Self Build Homes - SBH Summer 2014

IN THIS ISSUE ECO BUILDING

ENERGY SAVING GUIDE

WINDOWS SUMMER 2014 £4.25 www.selfbuildhomesmag.com

Dream into Reality INDULGENT POOLS

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN

FRAMELESS GLASS CONSERVATORIES

A Stylish

MASTERPIECE AN ARCHITECTS DREAM HOME

READER HOME: A ROOM WITH A VIEW

EXPERT ADVICE: PLANNING A SELF BUILD

REALISE YOUR ULTIMATE LIFESTYLE AT UK POOL & SPA EXPO 2015 22ND - 24TH JANUARY 2015 BIRMINGHAM NEC

WWW.UKPOOLSPA-EXPO.CO.UK INSPIRE CREATE IMPROVE INVEST

CEDIA: FINAL PART, HOME TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

MAKING A VISUAL IMPRESSION: FEATURE STAIRCASES

DRY TOILETS…

SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME WE’VE ALL HAD TO GO!

T

oilets! How and where we make our personal deposits is a subject that we don’t think about too often and if we do its usually with an degree of embarrassment. However, since way before the days when throwing the contents of a chamber pot into the street was considered the last word in acceptable hygiene, the human race has had to find ways of disposing of our natural bodily waste.

Fortunately, we have moved on significantly from the days when the UK’s streets were awash with sewage, and all of the diseases and illnesses that came with it.

Whilst today we have all of the convenience of “flush-and-forget” and not having to get up too close and personal with ours-or someone else’swaste, not every location has the luxury of mains sewerage and water provision, nor the means to install it.

For many people seeking to design and build their own home, access to mains facilities may just be a pie-in-the-sky dream, and also, many ecologically-aware consumers today are very keen to minimise their environmental footprint by considering water conservation plus living a low-

impact lifestyle where possible. So, what is the solution? Composting your own waste! Read on to learn more…

WHY TRY TO REINVENT THE WHEEL? For the self-build home designer or planner, the provision of plumbing, sewerage and waste disposal is one of the core considerations at the earliest stage. Having a plumbed-in toilet that empties into a septic tank or the mains sewerage system might be the most common method of solving the dilemma, but it is by no means the best or only way to handle things!

In many areas where water is in short supply or a suitable sewerage system or black water drain-off is unavailable, the traditional or bogstandard (pardon the pun) toilet arrangement might not even be an option.

Even in areas where clean water runs freely and sewage simply disappears down the pan, the forward-thinking and environmentally aware homebuilder would be well advised to consider all of the available options: and one of the best ways of tackling toilet and sewerage provision is by considering composting your waste.

Only 1% of the Earth’s water is drinkable, and we flush 30% of that down the loo daily. In addition, if you are unable to connect to a main sewer, your choice is either a cesspit or a septic tank; the latter can leach harmful pathogens into our water system and, if you source your water locally, that can be especially dangerous.

The new generation of composting toilets work on the same principle as the human body separating the liquid from the solids at source. Urine, an excellent fertiliser, is dealt with immediately, whilst faeces and toilet paper break down into useful nutrients for the garden. In new-build projects, the use of composting toilets can mean no sewage connection; saving thousands in build cost as well as a major reduction in water rates.

Tel: 01327 844442

FOR THE NEXT GENERATION W DO C N’ = W T B AT E ER A C VI R CT IM IM E …

If a house uses separating compost toilets throughout, the only waste liquid is grey water. If you were to use an aboveground reed bed system, water would be cleansed and returned to the property, negating the need for wastewater disposal. This can reduce water charges by a further 40-60% depending on the water authority.

BUT I DON’T WANT SOME KIND OF WEIRD-LOOKING SMELLY EARTH CLOSET...

The Separett Villa, designed and made in Sweden, looks like a WC and can be fitted in most locations in a few hours. Ease of installation allows it to be used in temporary accommodation during the build, and then transferred to the main property. The urine outlet can run either into a sink/ shower waste pipe, a soak away, or (for keen gardeners) into a holding tank to be sprayed onto plants to improve their growth.

The holding tank for the solid matter needs replacing on average every 2-3 months, depending on usage. The full tank with attached lid is removed to compost fully, or keen gardeners can add the contents immediately to their composter.

That’s all there is to it! No digging, no pipe work, no flushing and quite definitely no smell. It would be the clever choice for any new build, extension or garden room, in fact, in any other location you could think of.

