What is Build It magazine? Develop It publication is Britain’s longest running self develop publication and your essential guide to building from scratch or extending and renovating an existing home. The team behind Build It have numerous self develop and renovation tasks under their belts, and we work closely with a team of relied on market experts. That’s one of the reasons we’re the UK’s relied on No. 1 self build and restoration title, as confirmed by the independent Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Each problem is packed full of inspiring and helpful case research studies, job inspiration, and the current products, as well as expert suggestions on concerns from budgets and planning to job management and design. The publication is laid out in accessible areas including readers’ success stories, home enhancement, useful structure advice, current expense information and preparation guidance– so there actually is something for everybody at any stage of a project.
< img src="https://www.self-build.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Why-you-can-trust-Build-It-image.webp"alt=""width ="2000"height ="1334"/ > Construct It is the UK’s relied on No. 1 self build and remodelling
title, as confirmed by the independent Audit Bureau of Circulations(ABC)Construct It’s website www.self-build.co.uk is the brand name’s digital arm, expanding and advancing the reach of the publication. Our posts are published and updated routinely to reflect the latest guidelines, expense quotes and provider recommendations to guarantee you know you can always count on us for accurate information.
Who is Build it for?
We pride ourselves on being the practical resource for engaged self builders and renovators. We’re for the ‘doers’ rather than ‘dreamers’– making Build It an important tool for anybody about to embark on a building or home improvement task.
Our site has lots of practical, credible and motivating articles that are meant to be read and depended on, to assist you make notified decisions armed with the right, expert-backed details. We aim to be transparent, clear and link you, the self home builder, with industry professionals, trusted suppliers and quality products.
So, who writes our articles?
Develop It’s short articles are composed, modified and published by both our internal editorial team, and a panel of professionals (consisting of architects, preparing experts, home energy professionals and job managers) who have years of experience in their occupations. Here’s a bit more about the names behind the words:
more about the Build It group
Chris Batesmith, Build It’s content director
< img src="https://www.self-build.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Chris-Batesmith-HEADSHOT.webp"alt="Chris Batesmith"width=" 2000 "height="2000 "/ > Chris Batesmith Chris is Build It’s Content Director. He has actually committed the last 15 years to blogging about self construct and is a champion for pushing the limits of home structure in the UK. Chris joined Build It in 2009, having formerly operated in the period homes market. He’s an experienced website carpenter, chair of the Build It Awards and was project manager for Build It’s really own real-life self develop– the Build It Education House. Chris is currently sensitively refurbishing his Victorian home in Kent. Checked Out ARTICLEs BY CHRIS”There’s
absolutely nothing quite like the sensation of effectively constructing or refurbishing your own home– but
it’s also one of the greatest ventures you’ll ever undertake, both economically and mentally. So you require to be confident in the recommendations and info that backs up your job choices. AI is a useful tool with a string of strong use cases, however it can never ever replace the knowledge and understanding developed by decades of on-the-ground experience. Believe
of it in this manner: if you were on website and asked your architect or contractor for their advice on a choice that’s holding up development, how would you feel if the first thing they did was grab their phone to sign in with AI? Build It’s content is founded on high-quality, precise, expert-vetted info and independent editorial judgement– not scraped from TikTok videos or pasted from unproven online sources. Plus, if you can’t
discover the precise response you require from a specific function, you can ask us a concern and we’ll put it to the most relevant expert to bring you a neutral, trusted and actionable response,” says Chris. Nigel Griffiths, sustainable structure & eco specialist< img src ="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202000%202000'%3E%3C/svg%3E"alt=" Nigel Griffiths"width= "2000 "height =" 2000 "/ >< img src=" https://www.self-build.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Nigel-Griffiths-HEADSHOT.webp"alt="Nigel Griffiths" width="2000 "height= "2000 "/ >
Nigel Griffiths
Nigel advises on sustainable new develop, retrofit of existing buildings and renewable energy. He is the author of the Haynes Eco-House Manual, and till just recently was Director of the Sustainable Standard Buildings Alliance. He has actually recommended UK federal government on energy policy and examined numerous biomass and heatpump setups on behalf of Ofgem.
