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In the ever-changing media landscape, trust has become the most important currency. AI-generated content is often clear, digestible and, within reason, tailored to your exact query, but it cannot replace the years of lived experience and real-world advice of industry experts. This is why reliable and honest information is more important than ever, especially when making one of the biggest investments any of our readers will likely make – building a house. “AI can be a very useful resource for a self builder, but it can’t join you on the journey,” says Build It’s planning expert, Martin Gaine.
Building a home is a sequence of practical and financial decisions, negotiations, important conversations and problem solving. The advice you need, therefore, should be shaped by real people and real projects – those that have succeeded, and those that have made mistakes. Our experts have witnessed the ups and downs of real-world projects – such as planning refusals, architectural redesigns, budget limitations and weather-related onsite delays. They’ve worked with hundreds of homeowners to overcome these obstacles and so are in the best position to offer guidance and support.
When searching for information to help inform your project’s next steps, it’s important to focus on the quality and credibility of the resources you’re using. Build It prides itself on expert-backed content – we have close relationships with industry-leading heads in key areas such as architecture, structural systems, energy performance, glazing, heating and more – we are committed to providing articles with real-world value.
Our content helps you make the decisions that matter, and acts as a bridge between industry and consumer – helping you, the self builder, make the right choices, ask the right questions and head into your project with confidence.
When you read an article on Build It’s website or in the magazine, you know who is speaking and why they are qualified to advise you – meaning you benefit from accountability and transparency.
AI can answer questions (sometimes accurately, sometimes less so) but it will never have the lived experience to help you ask the important ones. What’s more, it may not be clear when websites and publications rely heavily on AI-generated content. The risk here is that advice appears to have been vetted by a trusted source, when in fact it’s inaccurate AI slop that sounds “about right” but in fact gives misleading or even unsafe guidance.
Here I’m reintroducing you to us, our panel of experts who write our articles, and why we do what we do, so you know who to trust to help move your project forward.
Build It magazine is Britain’s longest running self build magazine and your indispensable guide to building from scratch or extending and renovating an existing home. The team behind Build It have numerous self build and renovation projects under their belts, and we work closely with a team of trusted industry experts. That’s one of the reasons we’re the UK’s trusted No.1 self build and renovation title, as confirmed by the independent Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Each issue is packed full of inspirational and informative case studies, project inspiration, and the latest products, as well as expert advice on issues from budgets and planning to project management and design. The magazine is laid out in accessible sections including readers’ success stories, home improvement, practical building advice, up-to-date cost information and planning guidance – so there really is something for everyone at any stage of a project.
Build It is the UK’s trusted No.1 self build and renovation title, as confirmed by the independent Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)
Build It’s website www.self-build.co.uk is the brand’s digital arm, expanding and furthering the reach of the magazine. Our articles are published and updated regularly to reflect the latest regulations, cost estimates and supplier recommendations to ensure you know you can always rely on us for accurate information.
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 essential tool for anyone about to embark on a building or home improvement project.
Our website is full of practical, trustworthy and inspiring articles that are meant to be read and relied on, to help you make informed decisions armed with the right, expert-backed information. We aim to be transparent, clear and connect you, the self builder, with industry experts, trusted suppliers and quality products.
Build It’s articles are written, edited and published by both our in-house editorial team, and a panel of experts (including architects, planning consultants, home energy specialists and project managers) who have years of experience in their professions. Here’s a little bit more about the names behind the words:
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Chris BatesmithChris is Build It’s Content Director. He has dedicated the last 15 years to writing about self build and is a champion for pushing the boundaries of home building in the UK. Chris joined Build It in 2009, having previously worked in the period homes market. He’s a trained site carpenter, chair of the Build It Awards and was project manager for Build It’s very own real-life self build – the Build It Education House. Chris is currently sensitively renovating his Victorian home in Kent. |
“There’s nothing quite like the feeling of successfully building or renovating your own home – but it’s also one of the biggest ventures you’ll ever undertake, both financially and emotionally. So you need to be confident in the advice and information that backs up your project decisions.