This may sound very far fetched, but ‘simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’ Steve Jobs and if you can open your minds you can zip up your wallets…

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Richard or Susanne Saillet ECOTOILETS Crick Road, RUGBY CV21 4PW 01327 844442

richard@eco-toilets.co.uk or susanne@eco-toiets.co.uk

Web: www.eco-toilets.co.uk

FIRST WORDS

Welcome Welcome to the Summer issue of Self Build Homes.

This is probably the most exciting time of the year as Summer is finally here, so with the glorious weather we are having its time to get cracking, and bringing our self-build projects to life! As ever, we have a look at a selection of readers’ homes, which we hope will be an inspiration to you, if you are thinking of embarking on your own self build project.

If you dream of owning your own pool, where you can relax in the privacy of your own home and enjoy a healthier lifestyle, the reality of pool ownership is nearer than you may think! Take a look at our feature ‘Turning Your Dream into a Reality’ page 90. With the outdoors still in mind, we take a look at ‘Bringing the Outside In’ page 82, where we take a look at single glazed conservatories, which allows maximum glass exposure to reduce the feeling of being enclosed, and merging you with your garden and external space.

If you are thinking of installing your dream kitchen, and are starting from scratch, take a look at ‘A Real Showstopper’ page 54 where we give you plenty of ideas on planning, and some of the latest styles available. With technology increasingly being incorporated into the bathroom we take a look at some of the latest gadgets available, but are they really worth the investment to enhance the rooms design? We tell you more ‘Hi-Tech Bathrooms’ page 46.

Every month Self Build Homes magazine brings you the latest news and views on everything to do with self building and renovating. I hope you will agree, that Self Build Homes continues to be essential reading for both prospective and experienced self builders alike.

Vicki Watson Editor, Self Build Homes Magazine

Publisher: Colin Woolley Publishing email: info@selfbuildhomesmag.com Production Manager: David Cady Production email: production@cplmedia.co.uk PUBLISHED BY Success Publishing Limited, Crown House, John Roberts Business Park, Pean Hill, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3BJ Tel: 01227 378390 Website: www.selfbuildhomesmag.com

ADVERTISING Sales Director: Rachael Nikolaj Email: rachael@selfbuildhomesmag.co.uk Sales Manager: Simon White Email: simon@selfbuildhomesmag.com

EDITORIAL Editor: Vicki Watson Email: editorial@selfbuildhomesmag.com

Cover Image: Courtesy of Home Counties Magazine Subscriptions: 01227 378390

Art Director: Ian Denby-Jones Email: design@cplmedia.co.uk

Customer Care Line: 01227 378390 One year subscription price UK £40, Europe £60, ROW £105. UK offers a saving of £11.

Contributors: Nadia Cohen, Jacquiline James, Beky Cann,Shereen Russell, Julie Price, Katie Herbert, Philippa Barker

Distributed by: COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE Tel: 01895 433800

Although every effort is made to ensure that the content of features in Self Build Homes is accurate and correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantees can be made upon the safe return of any unsolicited copy or photographic images. The publisher reserves the right to alter or amend any submitted material that is printed in Self Build Homes. All material in Self Build Homes is the copyright of the publisher and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. © Success Publishing Limited

Summer 2014 I Self Build Homes

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CONTENTS

Summer 2014

78 90 82

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42

DESIGN

FEATURES

HOMES

62 Choosing Your New Roof

38 Home Entertainment at its Best

12 A Stylish Masterpiece

Nick Boulton explains how choosing a new roof can influence the long term value of your home and its annual running costs

Part 3 - CEDIA explains energy savings

When John Osborn found a plot of disused land on a popular residential street he had to use all the clever tricks he could think of.

46 Hi-Tech Bathrooms

82 Bringing the Outside In

Incorporating technology into the bathroom for comfort and practicality

Take a look at a new range of single glazed conservatories from IQ Glass

54 Kitchen Optimisation

114 A Propelling Market

Optimising position and space can create show stopping kitchens

We get acquainted with two Interior Designers, who talk about their very different journeys from brave homeowner to established designers 6

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90 Realising your Dream Part 1 – SPATA tells you how pool ownership is nearer than you may think!