CHECKED OUT ARTICLES BY Nigel
“Construct It’s experts are independent and free from business predisposition. That indicates that our suggestions is neutral, and we will always try to guide readers to the most appropriate option for their particular job. In a world where practically everybody is attempting to offer you something, Develop It is a refreshingly sincere and dependable source of info and a vital companion for all self builders,” says Nigel.
Martin Gaine, preparing specialist
< img src="https://www.self-build.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Martin-Gaine-HEADSHOT.webp" alt ="Martin Gaine" width= "2000"height ="2000"/ > Martin Gaine Martin is a chartered town coordinator, founder of planning consultancy, Just Planning, and author of How To Get Planning Authorization– An Expert’s Secrets. A previous preparation case officer, he champs house owners in the planning system, assisting them to resolve sticky planning issues, get planning authorization, win appeals and deal with enforcement issues.
CHECKED OUT ARTICLES BY martin
“AI tools have their location– they’re terrific at browsing the web and synthesising large volumes of info. Build It’s articles are various– they share the real-world insights and experiences of individuals coming to grips with the exact same disappointments, hold-ups and errors,” says Martin.
“AI can be a very helpful resource for a self builder, but it can’t join you on the journey. Construct It is about sharing info, but it is also an amazing neighborhood– I find out something from every concern and every Build It Live program that I would never discover on a search engine or from the most sophisticated AI service,” he states.
Julia Riddle, planning expert
Julia Riddle Julia is a preparation consultant with over 15 years of experience in a variety of preparation work, consisting of recommending on and attaining planning approval for residential development on a range of scales. She has been involved in composing assistance on customized and self develop to notify the national preparation technique and belongs to the Right to Build Task Force, intending to grow opportunities for bespoke housebuilding.
CHECKED OUT ARTICLES BY julia
Opinder Liddar, designer
Julian Owen, architect
Mark Stevenson, job management professional
< img src=" https://www.self-build.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Mark-Stevenson-HEADSHOT.webp "alt ="Mark Stevenson" width="2000"height ="2000"/ > Mark Stevenson Mark has worked as a building and construction specialist for over 35 years and is a serial self contractor with an understanding of self construct finance. Former Chair of NaCSBA, he runs project management consultancy Elsworth Projects and supporters for the interests of self builders and contributes to the success of the emerging custom develop industry.
READ ARTICLES BY mark
“Give AI a prompt and it will provide a large quantity of information rapidly however within the restrictions of the question that’s been asked; specialists will comprehend the context and provide judgement. We have the ability to check out between the lines, responding to the questions you didn’t even understand required to be asked,” says Mark.
“Construct It removes the noise and replaces it with clearness. With reputable specialists, genuine case research studies and useful guidance, Develop It provides its readers reassurance in the knowledge that the suggestions has actually been curated, sense-checked and rooted in experience, not simply scraped from unverified details,” he states.
Alan Tierney, period home expert
Alan Tierney Alan is a period homes and conservation specialist. He ran a historic structure consultancy for several years, using hands-on guidance to the owners of heritage homes, however he has recently completed his own job: Old Barnstaple Home.
READ ARTICLES BY alan
David Hilton, heating & renewables expert
David Hilton David is a renewables and ventilation installer and director at Heat and Energy Ltd, with over 35 years’experience. He belongs to the Gas Safe Register, has a masters degree in Sustainable Architecture, and is an authority in sustainable building and energy performance, with extensive understanding in building fabrics, heat recovery ventilation, renewables and standard heating unit.
READ ARTICLES BY david
Kate Sandhu, home restoration expert
Kate Sandhu Kate is a remodelling pro, helping others to understand the process and conserve as much money as possible by means of her home remodelling course. She shares a wealth of knowledge, as well as do it yourself ideas through her blog site renovatelikekate and Instagram account.
