About Homebuilding & Renovating

Claire Lloyd

Claire is the brand development editor of Homebuilding & Renovating and has been a member of the team for more than 15 years. An experienced homes journalist, her work has also appeared in other titles such as Real Homes and Period Living.

She has a particular interest in green homes, and interior design is a passion too; she has undertaken qualifications in this area.

After finishing a major renovation of a period cottage, she is now onto her next project: overhauling a 1930s property in the Shropshire countryside.

Beth Murton

Beth became editor of Homebuilding & Renovating in 2023 with a wealth of experience, having been a homes journalist and editor for more than 20 years.

She has worked for and contributed to a number of leading magazines and websites in the UK, including Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, Ideal Home and Period Living.

She has fully renovated two houses, including her current property, a 1930s house in the Midlands. Her passion for all things homes-related means that she's always planning a new project in the house.

Amy Willis

Amy is website editor for Homebuilding & Renovating, having joined the publication in 2022.

Before this, she spent more than a decade working at media outlets including ITV, The Daily Telegraph, ESPN, MailOnline, Metro, Yahoo and AOL.

She has been renovating and extending her historic home in the Suffolk countryside for over three years, overhauling the kitchen, living room, upstairs bedrooms and bathroom. She is currently installing a new driveway with a garage conversion and utility room extension to be started in the new year too.

Amy has experience with delisting, boundary disputes and moving telegraph poles.

Teresa Conway

Teresa is Homebuilding & Renovating's deputy editor. She was part of a team that launched Easy Gardens in 2018 and worked as the editor on this magazine. She has extensive experience writing and editing content on gardens and landscaping on brands such as Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors and Living Etc magazine.

In 2020 Teresa bought her first home with her partner in north London that needed renovating. In a race against time, before the birth of her son, she and her partner worked alongside architects and builders to transform this area into a usable (and safe!) space for her family. Along the way she learned the stresses, woes and joys of home renovation. Her next big project will be landscaping the back garden, and looking into a loft conversion to help house a growing family.

Sarah Harley

Sarah is Homebuilding & Renovating's assistant editor and has been an avid lover of all things homes and interiors since she started redecorating her bedroom as a teenager.

When it comes to her personal building and renovations experience, viewers saw her don a pink hard hat on Grand Designs to project manage the renovation of a Grade II listed folly with the addition of a sweeping modern extension. She admits she has never actually left a property she has lived in untouched, and with over 20 moves to her name, it’s fair to say that she knows lots of tricks for turning a house into a home.

Joseph Mullane

Joseph is Homebuilding & Renovating's news editor. He is currently self building his own home, which will eventually be a three-bedroom timber frame home on a one-acre plot. The groundwork is already underway with hopes to complete the build by the end of 2024.

He has previously written for conveyancing publications Today's Media and Chambers & Partners and worked as a history teacher before that. He has also written for Rugby World.

Jason Orme

The former editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, Jason is an experienced self builder with his most recent project being renovating his 1960s home. Jason is now managing director of Future PLC's Homes' portfolio, which includes UK-leading titles such as Ideal Homes, Livingetc and Homes & Gardens. He is also the author of The Self Build Dream.

You can catch Jason in the seminar theatres and Advice Centre at many of the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows across the UK.

Michael Holmes

Michael is Homebuilding & Renovating's director of content, and vice chair of the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), presenter of multiple property TV shows and author of Renovating for Profit (Ebury).

He is one of the country's leading property experts and has undertaken over 30 building projects including two self-builds and the renovation of a Grade-II listed farmhouse.

Michael is also a regular expert in the seminar theatres and Advice Centre at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show.

David Snell

The author of Building Your Own Home, David is a serial self builder and has been building homes for 50 years. He is one of the UK's leading self build experts and has written for Homebuilding & Renovating for nearly three decades.

He is also a plotfinding expert and has sourced building plots for countless budding self builders up and down the UK. He has self built 14 homes.

