Get ready for one of the most important events in UK home construction! The Homebuilding & Renovating Show is coming to Surrey from June 27th to the 28th, offering a golden opportunity to expand your knowledge about self-building and explore contemporary products.
This piece provides valuable suggestions to help you make the most of the event, including attending seminars and masterclasses and interacting with experts and exhibitors. Whether you're planning to build your dream home or are new to self-building, this event will provide inspiration and motivation.
We're excited to be back in Surrey and inspire the new generation of self-builders. This guide is designed for beginners, offering support to kickstart your Self-build project and make the most of the show.
This event will host almost 200 exhibitors and over 30 seminars and masterclasses in two theatres, providing face-to-face discussions with industry specialists. We've selected the top talks and exhibitors you should engage with to maximise your benefit from the show!
SEMINAR THEATRE TALKS
The seminars at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show 2025 in Sandown Park will be split between the Seminar and Masterclass Theatres. For a prospective self-builder, the most valuable seminars will be presented in the Seminar theatre. There, the Self-build experts will be delivering talks on all the important parts of the Self-build process. Below are our top picks for the Seminar Theatre:
TOP 6 SEMINAR THEATRE TALKS:
Beginner's Guide to Self Build: Essential Insights and tips for Aspiring Self-Builders
Mark Stevenson – Self-Build Expert
Everyday at 10:30-11:00
Thinking about building your dream home? Discover how self-build could save you up to 30% on a bespoke home. In this session, we’ll cover everything from finding a plot and choosing a designer to selecting the right build route—helping you decide if self-build is right for you. Unlock the potential of a home designed around you.
Mastering Build Costs: Smart Budgeting and Financing Options for Self-Builders and Renovators
Tom McSherry - Finance Expert at BuildStore, Tim Phillips - Quantity Surveyor.
Every day at 11:00-11:30
An expert guide to budgeting and financing your self build project. Covering everything from high level budget planning to the latest on labour and materials prices, this seminar will also help you work out how to predict and manage costs, understand where there is scope to make savings without compromising quality and how to ensure that your project is completed on budget.
How to get Planning Permission: The Key to Unlocking Developmental Potential
Sally Tagg - Planning Expert.
Every day at 11:30-12:00
Understanding the planning permission process is key to a successful self-build or renovation project - but if your are not familiar with the system it can be difficult and frustrating to get to grips with. This seminar explains how the process works and how to navigate it. Presented by a leading self build planning consultant, you'll learn how to maximise your chances of success.
Wow Factor Design - and How to Get it!
Allan Corfield – Design Expert & MD at Allan Corfield Architects Ltd. Every day at 12:00-12:30
Be inspired by this guide to how to make your home truly amazing through thoughtful, tried and tested design techniques. Our expert architectural designer reveals the must-have features to make your home special – both to look at and to live in.
Extension Design Ideas: The Fundamentals of Successful Home Extensions and Renovations
Michael Holmes, Home Improvement expert, Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine. Every day at 12:30 - 13:00
Be inspired by this guide to how to make your home truly amazing through thoughtful, tried and tested design techniques. Our expert architectural designer reveals the must-have features to make your home special - both to look at and to live in, including the key principles for creating a 'healthy' and 'sustainable' home.
Designing Your Dream Kitchen: Expert Tips and Avoiding Common Mistakes
Julia Kendall, Interior Design Expert, Kendall+Co. Every day at 13:30 - 14:00
Discover how to plan your kitchen space effectively to avoid common pitfalls and achieve the kitchen of your dreams. Our experts will guide your through essential design principles, from layout and functionality to style and finishes. Learn practical tips and innovative ideas to create a kitchen that perfectly balances living, eating, and cooking. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your kitchen into a stunning and functional heart of your home.
The Masterclass theatre will feature exhibitors who will demonstrate their products and share information from their areas of expertise. If you are unsure of which structural system is best for your project or which renewables will be appropriate for you, there will be over 20 masterclasses to help you make up your mind. Below, we present our top 4 talks:
TOP 4 MASTERCLASS THEATRE TALKS:
How to Fund your Self Build or renovation Project: A Guide to Stage Payment Mortgages
28 Jun 13:00-13:20 – Buildstore
High-performance triple glazed windows – Why they make sense
27 Jun 11:30-11:50 – Internorm Windows UK Ltd
Essential Do's and Don'ts for the Self Builder VAT Reclaim
28 Jun 10:30-10:50 – Andrew Jones
The Blueprint to Smart Living: Why a Connected Home Expert makes all the Difference
27 Jun 10:30-10:50 - Richer Sounds
HOME ENERGY HOUR
Designed to help you improve the efficiency of your home. With all-new theatre sessions and eco-energy focused experts at our Advice Centre, there’s no better place to figure out your home energy goals.
Home Energy Hour
The Home Energy Hour comes to the theatres with talks designed to inform you of the latest trends and advancements in home energy and help you make your home leaner and greener.
