House Planning Help Podcast

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.

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Direct download: HPH201.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith shares 20 insights about self-building that he has learned while making 200 podcasts and also tackling his own project.

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Direct download: HPH200.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:13pm UTC

Self-builder Oliver Smallman tells us about planning, building and living in his London Passivhaus.

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Direct download: HPH199.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:32pm UTC

Interior designer Emily Bizley explains how she and her husband, an architect, co-designed their RIBA shortlisted self-build home.

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Direct download: HPH198.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:33pm UTC

Jon Martin explains how he beat the odds with his extraordinary self-build tree house.

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Direct download: HPH197.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:55pm UTC

Lucy Pedler, architect and founder of The Green Register, talks about the importance of good communication throughout a self-build project.

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Direct download: HPH196.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:04pm UTC

Gordon Lewis explains what cellulose insulation is, how it's applied and why self-builders can benefit from choosing it.

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Direct download: HPH195.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:24pm UTC

Paul Testa from Paul Testa Architecture talks about how to predict the costs of a house build and shares his tips on limiting a self-build budget.

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Direct download: HPH194.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:52am UTC

Simon Corbey from ASBP shares some of his research into the costs and life cycle of plastic windows and suggests some considerations for self-builders.

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Direct download: HPH193.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:07am UTC

Michael Holmes from NaCSBA explains the Right to Build initiative and how it will impact on the future of custom and self-builds.

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Direct download: HPH192.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30pm UTC

Lloyd Alter from TreeHugger shares his advice on what we should be prioritising as 21st century self-builders.

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Direct download: HPH191.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:09am UTC

Ben Adam-Smith explains how he and his wife have been specifying their new home (which will be built to Passivhaus standard).

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Direct download: HPH190.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:26pm UTC

Actor and TV presenter Robert Llewellyn shares his insights about the future of electric cars and energy production.

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Direct download: HPH189.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:16am UTC

Richard Hawkes from Hawkes Architecture tells us about the exceptional circumstances in which planning for rural new builds may be granted.

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Direct download: HPH188.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:04pm UTC

Will Kirkman from Ecomerchant shares the key results of a survey the company ran to find out what self-builders worry about most.

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Direct download: HPH187.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:42pm UTC

Ben and Kay Adam-Smith have a difference in opinion over which windows to specify for their new build Passivhaus home. While Ben is keen to minimise mullions, transoms and window frames, Kay believes this takes away from the aesthetics.

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Direct download: HPH186.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:24pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith reviews what it took to be granted planning permission for his new Passivhaus home.

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Direct download: HPH185.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:44pm UTC

Donal O’Leary tells us about his self-build in Ireland and shares advice for a successful project.

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Direct download: HPH184.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:07pm UTC

Buckinghamshire Passivhaus has become one of the most airtight buildings in the UK. As such, we consider what factors contributed towards their exceptional result of 0.08 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals.

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Direct download: HPH183.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:04am UTC

Justin Broadbent from ISO Energy explains the options available for extracting energy from water on your plot of land.

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Direct download: HPH182.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:09pm UTC

Jack Harvie-Clark from Apex Acoustics provides an overview of acoustics in the home. He also explains how we might go about controlling noises and soundproofing.

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Direct download: HPH181.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:24pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith runs through the main options of where to live while your new home is under construction. While there's potential to save a lot of money it should not impact significantly on your comfort, state of mind or key relationships.

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Direct download: HPH180.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:33pm UTC

Cath Hassell from ech2o consultants explains why connecting to mains drainage is generally the best option for a new build home. She also runs through some alternatives if this is not possible.

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Direct download: HPH179.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:58pm UTC

Clare Whitney from Clayworks explains how clay plasters are made, their applications and why we might choose them over other wall finishes.

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Direct download: HPH178.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:50pm UTC

Architect Ruth Butler shares the story of building a contemporary Passivhaus on an overlooked, brownfield site.

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Direct download: HPH177.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:04pm UTC

Dennis and Nicola Merrigan talk about the highs and lows of their Passivhaus self-build project, sharing lessons learned.

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Direct download: HPH176.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:13pm UTC

Ben reviews the journey from briefing to planning stage for his own self-build project, with their architect Chris Parsons from Parsons + Whittley.

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Direct download: HPH175.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:59pm UTC

Ben and Kay Adam-Smith visit their architects Parsons + Whittley to discuss how to move their project forward. There are decisions to be made over which designs to pursue, what materials to embrace and how to address the various constraints (including bringing down the height of the building).

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Direct download: HPH174.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:52am UTC

Dr Michaela Benson from Goldsmiths explains how our housing needs change through life and why the concept of a forever home is often not realistic.

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Direct download: HPH173.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:27pm UTC

John Palmer from Enhabit explains what happens if you choose not to go all the way to Passivhaus standard, including how this impacts on cost, energy efficiency and comfort. He also outlines a best practice approach if you are going to build with Passivhaus principles.

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Direct download: HPH172.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:56pm UTC

Elina Grigoriou from Grigoriou Interiors talks about design, wellbeing and sustainability, and the role of interior designers.

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Direct download: HPH171.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:12pm UTC

Michael Campbell from Spratt Endicott Solicitors explains the key stages that need to take place in order to buy a piece of land for a self build project.

Ben also chats through some of the challenges he faced during his plot search and subsequent land purchase.

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Direct download: HPH170.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:57pm UTC

Clare Nash from Clare Nash Architecture shares various responses by small developers in the UK and abroad to the challenges of creating modern communities through better design.

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Direct download: HPH169.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16pm UTC

Allan Corfield from Allan Corfield Architects (ACA) explains how his approach to services and fees differs from traditional architecture practices in the UK. He describes the staged services his practice offers, giving indicative costs.

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Direct download: HPH168.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:56pm UTC

Simon Corbey from the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) shares some thoughts of what makes a healthy building product.

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Direct download: HPH167.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:07pm UTC

7 self-builders reflect on the key things they wish they'd known before starting their projects.

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Direct download: HPH166.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:11pm UTC

Ben and Kay Adam-Smith receive initial sketches of their new home from their architects Parsons + Whittley. They then feedback to John over the phone.

Chris also outlines how this stage works and explains why it is so important.

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Direct download: HPH165.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:41pm UTC

Belinda and Paul Wilson share what they’ve learned from their Passivhaus build. Paul also explains the responsibilities of the Principal Designer and why he decided to take on this role himself.

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Direct download: HPH164.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:50pm UTC

Andrew McInulty from Ready Made Basements explains the main reasons people install basements. He also shares the challenges of building below ground and how they are best addressed.

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Direct download: HPH163.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:42pm UTC

Ben and Kay Adam-Smith sit down with Chris Parsons from Parsons + Whittley to run through the brief for their self build project.

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Direct download: HPH162.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:19pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith shares what he's learnt during the process of hiring an architect for his self build project.

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Direct download: HPH161.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:59am UTC

Master thatcher, Stephen Letch, tells us about the history of thatching, the materials and techniques involved, and how it can be used today. 

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Direct download: HPH160.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:15pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith comes clean with his project progress! After two and a half years of looking, he has finally managed to buy a plot of land upon which to build his eco home.

However, the process of buying the land was perhaps not the joyous occasion he would have liked. In this solo episode he shares what he's learnt.

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Direct download: HPH159.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm UTC

Architect and author Pat Borer shares insights from his teaching career at the Centre for Alternative Technology as well as what he's learned from his own practice (which has helped hundreds of self-builders).

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Direct download: HPH158.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00pm UTC

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