Natasha Brinsmead

Natasha is Homebuilding & Renovating’s former associate editor and was a member of the team for over two decades. An experienced journalist and renovation expert, she has written for a number of homes titles.

She has renovated a terrace and is at the end of the DIY renovation and extension of her Edwardian cottage. She is now looking for her next project.

Rebecca Foster

Rebecca began her journalism career writing for a luxury property magazine in Bangkok, before re-locating to London and becoming a features editor for a self build magazine. She is an experienced homes and interiors journalist and has written for many homes titles including Homebuilding & Renovating, Ideal Home and Period Living.

She has expertise on a wealth of topics — from oak frame homes to kitchen extensions. She has a passion for Victorian architecture; her dream is to extend an 1800s house.

Ian Rock

Chartered surveyor Ian Rock MRICS is a director is Rightsurvey.co.uk and the author of eight popular Haynes House Manuals, including the Home Extension Manual, the Self Build Manual and Period Property Manual.

Ian is also the founder of Zennor Consultants. In addition to providing house surveys, Zennor Consultants provide professional guidance on property refurbishment and maintenance as well as advising on the design and construction of home extensions and loft conversions, including planning and Building Regulations compliance.

Ian has recently added a 100m2 extension to his home; he designed and project managed the build and completed much of the interior fit-out on a DIY basis.

Allan Corfield

Allan is a RIBA chartered architect and has overseen the design of over 350 low energy homes across the UK. He is one of the UK's leading experts on modern methods of construction including SIPs (structural insulated panels), is part of the Structural Timber Association, Passive House Trust and a member of the self build industry body, NaCSBA. He regularly contributes to Homebuilding & Renovating magazine and is a speaker and self build expert at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows.

Since 2009, Allan has grown his custom and self build architectural practice, AC Architects, to a team of 16, and recently created AC Structures, a leading engineering business for self build projects.

Nimi Attanayake

Nimi is director and co founder of nimtim architects in 2014. Nimi is a qualified architect who has worked for some of London's most highly-regarded practices and is a member of the Design South East Panel. She also designed some London's most exciting new domestic extension schemes.

She is also a qualified garden and landscape designer and leads nimtim landscapes.

Andy Stevens

Andy Stevens is a multiple award-winning builder who manages Surrey-based building company Eclipse Property Solutions; he specialises in new builds, extensions and loft conversions.

While he is still on the tools, he is also widely involved in the construction industry. He presents a show on Fix Radio and hosts his own building podcast Build:It, as well as being a speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows.

Andy has sat on the Board of the Federation of Master Builders (London region) and was previously Vice President. He also works with construction charities and is a strong advocate for mental health in the industry.

Paul Testa

Architect Paul is the director of Paul Testa Architecture and a specialist in low-energy design. His practise are well-versed in designing sustainable, energy-efficient new builds and extension schemes. He has also just completed an eco retrofit to his family home.

He taught the technology course for the MArch in Architecture at Sheffield University, and is a tutor for the Sustainable Architectural Studies Masters course.

Lindsey Davis

Lindsey made her first foray into writing about homes a decade ago when she joined the Homebuilding & Renovating team as Web Editor. While her first love is great architectural design, she has a passion for helping people find the best products for their homes — and she is now Editor in Chief for Homes Ecommerce across Future Publishing's homes titles.

She has renovated her terraced home, converting the loft and undertaking a number of tasks on a DIY basis.

Mike Cruickshank

Property developer Mike is an expert in timber frame construction and offers advice on the build process as well as the cost elements of building with timber.

Paul Hymers

Paul is a building control officer and has written eight books on home improvements and building homes.

Tara Gbolade

Tara is a Passivhaus designer and co-founder of architectural practice Gbolade Design Studio and won the RIBA Rising Star Award in 2018.

Ken Dijksman

Ken, a former planning officer, is a planning consultant and owner of Dijksman Planning LLP. He is also the author of The Planning Game.

