The Advice Centre

Allan is a Chartered Architect who runs a specialist Self Build Architectural practice, working on one off homes throughout the UK. Set up in the midst of the recision in 2009 AC Architects has grown to a team of 10 and have completed over 140 projects. As well as designing energy efficient homes, Allan delivers self build seminars in Scotland and England to scores of potential Self builders.

AC Architects are keen to deliver valuable content and education through its website and have a dedicated self build blog http://www.acarchitects.biz/self-build-blog/ They recently completed their first book "An Introduction to Self Building”, which can be downloaded for free at http://www.acarchitects.biz/ebook

Chartered Architect Allan is one of the leading experts in SIP’s construction method in the UK and is part of the Structural Timber Association and is a member of NaCSBA. Allan and his team have worked on over 260 low energy, self-build projects across the UK. He regularly contributes to Homebuilding & Renovating magazine and is a Self-Build Expert delivering various talks at the shows across the UK.

Allan’s goal is to provide you as a prospective Self Builder with the inspiration, support, and education you require to build your cost effective, energy efficient, dream home.

Andy Stevens runs his own building company, Eclipse Property Solutions Ltd, as well as being on the tools offering extensions, refurbs, kitchens, bathrooms etc. His company has won several awards for their outstanding craftsmanship and end product – extension of the year in 2010 and bathroom of the year in 2015. Before this he was developing for many years. He is also Vice President of the London region of the Federation of Master Builders where he has been on the board for many years. He has his own radio show called The Toolbox Show on Fix Radio every Wednesday, writes for Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine as their expert builder and also films their ‘How to’ videos, which looks at how to build an extension from the initial planning application all the way through to the final coat of paint. He has worked on the BBC and Channel 4 in building related programmes.

His hobbies include golf, travelling, Welsh rugby and making bespoke play houses, kid’s dens etc.

Bob Branscombe is one of the UK’s leading Chartered Surveyors and with over 30-years’ experience in both self-build and construction, he still harnesses a long time obsession with hands on self-building. A career spent with several main contractors and major UK name surveying consultancies has helped reinforce his approach that cost-estimating and control are a fundamental tenet of self-building, and the benefits of cost certainty are a common theme in his approach to any project.

David has grown up with energy efficient design, heating systems and renewables as his family had a business in South Africa manufacturing Solar systems and Air source heat pumps from 1979. He was involved with the design, installation and optimisation of systems as well as the development of new products and building integration methods. This led to an interest in the relationship between the performance of building fabrics as well as the development of building methods that compliment the local environment and the intended lifestyle patterns of the occupants, combined with the sensitive use of appropriate renewable and conventional heat and energy systems. David is a regular contributor to Homebuilding and Renovating magazine and has a Masters degree in Sustainable Architecture, is a Gassafe, renewables and ventilation installer, and has over 35 years experience in the industry. David is an authority in sustainable building and energy efficiency, with extensive knowledge in building fabrics, heating systems, heat recovery ventilation, renewables, including heat pump technologies, Solar systems, biomass and also conventional heating systems. He often presents CPDs and courses, and is a guest speaker at various exhibitions. Passionate about healthy efficient homes, he is director of Heat and Energy Ltd and often works with architects and house builders and designs and project manages appropriate heat-recovery ventilation and heating systems to achieve the healthiest outcome for every home, energy efficiently and cost effectively.

Jason Orme is Editorial Director of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and has worked in the self build sector for 20 years. He has built and renovated several homes, self-building for the first time at the age of 28, and has recently completed a major renovation and extension project. He has advised 100s of self-builders and renovators on how to make their projects a success and helped to advise Government on self build policy. He is a well-known broadcast expert on building and renovating homes and is the author of The Self Build Dream

Managing Director Foxley Tagg Planning Limited (Established 2000)

Executive Committee Member – National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) and Board Member of the Right to Build Taskforce.

Foxley Tagg has a successful track record of achieving planning permission for its wide variety of clients including individual self builders and also land owners seeking to unlock the development potential of their land.

On a practical level Foxley Tagg has significant expertise, specialist knowledge and substantial experience when providing professional advice for self and custom builders seeking to build their own home and those who wish to refurbish and extend their properties.

Our role, as a fundamental part the self-build route map, is to make the whole process as smooth as possible by identifying the potential planning pitfalls in advance and ensuring that they are properly addressed at the start of your project to avoid potentially costly and time consuming mistakes. We seek to minimise risk to our clients in this way and offer best value to help achieve positive outcomes.

Foxley Tagg have a well-respected history of submitting successful planning applications based on sound policy logic and following constructive discussions to find solutions with Local Planning Authorities. Practical front line experience within the ranks of Foxley Tagg, gathered within a variety of Local Authority districts from rural through semi-rural to major conurbations, which has refined our approach and provided clear insight into the Local Planning Authorities (LPA’s) methodology and mind-set.

Sally’s explanation of the role of the planner for Self Builders

By:

• Interpreting both National and local plan policies to identify planning feasibility for your site.
• Managing pre-application discussions with the LPA
• Submitting successful planning applications
• Negotiating technical issues to achieve positive solutions. 

Sally’s advice will;

• Save your project time and money.
• Add value to your site.
• Unlock capital value from your site.
• Enable your dreams to be realised.
• Navigate the Planning Process maximising the outcomes.

Come and see Sally at the Planning Clinic but to maximize the time spent with her please bring along plans, photographs and a site plan so that your site can be clearly identified.