Home Energy Academy
The Home Energy Academy offers free advice at its Advice Centre to help you understand how to make the most of the energy in your home, save money on your bills, and reduce your carbon footprint.
ASK THE EXPERT
The Homebuilding & Renovating show in Surrey offers the chance to get first-hand advice from many of the top self-build specialists in the UK. So bring your plans, ideas and any issues you have regarding your project to the Advice Centre. This is an amazing opportunity to get valuable information no matter what stage of your homebuilding project you are at. Some of the experts available to meet in Surrey are:
JULIA KENDELL
With over 30 years’ experience as an interior design professional, property renovator and kitchen specialist, Julia specialises in interior transformations that uplift and energise to have a positive impact on wellbeing. Julia is best known as the interior designer on BBC1’s hugely popular DIY SOS, and has taken part in eight series, including a Children in Need special. Julia is also a regular on ITV1’s 60 Minute Makeover series, having been on the interior design team for nine series and ITV’s “Rebuild Our Home”, with Nicky Campbell.
SALLY TAGG
A planning expert with a successful track record of achieving planning permission for a wide variety of clients including individual self-builders and land owners seeking to unlock the development potential of their land. If you think that your project may be challenging in terms of achieving planning approval, or just want to give yourself peace of mind, consultation with Sally is recommended!
TOM-MCSHERRY
Tom has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years – 14 of these, specialising in self-build mortgages and finance at BuildStore, providing expert advice to hundreds of customers embarking on major homebuilding projects whether to live in, let or sell. Tom has completed two major homebuilding projects himself, and is widely regarded as a self-build finance expert.
ALLAN CORFIELD
Allan is a Chartered Architect and founder of ACA, the self-build architectural practice, working on one-off homes throughout the UK. His goal is to provide prospective self-builders with the inspiration, support, and education they require to build their own cost-effective, energy-efficient, dream home. You can read more about Allan here.
EXHIBITORS
There will be almost 200 exhibitors in the Homebuilding & Renovating show in Surrey. Therefore, you will have the chance to explore the various products and services they have to offer, which can be useful in supporting your Self-build dream. There will be companies that specialise in design, renewables, exteriors, interiors, financial services and much more. You can view the full exhibitor list here.
It wasn’t easy, but we have chosen the top 6 exhibitors you should visit when planning a Self Build venture:
TOP 6 EXHIBITORS TO VISIT:
Stand S854
Andrew Jones (The Vatman) Ltd specialises in processing VAT reclaims under a government scheme called VAT431. This scheme is designed to enable members of the general public to reclaim VAT they have paid on materials purchased to construct a new build property.
Stand S706
Internorm windows and doors allow you to create your individual living space by offering bespoke solutions tailored to your unique requirements. To find the ideal glazing for your project, you can choose from a wide range of colours, materials and accessories.
Stand S631
Made to Measure Bifold, Sliding, French & Entrance Doors & Bespoke Windows For UK Self-Builders, Home Improvers, Architects & Developers.
Stand S664
Econekt can provide a UK-wide service for their ICF based Passivhaus and low-energy structural system. While, at the same time, ensuring that we will treat each project with a local and personal touch.
With the design, costing, project management and in-house build teams, Econekt can offer every level of service that you may consider when undertaking a self built home from supply and assist all the way through to a completed structural shell.
Stand S820
With over 200 years of timber engineering heritage, English Brothers Limited is dedicated to manufacturing bespoke timber-framed homes for self-builders. Guided by integrity, expertise, and genuine support, we bring unparalleled knowledge and trust to every project, helping self-builders create homes that are as enduring as they are unique.
Stand S662
With over 20 years experience, this Sips company specialises in bespoke services to domestic and commercial clients. The skilled in-house team provides all trades and are accomplished in managing every type of design.
ACA AT THE HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING SHOW
Allan is a permanent member of the HBR Show team and regularly delivers his talks at the shows. At the Surrey show, Allan will deliver two talks titled: “Wow Factor Design - and How to Get it!" (everyday at 12:00-12:30 in the Seminar Theatre) and "Ideas for Adding Space without Extending- from Loft, Garage and Cellar Conversions, to Maximising Small Spaces" (everyday at 14:30-15:00 in the Seminar Theatre). Allan will also be available as a Design Expert in the Advice Centre.
SELF BUILD SEMINARS WITH ACA
The ‘How to self-build successfully’ seminar gives you practical advice and guidance from a panel of established experts in their fields of expertise, ready to impart their knowledge and experience to you. The course registration is completely free and includes lunch, refreshments, a full day of expert advice and opportunities for individual consultations.
SOME TOPICS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE SEMINAR:
- Project feasibility
- Your project team and the design process
- Project delivery options
- Future home standards and construction systems
- Renewable systems integration
- Virtual reality demonstration
Are you going to the HBR Show in Surrey? What seminars, experts and exhibitors are on your shortlist? Have you already been to one? What are your opinions? Was it helpful? Do you have any advice for others? Share your opinions in the comment section below!
For more live tips on the Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Surrey follow @acarchitects and @allan_corfield on Twitter.