AI is a helpful tool with a string of strong use cases, but it can never replace the knowledge and understanding built up by decades of on-the-ground experience. Think of it this way: if you were on site and asked your architect or builder for their advice on a decision that’s holding up progress, how would you feel if the first thing they did was reach for their phone to check in with AI?
Build It’s content is founded on high-quality, accurate, expert-vetted information and independent editorial judgement – not scraped from TikTok videos or pasted from unverified online sources. Plus, if you can’t find the exact answer you need from a specific feature, you can ask us a question and we’ll put it to the most relevant expert to bring you an impartial, trusted and actionable response,” says Chris.
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Nigel GriffithsNigel advises on sustainable new build, retrofit of existing buildings and renewable energy. He is the author of the Haynes Eco-House Manual, and until recently was Director of the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance. He has advised UK government on energy policy and inspected hundreds of biomass and heat pump installations on behalf of Ofgem. |
“Build It’s experts are independent and free from commercial bias. That means that our advice is neutral, and we will always attempt to guide readers to the most appropriate solution for their particular project. In a world where almost everyone is trying to sell you something, Build It is a refreshingly honest and reliable source of information and an essential companion for all self builders,” says Nigel.
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Martin GaineMartin is a chartered town planner, founder of planning consultancy, Just Planning, and author of How To Get Planning Permission – An Insider’s Secrets. A former planning case officer, he champions homeowners in the planning system, helping them to solve sticky planning problems, get planning permission, win appeals and deal with enforcement issues. |
“AI tools have their place – they’re great at searching the web and synthesising large volumes of information. Build It’s articles are different – they share the real-world insights and experiences of people grappling with the same frustrations, delays and mistakes,” says Martin.
“AI can be a very useful resource for a self builder, but it can’t join you on the journey. Build It is about sharing information, but it is also an amazing community – I learn something from every issue and every Build It Live show that I would never find on a search engine or from the most sophisticated AI service,” he says.
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Julia RiddleJulia is a planning consultant with over 15 years of experience in a variety of planning work, including advising on and achieving planning permission for residential development on a range of scales. She has been involved in writing guidance on custom and self build to inform the national planning approach and is a member of the Right to Build Task Force, aiming to grow opportunities for bespoke housebuilding. |
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Opinder LiddarOpinder is a Build It Award-winning architect and a director at Oxfordshire-based lapd Architects. He specialises in bespoke self build homes and renovation projects. Opinder is a regular at the Build It Live exhibitions and designed Build It’s Self Build Education House. |
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Julian OwenJulian is one of Build It’s architectural experts. He’s an East Midlands-based chartered architect at Julian Owen Architects and author of several books on self build an house alterations. His publications include Self-Build, Home Extension Design and Kit & Modern Timber Frame Homes. He’s also the founder of the Association of Self Build Architects. |
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Mark StevensonMark has worked as a construction professional for over 35 years and is a serial self builder with a knowledge of self build finance. Former Chair of NaCSBA, he runs project management consultancy Elsworth Projects and advocates for the interests of self builders and contributes to the success of the emerging custom build industry. |
“Give AI a prompt and it will provide a vast amount of information quickly but within the constraints of the question that’s been asked; experts will understand the context and provide judgement. We are able to read between the lines, answering the questions you didn’t even realise needed to be asked,” says Mark.
“Build It filters out the noise and replaces it with clarity. With credible experts, real case studies and practical guidance, Build It offers its readers reassurance in the knowledge that the advice has been curated, sense-checked and rooted in experience, not just scraped from unverified information,” he says.
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Alan TierneyAlan is a period homes and conservation specialist. He ran a historic building consultancy for many years, offering hands-on advice to the owners of heritage homes, but he has recently completed his own project: Old Barnstaple House. |
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David HiltonDavid is a renewables and ventilation installer and director at Heat and Energy Ltd, with over 35 years’ experience. He is a member of the Gas Safe Register, has a masters degree in Sustainable Architecture, and is an authority in sustainable building and energy efficiency, with extensive knowledge in building fabrics, heat recovery ventilation, renewables and conventional heating systems. |
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Kate SandhuKate is a renovation pro, helping others to understand the process and save as much money as possible via her home renovation course. She shares a wealth of knowledge, as well as DIY tips via her blog renovatelikekate and Instagram account. |
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