2018 that shows that for every build-to-rent (BTR) home in Scotland, North West England has almost 10. Scotland currently has 3,365 BTR homes completed, under construction or in planning, while the North West has 29,600, the South
Construction work has officially started on Kajima Properties’ major new 84,000 sq ft office and retail development at 77 Coleman Street, London, EC2. The development was designed in collaboration with Buckley Gray Yeoman architects and it will provide a high quality office space in the heart of London, directly overlooking
In 2018, the path towards buying a house looks likely to be strewn with obstacles. Interest rates could rise further in the wake of the base-rate increase from 0.25% to 0.5% The Guardian reports, while Brexit could also weigh down on the market – albeit in ways that currently cannot
Latest figures released by the National Custom & Self Build Association reveal that 33,000 people have already signed up to the Right to Build register since October 2017, which means that at least half of the demand for serviced plots will have to be authorised by October 2019. To support
Nina Bressington decided to change the outside appearance of her property in Bristol, which had a red brick exterior like many ex-local authority houses. She chose an Andura coating due to its durability, the no maintenance required and the 20 year guarantee, as well as the professionalism of Andy Gazzard at Protective Wall Coatings, a Registered Andura Contractor, to carry out the work. “I had a friend who had a similar Andura coating done to their house which had lasted extremely well, compared with a neighbour’s house which had been just painted, and was already flaking after a couple of years,” said Nina. The property is a 1940’s three bedroom semi-detached house, located in a great residential area. Nina has modernised the interior and more recently added a conservatory to the rear, a front porch and a side extension. It was after these additions in March 2018 that Protective Wall Coatings were brought in and the whole job took just five days on site to complete. When Protective Wall Coatings came to look at the mortar joints and brick faces, there would have been a lot of repairs to do in re-mortaring and so the Andura process was to be a much more effective solution. There was some preparation and repair to be done to the outer surfaces and then the first stage was to apply the GRC base coat, a high performance, breathable polymer render (unlike sand and cement) which gives increased flexibility. As the mortar joints were deep, two coats of GRC were applied, the first a rough coat then a finer flatter coat. Once this base coat had cured, the top coat of Andura Trowel & Roll coating was applied. Protective Wall Coatings find that this coating gives a thicker application and then they use a nylon roller for downward texture ensuring that when it rains, the water runs off and the surface is self-cleaning. Andura’s Trowel & Roll coating gives an attractive textured appearance and has been specifically formulated for the protection and decoration of brick, cement renders and many other masonry surfaces. It provides a hard wearing, long lasting and beautiful finish to keep exterior walls in top condition. Andura Trowel & Roll coating comes in 16 standard colours, plus a colour matching service is available. It is a solvent-borne high performance acrylic coating conforming to Building Regulations. Andura is accredited to IS0 9001:2015 quality management standards.
Sustainable Building Services UK has been appointed by Rykneld Homes Limited, a housing management company, to deliver external wall insulation and related services to 169 REEMA properties in Grassmoor, Chesterfield. The work is being undertaken on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council and it will be part-financed by the Energy Company Obligation. Valued at approximately £1 million, the work for the scheme will include surveys and repairs, followed by the fitting of an external wall insulation system designed and manufactured by PermaRock Products Limited, asbestos removal, replacement of roofline and rainwater goods, adaptations for central heating vents and windows, and the installation of new canopies over front doors. An important element of this project is the management of ECO funding. Rykneld Homes scored each contractor’s bid on the basis of quality and price and then decided that SBS proposal represented best value. “Judging by recent announcements, SBS has become the contractor of choice for major energy efficiency works in the Midlands and beyond. We are working with clients such as Nottingham City Homes and Broxtowe Borough Council, and we’re consistently achieving top scores on both price and quality. That’s especially important to us because, fundamentally, delivering best value is what we’re all about,” said SBS Commercial Director, Gary Lawson. Currently, SBS is working extensively across the Midlands and this latest contract award further consolidates the company’s presence in the region. In 2017, it was ranked first for quality on a four-year solid wall insulation framework managed by Efficiency East Midlands and in April 2018, Derby Homes Limited named SBS as its number one-ranked supplier for external wall insulation services under its 4-year Insulation Installations Framework. SBS has also recently delivered award-winning projects for Chesterfield Borough Council and Nottingham City Homes. Rykneld Homes manages properties on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council. It manages 2,700 Council-owned, non-traditional stock, consisting of 16 construction types, and a further 1,800 non-traditional properties in private ownership.
