House Planning Help Podcast

Resident of Marmalade Lane cohousing, Jan Chadwick, explains why living in a multi-generational community is so important to her. Check out the show notes for more information.

Bill Butcher from Green Building Company, the construction division of Green Building Store, explains how they tackled two radical retrofit projects in West Yorkshire. Each took a 'whole house' fabric first approach in order to improve comfort levels and reduce the heating bills. Check out the show notes for more information.

Paul Ellis, Chief Executive of Ecology Building Society, explains their approach to mortgages that reward energy efficiency and sustainability. Check out the show notes for more information.

Elinor Olisa explains why her family's health was always paramount to the decision making on this build. Check out the show notes for more information.

Tiny house and lifestyle blogger, Jenna Spesard, explains why she didn't want to spend her life working to pay for a house, but instead wanted a house that would work for her. Check out the show notes for more information.

Architect and author Sarah Susanka explains why bigger isn't always better when it comes to building a house. Check out the show notes for more information.

Phil McGeevor, Chair of Cannock Mill Cohousing, describes the 12-year journey it's taken to realise their cohousing community for older adults. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith shares 10 tips for creating a budget, which is detailed and realistic. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith runs through a few ideas of how to get started on your self build journey. Check out the show notes for more information.

Matthew Cutler-Welsh takes us through three exciting projects that are making an impact in New Zealand. Check out the show notes for more information.

Architect Adam Cohen explains how his modular construction system is making Passive House building simple and affordable. Check out the show notes for more information.

Architect Richard Dudzicki explains the tricks and challenges of designing a £500,000 house on a £250,000 budget. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith's house build was a core part of House Planning Help. Having completed the project in 2018, Ben Adam-Smith looks at what should come next. Check out the show notes for more information.

Having recorded an audio journal the whole way through his project, Ben Adam-Smith plays back some key moments so you can hear what is involved in a self build within a single podcast episode. Check out the show notes for more information.

Having completed his house build this year, Ben Adam-Smith evaluates his own performance as a self-builder. Check out the show notes for more information.

Self build consultant, Mike Hardwick, explains the pros and cons of different construction systems. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Ribbans is a self-builder who decided to take on more and more responsibility during his project. He explains how he gained the confidence to do this, and why research and planning are vital to success. Check out the show notes for more information.

Interior Designer Gabrielle Blackman explains how, when planned properly, good interior design should take the owner's personality and stamp it on the house. Check out the show notes for more information.

Martin Brown explains how this ancient material can be used in the modern world. Check out the show notes for more information.

Straw Works co-founder Barbara Jones explains the different methods of building with straw. Check out the show notes for more information.

Having had his last site meeting, Ben Adam-Smith explains what they are and how they fit into the construction process when building a new house. Check out the show notes for more information.

Air leakage expert Paul Jennings looks at how best to achieve that all important airtightness when using particular construction methods. Check out the show notes for more information.

With a matter of weeks until he moves into his new home, Ben Adam-Smith shares a list of ten things that he's excited about. Check out the show notes for more information.

Architect Andrew Goodman explains what it took to create the UK's first load-bearing straw bale Passivhaus home. Check out the show notes for more information.

Rob Wiggans explains how you can minimise risks when buying land for development. Check out the show notes for more information.

Dean Scott takes Ben on a tour of the Graven Hill development, and of his own energy-efficient self build. Check out the show notes for more information.

With the first phase well under way and residents already moving in, Karen Curtin, Managing Director of Graven Hill Village Development Company, talks through the process of finding and buying a plot at Graven Hill. Check out the show notes for more information.

As Ben Adam-Smith's build enters the final few weeks he reviews his project's schedule and sequencing. Although a lot of the detail pertains to building a masonry wall Passivhaus, it still serves as an example of the stages any house build might go through. Check out the show notes for more information.

Mike Coe provides a progress update on his second self build project, with finances being stretched as construction is set to begin. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith looks at why self build projects often eat into the budget set aside for landscaping. This includes Ben's new home where initial garden plans have been put on hold! Check out the show notes for more information.

Alex Baines explains the impact a mid-construction delay has had on him, his family, and his Long Barrow Passivhaus project. Check out the show notes for more details.

Ben Adam-Smith chats to his wife Kay about what it's been like building a house. She never wanted a new build, preferring to buy a period property instead. So why did she agree to do this? And what can we learn about trying to get a partner on board with a self build? Check out the show notes for more information.

With decades growing his knowledge of self-building, Mark Brinkley shares some of the surprises, challenges and joys involved. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith reflects on what he's learned so far during the construction phase of his self build. The project is halfway through and the finished house will meet the Passivhaus standard. Check out the show notes for more information.

Rob Wiggans shares his expert tips on how to find a plot of land for a self build project. Check out the show notes for more information.

Steven Thompson, from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, explains why it can be sensible to have a contract, and what type you might need for a self build project. Check out the show notes for more information.

John Fenwick discusses the challenges of building his award-winning Passivhaus with an atypical form. Check out the show notes for more information.

Mark Feldman of MARS Building Ltd offers an insight into how he prices up potential new jobs (including when he's invited into a tender process). Check out the show notes for more information.

Liz and Mike Hill explain the decisions behind the design of their contemporary eco home. Check out the show notes for more information

Marlen and Tony Godwin explain why it was important for their modern, minimalist Passivhaus home and office designs to be sympathetic to the neighbourhood. Check out the show notes for more information

Ben Adam-Smith looks at some of the reasons why his tender returns might have been so high. He then sits down with his wife Kay to consider possible savings. Check out the show notes for more information.

Chris Parsons from Parsons+ Whittley outlines a traditional procurement route. And Ben and Kay Adam-Smith receive their tender returns. Check out the show notes for more information.

Robert Flynn from Solarbarn explains how to choose a solar array to suit your needs. Check out the show notes for more information.

Architectural technologist Dan Higginbotham from Parsons + Whittley Architects talks about producing construction drawings and a scheme of works from an architect's design. Check out the show notes for more information.

Five self-builders explain how they came to build their houses on the edge of a developer estate. Check out the show notes for more information.

Author and self-builder Will Anderson talks about realising his self-build dream not once but twice! Check out the show notes for more information.

Building Services Engineer Alan Clarke explains how he has designed and specified the ventilation, heating, and hot and cold water systems for Ben's new house. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith reflects on how he's changed while making 200 podcasts about self and custom building. He also looks at how the podcast has changed with him. Check out the show notes for more information.

Ben Adam-Smith shares 20 insights about self-building that he has learned while making 200 podcasts and also tackling his own project. Check out the show notes for more information.

Self-builder Oliver Smallman tells us about planning, building and living in his London Passivhaus. Check out the show notes for more information.