Reordering churches can reinvent the space

Faced with dwindling attendances on Sundays and a desire to attract new worshippers, the Church of England has been trying to open up historic buildings for new uses such as concerts, plays or community groups. Here Shaun Soanes explains how reordering projects have breathed new life into a number of churches.

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Don’t let your plans go to the party wall

Last week, Pippa Jacob attended a seminar about The Party Wall Act 1996 presented by Justin Harvey from JP Chick and Partners, and provided by P&T Club, an organisation with a particular specialism in this piece of legislation. Here she explains why you shouldn’t let your plans go to the party wall when it comes to home renovations.

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Do you know your renovation and restoration from your preservation and conservation?

We are experts in renovation, restoration, preservation and conservation. But are all these elements one and the same? Here Shaun Soanes explains the differences.

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7 steps to building a home for £1,000/m²

Micro-management, attention to detail and being disciplined are all things required to cut down costs on a self-build project. Many self-builders want to know how they can keep costs down, often with an aim to keep them to around £1,000/m². It’s a challenge, but not impossible.

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DESIGN OF 17 NEW HOMES

8 ways to add value to your home

Do you want to improve your home whilst adding value to it? Have a read of our 8 ways that you can do so in this article.

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darsham listed building

Planning permission: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Part 2

In part one of our series on planning permission, we discussed what happens when planning is navigated successfully. But what happens when things go wrong? Shaun Soanes explores the consequences of planning breaches and why it’s best to get it right from the beginning.

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Planning permission: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Part 1

Finding a stunning Tudor house to call home or a charming thatched cottage of your dreams is one thing. Finding out that it’s listed is quite another. Shaun Soanes discusses why “listed” doesn’t have to ring alarm bells and why securing planning permission is absolutely possible.

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Renovating and restoring property devastated by fire

When fire ripped through the historic Norfolk property Oulton Hall, its owner was devastated. But he was also determined to make the premises a happy family home once again. NJ Architects played a massive role in making this happen.

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Renovating your period property – why it pays to employ a professional

Renovating a period property can be a rewarding experience for people who relish bringing part of a nation’s historical fabric back to life. But without the help an expert, the costs of refurbishment can slip away. Shaun Soanes explains why it pays to employ a professional.

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Your older home

Older buildings are valued because they tell us about the past, making a lot of them protected by authorities as they have special historic or architectural appeal. When owning or living in a listed building or living in a conservation area, there are other things to consider. But we are here to help you learn more about owning a different, but exciting home.

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