James Whitmore
Writes about building new homes in the UK, from finding a plot and getting planning permission to working with builders and building control. Keeps a close eye on real costs and on the small decisions that add up on site.
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Permitted development extensions in England: how far can you go?
The Class A limits for rear and side extensions in England, how depth is measured, the 6 or 8 metre prior approval route and…
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What goes on a snagging list, and when to raise it
Snagging is the fine work that finishes a new build. A pre-completion inspection and a second check near the end of the builder’s cover…
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How long does planning permission last before work must start?
In England full planning permission lasts three years from the decision date. What counts as starting, how conditions hold you back and what happens…
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Getting Building Regulations approval in England
Who can approve building work in England, how full plans, a building notice and regularisation differ, and why the certificate matters when you sell.
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Buying land to build a house: how to find and check a plot
A practical guide to buying land to build a house in the UK: where plots come from, planning status, access, ground conditions, legal checks…
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How much does it cost to build a house in the UK? A worked budget
Typical UK build costs per m², a worked budget for a 120 m² three-bedroom house, the costs that sit outside the rate and how…
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Five mistakes when building a house that UK self-builders regret
Most money lost on a UK self-build goes at a desk, weeks before work starts on site. These are the five decisions behind it…
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How to build a house in the UK: plot to completion in six stages
A plain-English run through a UK self-build: choosing a route, checking a plot, planning permission, building control, the site build order and completion.
