Government to make “plug-in solar” available within months

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP and The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP More households will be helped to save money on bills through plug-in solar panels as the government vows to go further and... View Article

Mears Group make homes warmer and more efficient in Westminster

The £2m project saw 122 properties in Westminster benefit from energy efficient upgrades, partly funded by the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Mears Group delivered works on behalf of client Octavia (part of the Abri Group), aiming to improve both the condition and performance of Octavia’s social... View Article

Seven new towns confirmed by Government for development

The Government has chosen seven locations for ‘new towns’ across the UK, having reduced down the total from the original 12 recommended locations. The Ministry Of Housing pledged “well-connected new communities with homes, jobs, schools, green space and transport links... 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

600 Wolverhampton tenants benefit from completed retrofit works

More than 600 council properties in Wolverhampton have undergone significant upgrades as part of an ongoing housing retrofit programme aimed at improving asset performance and tenant comfort. The council stated the works delivered “warmer, greener and more energy efficient homes”... View Article

Carpenter Oak spring CPD event in Manchester

When: 1:00-3:15pm, Wednesday 22nd April Where: The Coal Store, People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER Architects, engineers, builders and other industry professionals are invited to a half-day CPD event with Carpenter Oak, the UK’s leading specialist in large-section timber frame... View Article

Carpenter Oak Open House – visit two oak frame homes in Oxfordshire

When: Saturday 11th April 2026 Where: Oxfordshire Self-builders are invited to join Carpenter Oak for an opportunity to visit two different oak frame homes in Oxfordshire. Discover what it’s really like to live in an oak-framed house – experience the warmth, character and scale of the spaces, explore the... View Article

selfbuilder Diaries

From reserving a serviced plot to moving into a high-performance home, Martin and Siobhann reflect on two challenging, rewarding years of self-building on the edge of the Lake District. If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be... View Article