Property development can be an incredibly profitable outlet for investors as it allows them to save money on real estate, make money from their work, build and diversify their property portfolios, and obtain easier finance on completion, which gives them better leverage for further investment plans. Property development is not rocket science, so you don’t need extensive knowledge or qualifications to get started. It does, however, require hard work, resolve and perseverance, and a positive attitude to the challenges and risks that buying and developing real estate entails. Property developing boils down to identifying opportunities at the right time in the property market, improving a property, and then profiting from your work by increasing its market value. For the majority of new investments, property development is focused on small to medium-sized residential projects. Key responsibilities include researching land and evaluating whether a project is viable in terms of delivering a potential profit. If you believe that a property has exciting potential for renovation, you can then move on to creating a property development plan. This is where industry-specific knowledge is required, as you will set out step-by-step outlines for the resources that you need, staff that must be employed, legal requirements and obligations adhered to, and other project specifics. Skills in project management are very useful at this stage. Remember to never brush over compliance as you will need permissions and permits before starting any development work. The final phase of a development project is centered on completing the actual work. You will have to liaise with construction managers, architects, investors and other expert third parties to ensure that everything runs smoothly and the project is completed on time and enables you to maximize your return on investment. The overall day-to-day running of a property development business is focused on research and management. Success stories There are scores of self-made property development and real estate magnates earning high salaries in this industry. Ali Seytanpir has used his expertise in the housing market in the UK to complete a range of successful projects. A selection of the world’s richest tycoons in the US, Asia and Europe, including Wang Jianlin, with a net worth of $28.7bn, also earn a large portion of their fortunes from real estate and development. Mitigating risks Risk management is a crucial aspect of property development. The first pitfalls that inexperienced investors often fail to consider are increases in interest rates and construction costs. When taking out a loan for your project, you should always consider the possibility that interest rates may increase during the development cycle, as work can take several years. You may want to opt against borrowing large sums at low interest rates as you could struggle to meet loan commitments in the long term. Construction costs are also prone to fluctuation. Those new to the industry often set construction expenses as part of their overall budget without thinking about how the project may change if these costs rise, which they are prone to on an annual basis in the construction industry. If you are caught out, you may have to borrow more or scrap the project entirely. To guard against this issue, always have a contingency plan and fund in place so that you can scale your development project up and down to cater to changing circumstances. Cyclical movement in the property market should also be a consideration as factors outside of your control can lower the value of your property or hike up holding costs. An understanding of boom and bust cycles will stand you in good stead and help you to time your projects to maximize returns. Also, factor in supply and demand and consumer confidence and any other social issues that may impact on your projects. Disputes with contractors, freelancers and other third parties can derail a project completely, so it is important that everyone involved knows where they stand from the start. Document every deal that you complete via a formal contract. Try to be diplomatic if any issues arise and attempt to resolve them quickly as delays can be disastrous for your budget and schedule. Be wary that local and state government can bring in new legislation that may scupper your current planning permissions, so always keep up to speed with law changes. What next? You can start preparing your first project by working out your budget. Think about the size of mortgage that you can sustain and how much money you want to sink into renovation. Get to grips with the housing market that you are targeting and begin negotiating with agents, visiting property auctions and browsing the net to find the right property. Accounts, lawyers, architects, engineers, finance and property strategists and project managers can all help you on your quest to support a successful property development career.
