This year, you will also have the opportunity to have a free consultation with our experts and experience a Virtual Reality home walkthrough at stand F160.
This piece provides valuable suggestions to help you make the most out of the event, including interacting with experts and exhibitors who will delve into essential aspects of Self Building. So, if you are planning to build your dream home, this event will be the motivation you need!
We are really excited to be back in London and help inspire the new generation of Self Builders.
We know that being new to the world of Self Build can be daunting and overwhelming at times, as there is so much information to learn. However, the more you learn, the better chance you have of a successful project. We have therefore created this guide, designed for the new self-builder who is at the beginning of their journey. This guide will help you get the most out of the show and will support you in getting your Self Build project off the ground.
The three-day event will host over 250 exhibitors, providing the opportunity to discuss your project face-to-face with some of the industry’s top specialists. There will also be almost 50 seminars and masterclasses in three different theatres. We have selected the top talks from the main theatres, and the top exhibitors you should speak to in order to get the most out of the show!
SELF BUILD THEATRE TALKS
The seminars at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show 2024 in London are divided between three stages: Self Build, Masterclass, Home Improvement theatre. For a prospective self builder, the most valuable seminars will be presented in the Self Build 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 Self Build theatre:
TOP 5 SELF BUILD THEATRE TALKS:
Dream Home Realised: Essential Insights and Tips for Aspiring Self-Builders
Mark Stephenson – Self-Build Expert. Everyday at 10:30-11:05
Interested in building your own home? Get an insider's guide on how to get started - and decide whether it's for you. We'll outline the key steps, the main choices and considerations, along with a look at what it might cost. We'll give an honest assessment of the pros and cons and run through the key mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mastering Build Costs: Smart Budgeting and Financing Options for Self-Builders and Renovators
Tom McSherry – Finance Expert at BuildStore and Tim Phillips – Quantity Surveyor. Everyday at 11:15-11:50
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.
Designing Your Dream Home: Creating Stunning Spaces with Wow Factor for Self-Builders, Extenders, and Renovators
Allan Corfield – Design Expert. Everyday at 12:00-12:35
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.
Energy Solutions Demystified: Choosing the Best Heating, Renewables, and Ventilation Systems for Your Self-Build or Home Improvement Project
David Hilton – Eco Expert at Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine. Everyday 15:00-15:35
This session cuts through the hype and helps you establish a clear set of priorities for your project that will help you choose between gas, oil, or electric heating, which renewables makes sense from ground and air source heat pumps so solar pv, plus the options for controlled ventilation, heat recovery and air conditioning.
How To Optimise Your Home's Performance: Expert Tips to Minimise Heat Loss and Overheating
Allan Corfield – Self Build Expert at H&R Magazine and Paul Testa - Director at HEM Architects. Everyday 15:45-16:20
We reveal the secrets to minimising heat loss and overheating by working with your design team from the start of the project. Our expert - an acclaimed designer of low-energy homes - gives an insider's guide to the key principles and how to ensure your home performs well.
TOP 5 MASTERCLASS THEATRE TALKS:
A Guide To VAT Reclaim
29 September 10:30-10:50 – Andrew Jones The VAT Man
Triple Glazing: the best option to meet Future Homes Standard Part L
28 September 11:30-11:50 – Internorm UK
Low-Energy Homes: How To Get The Design Right
27 September 14:00-14:20 – Allan Corfield Architects
Building With Timber Frame – The Essentials
28 September 14:00-14:20 –Fleming Homes
Choosing A Building Contractor: A Guide To Choosing The Right Building Contractor For Your Homebuilding or Renovating Project
29 September 13:30-13:50 – Federation of Master Builders
HOME IMPROVEMENT THEATRE TALKS
The Home Improvement theatre will feature talks that will help you upgrade and make finishes to your home that you will be proud of. We have listed below our top 5 talks:
TOP 5 HOME IMPROVEMENT THEATRE TALKS:
Extension Design Guide - Adding Space and Value to Your Home
Michael Holmes – Director of Content at Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine. Everyday at 10:30-11:05
Planning to Build an Extension? Ensure Success with This Inspirational Guide! Learn how to avoid common design mistakes and discover how the right approach to both exterior and interior design can transform your space from ordinary to extraordinary.
A Guide to Planning Permission for Home Extensions and Conversions
Sally Tagg– Planning Expert. Everyday at 11:15-11:50
We all know how important kitchens are for living and eating as well as cooking. This inspirational seminar shows you how to plan the space in order to avoid the common mistakes – and achieve the kitchen of your dreams.
The Kitchen Design Guide - How to Create Your Dream Kitchen
Julia Kendell – Interior Design Expert at Kendell + Co. Everyday at 12:00-12:35
We all know how important kitchens are for living and eating as well as cooking. This inspirational seminar shows you how to plan the space in order to avoid the common mistakes - and achieve the kitchen of your dreams.
