event


Build It Live! returns to Bicester in June O


ne of the UK’s most popular self-build and renovation shows, Build It Live!, will return to Bicester in Oxfordshire


from 10-11 June. The show brings together industry experts,


exhibitors and individuals looking to build their own home, renovate an old house or add space to their current home. There will be a choice of nine free seminars


each day plus a series of workshops covering topics such as choosing and working with an architect, how to fund your self-build project, choosing windows and doors, heating your home and finding the right builder. There will be a number of specialist areas including: • The Naked House – see a cut away show home at the first fix stage. The Naked House provides an insight into how things are installed, from ICF block- work and underfloor heating to the roof trusses and floor joists.


• Self-builders own stories – gain inspiration and confidence from Build It readers who have realised their self-build dreams. You


can hear their stories live in the theatre on the show floor.


• Eco-building advice – hear how to build a sustainable home and gain one to one advice on a range of issues including renewable energy and environmentally friendly building techniques.


• Graven Hill zone – see the various plots that are available at Graven Hill in Bicester, find out about the self- or custom-build options available and find out how to reserve a plot and gain a ‘plot passport’.


•NSBRC pavilion – meet experts from the National Self Build & Renovation Centre and their partners who can offer general impartial advice on your self-build as well as talk you through their extensive educa- tional courses.


• Find a builder – talk to the Federation of Master Builders who can guide you through the process of finding the right builder for your project via their database of trusted tradesmen.


• 3D home design demos – visit the Build It 3D Home Designer stand for a free 20 minute demonstration of how to visualise your project in 3D.


• Estimating service – book an appointment with an estimator to start to better under- stand how much it will cost to build the home of your dreams.


• Tool zone – identify the right tools for your projects.


For further information and to book tickets, visit www.builditlive.co.uk


Britain continues to ‘improve not move’ H


ome improvement figures continued to increase in popularity throughout 2016, as planning applications


saw an upsurge in every region and county in Great Britain, except for Scotland. The ‘Home Improvers of Great Britain


2017’ report, compiled by Barbour ABI in collaboration with the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), shows that London led all regions with 3.8 home improvement applications for every 100 private homes. The east of England saw the biggest growth in applications with a 14 per cent increase. At the other end of the spectrum, the north east and Scotland saw only 1.1 applications for every 100 households. There was no change at the top from last


year for the best performing district, as Kensington and Chelsea continued its dom- inance with 6.8 applications for every 100 private households, albeit a decrease of 8 per cent on its figure from 2015. However, nowhere exemplified the


‘improve not move’ stance more than Cambridge. After a rapid surge in prices, sales in the city have fallen sharply while home improvement has rocketed. Outside of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea, Cambridge has the highest ratio of home improvement planning applications to home sales of any borough. Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB


Rank Region/County 1 2 3 4 5


London South East


East of England South West


East Midlands


6 Yorkshire & Humber 7 West Midlands 8 9


North West Wales


10 11


North East Scotland


2014 3.5 2.6 2.2 2.0 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1


commented: “Demand for home improve- ment work is particularly vulnerable to dips in consumer confidence but at present, there’s no sign of a negative Brexit effect. Indeed, the results of this year’s report show that there was a 6 per cent rise in home improvement work that requires planning permission in 2016 in comparison with 2015 in Great Britain, and these results chime with the FMB’s own research.” Barbour ABI’s lead economist, Michael


Dall said: “2016 saw continued growth of home improvement in areas expected, such


2015 3.8 2.7 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1


Number of home improvement applications for every 100 homes


2016 Growth (%) 3.8 2.8 5.7 2.1 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1


4 6


14 4 7 6 9 6 7 3


-4 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS


as around the capital and other southern English regions. However it is encouraging to see considerable growth in the east of England with many of its boroughs making their way up the table.” Looking to the future, he explained: “Much


will depend on the growth in the economy, as the link between it and home improve- ment is very evident. In addition, the short- age of housing across Great Britain gener- ally is set to continue, which will undoubtedly help fuel home improvement activity as homeowners look to ‘improve not move’.”


selfbuilder & homemaker www.sbhonline.co.uk


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home improvement


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