Mark Stevenson

Mark Stevenson has worked as a construction professional for almost 30 years and following an extensive career in housebuilding became Managing Director of Potton where he now helps self builders build their own homes.

Whilst Mark describes himself as a ‘professional builder’ as a result of his career in housebuilding and timber systems manufacturing, he has specialist knowledge of timber construction and extensive expertise in finding land and appraising building plots.

He regularly shares his knowledge at Homebuilding & Renovating Shows and in Potton’s Self Build Academy where he leads the finding land and how to build seminar programme.

Aside from Mark’s professional career, his skills also extend to practical building knowledge as a skilled joiner, hands-on renovator and serial self-builder of his own development projects.

Steve Jenkins

Steve is an avid DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating homes. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has strong all-round building skills, having previously worked in the industry for 10 years.

Tim Pullen

Tim is an expert in sustainable building methods and energy efficiency in residential homes.

Mark Brinkley

Mark is the author of the ever-popular Housebuilder’s Bible and an experienced builder. He’s just finished his latest self build.

Neil Turner

Architect Neil Turner is director at Howarth Litchfield Partnership and specialises in residential design.

Charlie Luxton

Charlie is an experienced architectural designer and TV broadcaster. He has just completed his latest self build project.

Pete Tonks

Pete is an award-winning architectural designer. He began his career as an architectural technician with self build specialist Potton in 1984. He went on to set up his own practice, PJT Design Ltd, in 2003 and has been designing self build homes and extension schemes for over three decades. He is also a specialist in designing oak frame homes.

In 2015, Pete co-founded PJT Custom Build Ltd, a bespoke project management company, which delivers custom-built homes from conception to completion.

He has recently completed his own contemporary self build project.

David Hilton

David is a renewables and ventilation installer, with over 35 years experience, and is a long-standing contributor to Homebuilding and Renovating magazine. 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 also conventional heating systems. He is also a speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show.

Passionate about healthy, efficient homes, he is director of Heat and Energy Ltd. He works with architects, builders, self builders and renovators, and designs and project manages the installation of ventilation and heating systems to achieve the most energy efficient and cost effective outcome for every home.

Bob Branscombe

Bob is one of the UK’s leading Chartered Surveyors and with over 30-years’ experience in both self build and construction. A career spent with several main contractors and major surveying consultancies has helped reinforce his approach that cost-estimating and control are a fundamental tenet of self-building.

Sally Tagg, MRTPI

Sally is a chartered town planner and an expert in all things planning permission. She has significant expertise, specialist knowledge and substantial experience when providing professional advice for self builders and custom builders seeking to build their own home and those who wish to refurbish and extend their properties.

She is Managing Director of Foxley Tagg Planning Ltd (which she formed in 2000), Executive Committee Member – National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) and a Board Member of the Right to Build Taskforce. Sally and her team are a regular presence in The Planning Clinic at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show.

Bruce Bendall

Bruce is a third generation builder with over 30 years’ experience. He has recently completed his latest self build.

Chris Reeves

Chris is dual qualified as a chartered builder and solicitor, having enjoyed an earlier career in the construction industry (as a carpenter and then site management) prior to qualification in 2001. He is a founder of Reeves James and Mediation for Construction and Insurance, and specialises in dispute resolution, with particular expertise in supporting individuals on self build and renovation projects. Chris has a wealth of experience in supporting projects with resolution of issues around valuation of work done and defects in building work.

Chris is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and adjudicator panel member of the RIBA and RICS, as well as a member of the Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association.

David Nossiter

David is a chartered RIBA architect, a RIBA Conservation Registrant and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. A director of David Nossiter Architects with expertise in residential architecture, David received acclaim for the conversion of a vast dilapidated listed barn into a contemporary dwelling.

He is also a member of the London Borough of Merton’s Design Review Panel, a multi-disciplinary team of independent professionals which advises on design quality within the built environment. David teaches at the University of Brighton and the RIBA Studio post-graduate architecture Masters Degree programmes.