74 A Home with a View We take a look at a beautiful contemporary home

78 A Touch of Far East Jayesh and Ammeta Patel were inspired to build their own home, after visiting the Grand Designs Live Show

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22 EXPERT ADVICE 70 Save with Loft Insulation The Government says that householders can cut their energy bill by up to 20% through effectively insulating their loft

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72 Roofing Top Tips Expert tips and advice from this month’s contributors, plus useful contact details

110 Buying Bricks The question is, should you buy machined or man-made bricks?

REGULARS

BUILDING A HEALTHY HOME

5 Welcome

42 Building Automation

Thinking about how lifestyles impact the design of your self build home

How to combine different types of networking to increase comfort, security and energy efficiency in the home

8 In the News All the latest industry news

86 Eco Windows and Doors

118 Competitions

Gone are the days of thick timber frames and chunky profiles, we take a look at more sustainable solutions

Your chance to win some great prizes with our free to enter copmpetition.

120 Stockists Directory Where to find products that are featured in this month’s issue

104 Feature Staircases First impressions count. Expert advice from Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation

104 Summer 2014 I Self Build Homes

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NEWS

London Housing Bank to Fund Thousands of New Homes The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has launched proposals for a new investment scheme designed to accelerate house building and help deliver thousands more low cost homes for people in the city.

What is described as an unique London Housing Bank scheme is set to loan up to £200 million to development partners to help them speed up the building of around 3,000 homes on large scale multi-phase projects which already have planning consent. These homes would then be let to Londoners at low cost rent, below the market rate, for a 10 year period before being sold on, with the loan repaid to City Hall.

It is the result of research conducted by

City Hall which found that planning consents have been granted for around 200,000 homes in London which have not yet been built, a figure that is sometimes confused with developers land banking sites.

However, around three quarters of these consents are on large, multi-stage regeneration developments of more than 500 homes which can take many years to complete. Often this is due to the funding and sales constraints which can limit the pace of building.

Through the London Housing Bank the Mayor would help to fast track these developments, completing them several years earlier than traditional house building

methods allow, and make thousands of additional new homes available for Londoners at low cost rent which would complement rather than compete with the other homes being brought to market on the sites.

The ‘bank’ would be repaid no later than 10 years after the loans are made, when the homes could either be refinanced, let by the developers to private buyers or institutions, or sold to the Londoners who had been renting them under this scheme.

‘We’re doing everything we can to double house building across the capital and address a 30 year failure to build enough homes for this thriving city. The proposed London Housing Bank is just one of several highly

MAXIMISING THE POTENTIAL OF BROWNFIELD Landowners whose property includes Brownfield sites and people interested in building their own homes, are both set to benefit from new backing from the Government.

Helen Russell, from H&H Land and Property, said: “The Government is keen to encourage greater use of

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redundant buildings and selfbuild plots as part of its wider planning boost the housing market.

“Brownfield sites will form an essential part of this.”

Previously, people who wanted to create their own home from scratch faced numerous obstacles but the Government is

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now aiming to ease the process.

A key part of the changes is Government backing for the reuse of Brownfield sites, which are in abundance the North East.

At the heart of the plans is a database to hold the details of local people looking to build their own home within their community. Those registered

with their local authority scheme would be given first refusal.

In addition to privately owned Brownfield sites, people will now have greater access to public sector-owned land under the Community Right to Reclaim Land Scheme. Details of publiclyowned land that is no longer in use will be included on a

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Self-Build Projects Given a Boost by the Government

innovative new schemes we are pioneering here at City Hall to help meet the needs of hard working Londoners,’ said Johnson.

‘Through this exciting new fund we hope to provide thousands of brand new homes many years sooner than would otherwise be possible, and make them available to rent at more affordable, below market, rates for hardworking Londoners,’ he added.

In the future the London Housing Bank could extend its offer to further incentivise building by purchasing off plan market homes or offering funding guarantees. Future funding could be attracted from a range of sources, including the public sector and private sector institutional investors.

For a number of self-builders the prospect of a substantial additional charge imposed by their Local Authority for the development of their own land has seen projects stalled or even shelved. So the recent announcement that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will not now apply to owner-occupied selfbuilt properties is welcome news.

Thanks to a sustained lobbying campaign

by The National Self Build Association (NaSBA), this now means that up to 3,000 ‘mothballed’ self-build homes can now get underway. With figures as high as £15,000 being previously levied on a self-build fourbedroom home, it is no surprise that this statement has been applauded by the selfbuild community.

The Government has put in place measures to ensure that homes constructed under ‘self-build’ are to be used for personal home occupation and not sold-on for profit.

So, in addition to holding a ‘charge’ on the property for three years, once the home has been built, the self-builder will also need to provide documents that prove ownership.