Smart Heating Upgrades: Making the Best Choices for Renovations, Extensions, and Home Updates
David Hilton – Eco Expert. Everyday at 14:15-14:50
There's so much choice when it comes to heating systems: this guide aims to cut through the hype and give you the information you need to make an informed choice. Assessing the benefits of the different heat sources - from heat pumps, solar and all-electric systems to innovations in regular boilers, on-mains or off grid; underfloor heating and beyond, this seminar is a rare chance to get independent, expert insight.
How Much Will My Extension Cost? - Budgeting and Financing Home Improvements
Tim Phillips – Quantity Surveyor. Everyday at 15:00-15:35
This seminar tells you all you need to know about successfully estimating the cost of your extension project. Our expert will reveal where the money goes, and how you can reduce the costs of the project without impacting on quality. And - crucially - how to keep your budget on track once you've started.
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 is a brand-new feature at the show and comes to the theatres with talks designed to inform you of the latest trends and advancements in home energy and help you to make your home leaner and greener.
Home Energy Academy
The Home Energy Academy is another new addition to the show. The academy will help you to understand how you can make the most of the energy in your home, save money on your bills and reduce your carbon footprint with free advice at their Advice Centre.
ASK THE EXPERT
The Homebuilding & Renovating show in London 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 London 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.
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.
TIM PHILLIPS 
Tim Philips has been a Quantity Surveyor since 1994 and has spent over 20 years with a leading national main contractor. Tim has extensive experience across the corporate, public and private sectors, successfully managing budgets in excess of £25m. Tim also writes as a build cost expert for 'Homebuilding & Renovating' magazine
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.
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!
EXHIBITORS
There will be over 250 exhibitors in the Homebuilding & Renovating show in London. 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 come true. There will be companies that specialise in design, renewables, exteriors, interiors, financial services and much more. It wasn’t easy, but we have chosen the top 5 exhibitors you should visit when planning a Self Build venture:
Get Your Free Tickets For The HBR Show In London Now!
TOP 5 EXHIBITORS TO VISIT:
Stand F160
Since 2009, ACA have worked on over 550 projects across the UK, including small extensions, one-off homes and large housing developments. ACA’s designs are all low energy, built around the Fabric first approach. We use modern methods of construction such as Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF). We are also Certified Passive House Designers. We will be on hand at stand F160 to answer any questions and demo our state of the art Virtual Reality system.
Stand F132
At Fleming Homes, our purpose is to help you create an amazing home that is just right for you. Each one of the timber frame kit homes our award-winning team has manufactured since 1986 has been bespoke, a one-off home created to meet the exact requirements of the self-builder. Putting you at the very heart of your project, you will find us there for the journey – not just for your timber frame
Stand B131
Kloeber UK Ltd was formed in September 2006 and launched at the Grand Designs Exhibition in Birmingham. Originally aimed at the domestic retail market, we offered a suite of high end, modern door and window products. The Kloeber range has developed over the years to include doors, windows and rooflights in low maintenance thermally broken aluminium, timber and alu-clad materials.
Stand I133
VELFAC is the UK’s leading supplier of composite aluminium/timber doors and windows specified for the system’s slim, uniform frames, distinctive, contemporary style, exceptional thermal performance, and cost-effective pricing. VELFAC glazing is installed in projects of every size and in every sector, including education, healthcare, commercial, and residential. VELFAC Direct also supplies windows and doors directly to private clients, who are often planning their own ‘grand design’ home.
Finance – Stand No. A148
A small team specialising in processing VAT claims under HMRC reclaim system called VAT431, previously called VAT DIY Reclaim. They make the process very simple, hassle and stress-free for every self-builder. A team member will visit you to collect your invoices and ask a few basic questions. Do not worry about where you are in relation to us, we service your area with regular visits. We will accept your paperwork in whatever format you have used throughout your build.
Allan is a permanent member of the HBR Show team and regularly delivers his talks at the shows. At the London show, Allan will deliver two talks, and will also be available as a Design Expert in the Advice Centre.
We have our own stand (F160), where we will advise visitors on their project and demonstrate our state-of-the-art virtual reality system. We will also be available for free architectural and structural engineering consultations through the team at ACS.
SELF BUILD SEMINARS WITH ACA
The ‘How to Self-Build Successfully’ seminar will take place on Friday 13th November 2024, at our main office in Dalgety Bay and will be hosted by our talented team of self-build experts.
This one-day course 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 absolutely 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
To find out more about the event and the experts and to book your place, click the button below.
Are you going to the HBR Show in London? 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? Let us know!
For more live tips on the Homebuilding & Renovating Show in London follow @acarchitects and @allan_corfield on Twitter.