LCP’s latest LCPAca Residential Index found that new build sales are falling 13.8% in Prime Central London. Sales in Greater London have also slowed, with growth falling from 25% to 5.2%, resulting in a fall in market share to 15.6% from 20% a year ago. These concerning findings have now been verified by an analysis undertaken by LCP of new build data from the latest LOREMA report for 2017. In Inner London, new build starts fell by 25.4% in 2017, compared with 2016. The largest falls were recorded in Southwark, with 61.8%, and Tower Hamlets, with 43.3%. Applications increased by 4%, even though there were falls in seven of the 11 boroughs with the largest at just over 42% in both Wandsworth and Westminster. Moreover, planning permissions also fell by 7.4% and completions by 6.1%. “Findings from LCP’s April LCPAca Residential Index, LOREMA’S 2018 report and the ONS all show a troubling picture for the new build sector in London,” said Naomi Heaton, CEO of London Central Portfolio (LCP). She argued that these findings prove the construction sector is suffering its worst performance since 2012. Although the ‘Beast from the East’ contributed to its fall, the sector was in trouble even before that. According to the ONS, a large portion of the fall was due to a sharp 2.6% decline in January. The report shows that tower starts dropped from 46 in 2016 to 32 in 2017, resulting in units falling at 33%, from 8,200 to 5,500. The applications also fell at almost 10% from 74 to 67, with far fewer in Zone 1 than previously. Naomi stated that a downturn in international buyer sentiment contributed to the fall of the new build sector. “It is quite possible new build transactions will continue to decline, particularly in Inner London, given the 25.4% fall in new build starts reported by LOREMA. This situation could well worsen over the next two to three years, as schemes under construction which fail to sell off-plan come to completion.” “This may well impact developers’ desire to commence new build projects, resulting in a negative impact on the provision of new housing, one of the Government’s key aims. However, an increase in activity in Outer London may help mitigate this, particularly given the tower blocks being developed in the more peripheral areas of London, The fact that 30% of new tower starts are for the rental market compared with zero four years ago is also encouraging for the burgeoning generation of renters,” Naomi concluded.
Barratt Homes, an award winning housebuilder, will soon launch a new development in the popular town of Kirkintilloch. Braes of Yetts consists of three and four bedroom homes, with a mix of semi-detached and detached options that are suitable for both first-time buyers and homeowners looking to take their next step up the property ladder. “We’re already seeing substantial interest in Braes of Yetts, with Kirkintilloch a hugely popular area for people looking for a new home. We anticipate that the first release of homes will be snapped up quickly which is why we have set up a pre-register for interested buyers,” said Estelle Sykes, sales director, Barratt West Developments. “I would encourage those who are interested to get in touch so we can keep them informed about our sales launch and our show home opening. We can’t wait to bring our five-star homes to Kirkintilloch, and we’re confident this will be a truly special community,” Estelle continued. Braes of Yetts is located close to Kirkintilloch town centre and is also only ten minutes from the M80, providing easy links with Glasgow and beyond. The site is in a rural location but has the local amenities and transport links associated with urban life. Being on the border of the Merkland Nature Reserve, it also makes for a fantastic area to get some fresh air or spot the local wildlife. Barratt Group was awarded a maximum five star rating for the seventh consecutive year in the 2015 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey. Its site managers won 81 awards for quality workmanship in the 2015 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards and, in total, Barratt has won more Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for the last eleven years.
Following a strong first quarter, premier regional developer Mulberry Homes has continued its strategic expansion with nine current developments and several more launching soon, in prime locations cross Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire, Oxford, and recently branching into Bedfordshire, to meet local demand for quality new homes. Following the launch of six new developments in 2017 and a positive start to 2018, the housebuilder is seeing strong footfall to its sites, with robust sales across its current portfolio from buyers across the region. Mulberry Homes, the residential arm of Mulberry Developments, originally formed in 2004, has quickly established a strong reputation for its design and delivery of striking new home developments in sought-after locations. To date, following the financial year end, Mulberry has built 130 homes in highly desirable premium locations including Bicester, Great Easton and Appleby Magna, with over 200 new homes in the pipeline for the current financial year. Renowned for its high-quality niche properties, Mulberry Homes builds a broad range of individually designed homes including traditional two