In addition to cutting the levy for selfbuilders, the Government has also stipulated that extensions over a certain size will also now be exempt from the levy. In addition, from April there will no longer be a Council Tax surcharge on family annexes.

www.nsbrc.co.uk

SITES FOR SELF-BUILD Government website where self-builders can apply for the release and sale of plots.

Funding has been difficult in the past for self-build projects due to reluctance among lenders to provide a mortgage for a property not yet built. Lenders are becoming more disposed

towards supporting selfbuilding, with 26 lenders now offering specialised loans.

Further financial help is available from two Government schemes: a £47 million loans fund for community groups and individual self-builders, and a £65 million Affordable Homes

Guarantees Programme aimed at community groups that want to build affordable homes in their local area.

Between 2012 and 2013 nearly 11,000 homes were self-built in the UK. H&H Land & Property: 0191 370 8530

Help is on the way for self builders The UK’s largest home improvement company, Anglian Home Improvements, opened its doors on the 1st April 2014 to Greg Barker MP, Minister of State at the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), for talks on improving the energy efficiency of Britain’s homes.

The breakfast meeting took place at Anglian’s head office in Norwich, where the government minister and senior executives from Anglian Home Improvements were joined by Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North. Key areas of discussion included the Green Deal initiative and proposed changes to the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) scheme.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said, “Green Deal and ECO are helping hard working families across Britain cut their energy bills and improve their homes.

“Double glazing has huge potential to be part of the growing Green Deal market. As market leader, Anglian will be a key part of this growth and I was hugely impressed by the vision of the Anglian team and production facility.”

Laurence Vaughan, Executive Chairman at Anglian Home Improvements, said, “Improving energy efficiency in the home has long been a key focus for Anglian, which is why we were one of the first companies that signed up to deliver the Green Deal scheme. The government shares this objective so it is important that DECC and industry leaders work together to make sure we’re all pushing in the same direction. We are pleased to be given this opportunity to work with the government to improve the efficiency of British homes.”

Anglian Home Improvements has a large manufacturing base responsible for employing 4,500 people across the UK.

info@hhland.co.uk Summer 2014 I Self Build Homes

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NEWS

Scandia-Hus Finalist in South East LABC Awards Scandia-Hus are delighted to announce that we are a finalist in the Best Individual New Home category for the 2014 South East LABC Building Excellence Awards. The LABC awards recognise when design and construction teams have dealt with a variety of issues and used a range of innovative and creative solutions.

Nominated by Tandridge District Council, the Scandia-Hus Westbrook entry, is located

in West Sussex and is a beautifully presented Tudor inspired family home. Designed by the Scandia in-house design team this individual and unique home successfully blends in with its surroundings.

The property was shortlisted for the awards for a number of reasons including the complexity of the build - the house is built over four storeys and is on a sloping site with a natural stream at the bottom of the

garden. Other factors included the efficiency of the house in terms of U values and air permeability as well as the excellent working relationship between Scandia-Hus, Tandridge Building Control and local craftsmen involved.

In addition to which the house has been built to exceptionally high standards both internally and externally.

For further information on Scandia-Hus:

www.scandia-hus.co.uk.

SELF BUILD POTENTIAL: SORT AFTER HILL VIEW PLOT Harvey Scott are proud and delighted to offer for sale a fantastic opportunity to develop this plot of land within the Peak District. Situated in an elevated and enviable position with extensive rural views, this well proportioned plot in a Green Belt location is offered to the open market with permitted development rights and planning permission in place to build a substantial detached bungalow. The land, aptly named Hill View, stretches its privileged gaze far over the picturesque village of Charlesworth, a tranquil segment of the Peak District.

Charlesworth is a quiet village but far from sleepy, having many local businesses thriving within the community. The village churches and schools are a credit to its small population however, the most

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attractive prospect of this location has to be its ideal situation. To many, this location represents the epitome of ideal, being the very measure of rural living but within easy reach of the city. Just two miles South of Glossop and twelve miles North of Buxton, this village allows easy access to the City Centre not just for the driver, but with regular buses and a direct train to Manchester

Centre, it’s very much a viable option for the commuter.

In this fast paced market, an opportunity so sought after as this will not be on offer for long. Viewing is recommended at the earliest opportunity.

For further information, contact James Birch at Harvey Scott.

Tel: 0161 4834444

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Help for Self-Builders with the Right to Build Scheme People who want to build their own home may be given the right to a plot or offered access to the Help to Buy equity loan scheme The Government plans to consult on measures to make it easier for people to build their own home including the right to a plot of land and access to the Help to Buy equity loan scheme.

