Recipe for success

Take one traditional childhood home, deconstruct it, then add delicious curves to whip up a stunning property for chef Andrew Wong and his family. TEXT DEBBIE JEFFERY IMAGES JAMES MCDONALD British-born chef Andrew Wong grew up in the same Pimlico... View Article

Low carbon heating

Niall Parkin at Calor discusses the role of LPG and BioLPG as a long-standing and dependable heating solution for off-grid domestic properties. Self-build is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with more than 64,000 individuals now registered on local authority... View Article

Renovation finance unlocked

Thomas McSherry at BuildStore explains how Light Renovation mortgages are helping buyers finance uninhabitable homes and unlock the potential of renovation and retrofit. Buying a home that’s currently uninhabitable can be an opportunity, but it’s also where many purchases fall... View Article

The ‘unfinished’ house

Simon Gittings and Lauren Jorgensen gave their 1950s home an extraordinary industrial-inspired makeover and extension, exposing original materials and embracing the principles of reuse and salvage. TEXT Alexandra Pratt IMAGES Agnese Sanvito/OEB A 1950s semi-detached, three-bedroom home is a common sight... View Article

InstallerSHOW 2026 returns to the NEC Birmingham

The UK’s built environment is entering a period of rapid change. With new building safety regulations, ambitious decarbonisation targets and the urgent need to upgrade existing housing stock, developers, housing providers and contractors face increasing pressure to deliver buildings that... View Article

Uniting the sector

Housing 2026 is the event for the housing and wider living sector, providing a crucial space to collaborate, create lasting solutions, and collectively shape the future of housing policy. Together, we can build a future where high-quality, accessible, and affordable... View Article

Resilience, reuse & regenerative design

Futurebuild 2026 has unveiled an unashamedly provocative main conference programme, placing resilience firmly at the centre of the built environment conversation. Taking place from 12-14 May 2026 at Excel London, big hitters representing UKGBC, RIBA, ACAN, Architects Declare and The... View Article

A plan for fuel poverty

David Patrick from Dimplex explores how electric heating and smart ventilation technologies can be easily integrated to deliver affordable warmth and comfort. As household energy costs in the UK continue to rise, fuel poverty has become a widespread challenge for... View Article

Meeting the sector’s decarbonisation goals

Robert Dreghorn at The Electric Heating Company outlines how electric heating solutions paired with efficiency upgrades can help local authorities, housing associations and private landlords reduce carbon, cut bills and future proof homes. Heating UK homes remains a major source... View Article

Retrofit made simpler

With millions of social homes still sitting below an EPC rating of C, a data-led retrofit model is emerging to help landlords tackle varied portfolios, as Luke Gale at Wienerberger explains. Across the UK, the challenge facing social housing providers... View Article

Choosing the right slate

Steven Pearson at CUPA PIZARRAS explores the importance of material selection for longevity and why your new home’s roof is one area where it doesn’t pay to cut corners. If there’s one thing that’s certain about building your own home,... View Article

NSBRC Masterclass: Passivhaus

With rising energy costs and growing awareness of how our homes affect our health, Passivhaus is no longer a niche ambition. From new builds to deep retrofits, this proven performance standard is helping homeowners create comfortable, future-ready homes and the... View Article

Retrofit made simpler

With millions of social homes still sitting below an EPC rating of C, a data-led retrofit model is emerging to help landlords tackle varied portfolios, as Luke Gale at Wienerberger explains. Across the UK, the challenge facing social housing providers... View Article

MVHR: The missing link

Craig Cundey at Ubbink UK explains why MVHR systems are the missing link in delivering healthy, future proof social housing for both new build and retrofit. As housing associations and local authorities continue to face mounting pressure to improve building... View Article

Nurturing the roots of innovation

After attending our decarbonisation round table and witnessing the ingenuity of SMEs in this space, Alison Skillen at RISE explains why they need wider support and promotion in the sector. In October 2025 I attended the Building Insights LIVE round... View Article

Ask the Expert: Shelforce’s social mission

James Parker speaks to Howard Trotter, business manager at Shelforce, about how the firm’s ethical founding values help it address new safety regulations in a robust and integrity-focused way. Shelforce has been part of Birmingham City Council for decades, supplying... View Article

Unlocking the value of EPDs

Marvyn Candler at Lignacite explores why Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are now under increasing scrutiny – and how robust, independently verified data supports evidence-based specification and credible carbon reduction in architectural design. Environmental claims in construction are increasingly questioned by... View Article

Ventilation is no longer in the background

Dave Harding of Gilberts Blackpool looks at the raised profile of ventilation systems, which is leading to a better appreciation by architects of their importance. It’s refreshing to see how the means of heating and cooling a space are now... View Article

An uplifting message for drainage in conversions

Amanda Mills at SFA Saniflo discusses how lifting stations can prove an effective method for discharging waste from buildings in change of use projects. One of the most crucial elements of reconfiguring an existing building for a new purpose is... View Article