storey spacious family homes, well designed starter homes and single storey bungalows commanding a strong brand reputation for themselves and their homes alike. The properties are sympathetically designed to suit all buying profiles, from downsizers, families, young professionals and first-time buyers. All homes combine a meticulous attention to detail, with a design-led approach, offering superb kerb appeal, and outstanding interior and exterior specification. Adding to its growing development portfolio, Mulberry is launched the exclusive Hursley Park development in Great Bowden this month. Recently crowned one of the best places to live in the Midlands and commended as the best address in the area by The Sunday Times, Great Bowden is a highly sought-after postcode less than a mile from the thriving town of Market Harborough, offering direct trains to London. This niche development will offer 50 new homes, situated within stunning landscaped gardens and 22 acres of country park. Work is well-underway on site and a number of plots have already been reserved. Providing an aspirational home for everyone, Mulberry currently has a range of properties available. Recently launched, Winchelsea Gate is set in the popular village of Weldon, Northamptonshire and has already proven extremely popular with buyers, with 50 per cent of phase one reserved. Stokes Rise in Great Easton is an exclusive development of exceptional four-bedroom family homes, designed to replicate the lasting character of the surrounding area. Meanwhile, a flourishing community is coming to life at Oakview in Appleby Magna, having sold to families and savvy commuters, benefitting from excellent road links. Known as the ‘Best Kept Village’ in Buckinghamshire, Hanslope is home to an Ofsted Outstanding Primary School and an exclusive new collection of just 12 three and four-bedroom homes. Now 75 per cent sold, the sales success of the development continues as St James’ Manor occupies the perfect family location, with top local amenities as well as great commuter links. Houghton Fields offers a stunning collection of family homes ranging from three to four-bedroom properties in Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire. As Mulberry’s first Bedfordshire development, Houghton Fields is meeting demand as one of the few housebuilders to provide traditionally built new build bungalows. These properties have been snapped up by local buyers, with just one bungalow remaining. As one of Mulberry’s flagship developments, Harcourt Gardens offers a variety of 60 homes, ranging from one to four-bedroom properties. Located in Kibworth Harcourt in Leicestershire, this extremely popular and vibrant village offers its residents the best of both worlds with nearby open countryside, a fantastic choice of schools and top transport links into the city. Families will be perfectly suited to this prime location. Steeped in rich history Earls Barton, located nine miles from lively country town Northampton, is the home of Earls Place. Benefiting from Northampton’s frequent rail services into London, from Wellingborough this development is ideal for commuters who wish to move further from the city in order to get more for their money. The remaining four-bedroom homes are available to purchase with Help to Buy, meaning a deposit of less than £13,000.is this figure correct? Oak View is a luxury development that is well suited to all buyer types, with a range of homes including three, four and five-bedroom properties and easy access to the major Midland Cities, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. The thriving village location of Appleby Magna offers residents Ofsted ‘outstanding’ rated schools and day to day amenities within close range of the development. Meeting further demand for commuters, Stokes Rise is perfectly located to benefit from fast rail links to London St Pancras from neighbouring Market Harborough and Corby. Whilst easily connected to the capital, the homes are set within the picturesque village of Great Easton, known as one of the most attractive Welland Valley villages, living up to Mulberry’s promise of delivering homes in the best locations across their region. Finally, Stratton Park, an exclusive development featuring one to four-bedroom properties is down to the last remaining homes. These properties continue Mulberry’s outstanding quality specification throughout their open-plan designs. Perfectly designed to suit the needs of modern living, the local amenities include the popular designer shopping outlet, Bicester Village. City professionals from Birmingham or London can enjoy fast and easy access, with frequent services taking just 50 minutes into London. Ian Sadler Managing Director of Mulberry Homes, commented: “This year has got off to an exceptional start for Mulberry Homes with a record number of live sites and development launches including the eagerly anticipated new homes at Houghton Fields, our very first Bedfordshire development. Over the next year, we plan to continue to grow the business by seeking out the most desirable sites in prime residential locations across our heartland in Midlands as well as strengthening our regional presence and product offering throughout Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.” For more information on Mulberry Homes, please visit www.mulberryhomes.co.uk.