As part of the recent Budget, the Government said it will consult on a new Right to Build scheme that would give custom builders a right to a plot from councils and a £150m repayable fund to help provide up to 10,000 serviced plots for custom builders.

The Government will also consider making its Help to Buy equity loan scheme available to custom builders.

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, welcomed the Right to Build scheme, but warned selfbuilders may struggle to secure a suitable piece of land.

“One of the problems facing self-builders is that they are often outbid when it comes to securing a development opportunity in the first place, such as a bungalow on a nice plot which can be knocked down and rebuilt,” he said. “Developers can bid for cash and regularly outbid the individual who doesn’t have the same resources. Although there will be more money available, it might still be hard for individuals to really take advantage of it and secure a suitable plot.”

George Osborne, the Chancellor, today confirmed plans to extend the first phase of Help to Buy for an extra four years to 2020. An extra £6bn will be pumped into the scheme allowing a further 120,000 new homes to be built.

The equity loan allows people taking their first step onto the property ladder to borrow up to 20% of the value of a new build home from the Government, interest-free for the first five years. The loan is available on properties worth up to £600,000.

Borrowers need a 5% deposit and must take out a mortgage to cover the remaining 75% of the cost of the property.

After the five-year interest-free period ends, borrowers are charged a fee of 1.75% of the loan’s value. This fee increases every year at 1% above retail price inflation. These fees only count toward the Government loan and come on top of the mortgage repayments.

Borrowers must pay back the equity loan when they sell the home or at the end of the mortgage period – whichever comes first.

Builder Welcomes Government Plans for Self-Builders A top house builder which is leading the way in the North East by offering self-build plots, has welcomed the Government’s plans to look at measures to make it easier for people to build their own homes.

Charles Church North East has already created an innovative self-build scheme at Newcastle Great Park for anyone looking to create their perfect home.

However, the builder welcomed the Government’s move to back custom build after the Chancellor announced plans in the Budget to look at a new “Right to Build” scheme in a bid to solve the housing crisis.

The Government will now consult on the scheme, which would give custom builders a right to a plot from councils. It will also consult on the creation of a £150m fund to help provide up to 10,000 serviced plots.

Expansion of the Help to Buy equity loan selfbuilders scheme will also be looked at.

John Eynon, Managing Director for Charles Church North East, said: “The introduction of 39 serviced plots at Newcastle Great Park is an exciting development that offer people the chance of a lifetime to create a stunning home that is absolutely perfect for them and their families.

“We have currently sold three plots and we are expecting completions to take place next month. It will be fascinating to see this development take shape as people create the homes they have always dreamed of.”

The self-build plots are located on the rural edge of the Great Park development, which includes a range of housing from starter homes to executive properties. People have the freedom to design their own home, which can be up to three storeys high.

Charles Church is providing road access to all plots, which will also be provided with foul and surface water drainage and utilities such as water, gas, electricity and telecommunications.

www.charleschurch.com

Section 106 scrapped by new goverment proposal?

Section 106 contributions could be scrapped for self-builders under plans outlined by a government proposal - potentially saving £10,000s in planning fees.

Hot on the heels of the announcement that individuals building their dream home are now exempted from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) tax, the government intends to help even more self-builders across the UK by excluding them from the burden of Section 106 (S106) charges.

Part of the Planning performance and planning contributions consultation recently published, the proposal would set a 10-unit threshold for Section 106 affordable housing contributions. Smaller developments and oneoff self-build homes would therefore become exempt from this portion of the charge.

What is Section 106?

Section 106 is a piece of legislation that allows local councils (in England & Wales) to charge a development fee as a ‘planning obligation’ attached to a piece of land. These fees are frequently inserted to planning permissions for housing and can often run into the £10,000s.

The charge is the precursor to the Community Infrastructure Levy (which is imposed on a m2 basis) and is set to be phased out by April 2015.

The government wants to review Section 106 charges to bring them into line with the new CIL exemption.

Why only ‘affordable housing’ contributions?

Government research has found that the ‘affordable housing’ justification accounts for around half of the value of all planning obligations. The Department for Communities & Local Government appears to have decided to focus on tackling this element of the contributions, although the consultation does invite views on a possible extension of the exemption to other tariffs and justifications for planning obligations.

The move should therefore remove a large part of the burden of Section 106 charges, but may still leave self-builders exposed to the elements of S106 that apply to ‘infrastructure’ improvements.

Summer 2014 I Self Build Homes

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FEATURE

Maximising Every Inch

A STYLISH MASTERPIECE 12

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