The Scottish Property Federation (SPF) released a report at the end of Q1 2018 that shows that for every build-to-rent (BTR) home in Scotland, North West England has almost 10. Scotland currently has 3,365 BTR homes completed, under construction or in planning, while the North West has 29,600, the South East (excluding London) has 7,701, the West Midlands has 6,378 and Yorkshire and The Humber has 5,131. The data also shows that this sector of the housing market has grown by 30% in the past year across all areas of the UK, Scotland included. In the UK there are now 117,893 BTR homes across all stages of the development lifecycle, compared to the total of 90,761 homes at the end of Q1 2017. Even though Scotland currently accounts for just under 3% of the total number of BTR homes, there are signs that this number is set to increase. “In Scotland, there has been a promising boost in the number of BTR homes, with 3,365 homes now at varying stages of the development process. The numbers are still not high in comparison to the rest of the UK, but there are now multiple sites in Glasgow which should act as a spur to other BTR projects across the country,” said David Melhuish, SPF Director. “BTR is an opportunity and Scotland has some important advantages for attracting the investment necessary – the Rental Income Guarantee Scheme being one and an exemption from the 3 per cent second homes tax for large-scale PRS investments is another. With planning policy guidance now amended to support BTR developments, particularly around the treatment of development viability, there is no reason why we cannot see the BTR sector provide a new catalyst of economic growth in our cities,” he added. The build-to-rent sector has grown significantly and it can now cater for a wide range of people, including families. Due to their high-quality construction work, they are becoming more and more popular around the UK.
Construction work has officially started on Kajima Properties’ major new 84,000 sq ft office and retail development at 77 Coleman Street, London, EC2. The development was designed in collaboration with Buckley Gray Yeoman architects and it will provide a high quality office space in the heart of London, directly overlooking Coleman Street Gardens and less than a minute’s walk from the new Elizabeth Line station at Moorgate. “77 Coleman Street is well placed to capitalise on the growing demand for multi-functional accommodation in well-connected London locations. Whilst 77 is located in the very heart of the City, and will appeal to traditional Square Mile occupiers, we see it as a ‘London’ building that will attract design-conscious occupiers from across the wider city seeking amenity, flexibility and accessibility. 77 Coleman Street is a genuinely rare occupier opportunity, creating both an outstanding commercial space and an attractive new retail and social destination, right in the middle of London,” said John Harcourt, Head of Kajima Properties. The offices will spread across the ground and seven upper floors, while a 13,000 sq ft retail and leisure space will be accessible off Moorgate. The offices will be accessed through a generous new entrance at 77 Coleman Street, including an integrated café and shared workspace. The development will also offer terraces on the upper floors, with impressive city views over the public realm and gardens, as well as 146 cycle spaces. A new link connecting Coleman Street with Moorgate will also be created by extending Nun Court to give people a quick and bright route. “We are excited to be involved in this prestigious City project and looks forward to working with Kajima Properties to deliver a high end, ’wow factor’ building which not only complements the surrounding area, but looks to the future in terms of functionality, quality and style,” said Stuart Deverill, Managing Director at VolkerFitzpatrick, the General Contractor appointed for the development. The scheme is set to be finalised by the end of 2019.
In 2018, the path towards buying a house looks likely to be strewn with obstacles. Interest rates could rise further in the wake of the base-rate increase from 0.25% to 0.5% The Guardian reports, while Brexit could also weigh down on the market – albeit in ways that currently cannot be easily foreseen. These twin spectres could necessitate homebuyers becoming more particular regarding where in the country they buy; the following areas look set to be relatively promising property hotspots in 2018. Croydon, London The recent arrival of the Boxpark retail centre in Croydon has helped this London borough to enjoy something of a renaissance in reputation. Another shopping centre, Westfield, is also on the way and should further help nudge up property prices in the area. In an Express article, Tim Mycock, Development Director at Reditum Capital, observes that those prices are currently roughly £185,000 beneath the London average. This helps to explain why you can expect great value for money in Croydon, despite a 20% rise in its property prices in 2016. Salford, Greater Manchester Media giants the BBC and ITV have recently chosen the Greater Manchester city of Salford as an office base. Furthermore, largely due to the £1 billion investment recently poured into Salford’s MediaCityUK development, Manchester has cemented its place among the UK’s leading tech hubs. Therefore, Salford is an ideal place to move to should you be eyeing a creative or digital career; Amion forecasts that Greater Manchester’s workers in these sectors will number 27% more by 2034. Liverpool, Merseyside With much housing currently being regenerated in Liverpool, you shouldn’t be surprised if the Merseyside city’s property prices soon rise. In fact, those in the L1 postcode area recently have – by a staggering 41.2%. Hence, you might want to buy a Liverpool home sooner rather than later. The city is also an ideal place to invest in student property – as, while house prices in Liverpool are low, the large number of students has helped make rental values – and, thus, rental yields – high. Luton, Bedfordshire Like Croydon, the Bedfordshire town of Luton warrants shaking off its negative image from the past. These days, Luton could be deemed unjustly overlooked; it is well-supplied with good schools. That should hearten parents; several secondary schools locally have attracted “good” ratings from Ofsted. Property here is varied, too. Whether you want a new-build home, Thirties semi or something in-between, you’re covered. However, the town’s average house price remains a low £252,896. Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire Though less well-known than St Albans in the same county, Berkhamsted offers more for the money you would pay. Local attractions include the National Trust-run Ashridge Estate and twice-weekly market. Jamie Dyson of estate agents Brown & Merry has praised Berkhamsted to the London Evening Standard, calling the area “the perfect commuter town”. Homes here are varied, and improving them doesn’t have to be hard. Despite the town’s country location, a local resident can still easily receive a folding door to be fitted by Bifold Shop.
Latest figures released by the National Custom & Self Build Association reveal that 33,000 people have already signed up to the Right to Build register since October 2017, which means that at least half of the demand for serviced plots will have to be authorised by October 2019. To support more people in their desire to build homes in the region and inspire remodelling projects, The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show is returning to the NEC, Birmingham from 22-25 March 2018. Over four packed days, visitors will benefit from more than 500 exhibitors and 16 free daily seminars and masterclasses in the extended venue. The event is a best-in-class marketplace for all the latest products and services provided by specialist companies in industries ranging from kitchens; bathrooms; doors and windows; heating; energy efficiency; architecture; design; financial services; planning permission and much more. Aside from providing advice and guidance, real case studies will be at the show to discuss the dilemmas they faced during their self-build/renovation experience, helping visitors with similar problems. On site, visitors will be able to book bespoke consultations with celebrity experts who present their favourite TV property programmes. Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and presenter of Channel 4’s ‘Best Laid Plans’, will be on-hand to discuss homes of the future, new architectural ideas and eco living. Julia Kendell, interior design expert for BBC’s ‘DIY SOS The Build’ and ITV’s ’60 Minute Makeover’, will also be there to meet with visitors and talk about trendy interior adaptions and offer inspiration to anyone who wants to revamp their home. The Advice Centre, a drop-in hub for one-on-one impartial guidance, is open to people who are interested in running ideas past property specialists with years of experience in their field. This show area will see the return of the Ask the Builder zone, where visitors will be given tips on locating approved construction workers from members of the Federation of Master Builders. Visitors who are interested in free one-on-one appointments with chartered specialists from RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) will want to stop by the Ask the Architect area, which will cover a wide array of topics such as extensions, new builds, internal alterations and much more. For objective tailored advice, the Ask the Expert zone will provide 15-minute consultations via interactive sessions with some of the UK’s leading property specialists. Visitors will be able to talk through their plans with Michael Holmes (director of content and product development for Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Jason Orme (editorial director of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine; Mariana Pedroso (interior designer and architect); Hugo Tugman (chair and founder of Architect Your Home); Tim Pullen (eco-expert of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Bob Branscombe (building expert of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Allan Corfield (self-build expert of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine) and Sally Tagg (an expert on planning permission). Across the four days, Oakwrights Design Consultation and The Potton Lounge will be offering free consultations with members of their design teams. They will help visitors envisage, create and deliver their own tailored new home from scratch. Attendees who are interested in these consultations can pre-book an appointment on the event’s website. The show app is also available for download on Android and iPhone. The app will facilitate consumers visiting the venue, having the option of scheduling and sending alerts for key seminars and masterclasses, browsing through the list of specialists available at the Advice Centre, and accessing the latest offers and travel information. Standard tickets are £12 in advance or £18 on the door (children under 16 go free). For further information visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/national or call the ticket hotline on 0844 854 0503 (calls cost 7p per minute plus network extras).
