House Planning Help

HPH398: What does it take to create a bio-based Passivhaus? – with Janna and Seb Laan Lomas

Ben — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:32:54 +0000

Janna and Seb Laan Lomas explain the ethos behind their self build which blends low energy design and natural building while reducing plastics in the construction and also minimising waste. The level of detail, the decisions made and the careful use of the budget have been instrumental in delivering this fantastic project, which makes a […]

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HPH397: Sheep’s wool insulation and other natural fibre options – with Mark Lynn

Ben — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:07:45 +0000

Mark Lynn from Eden Renewable Innovations explains how sheep's wool insulation is made, outlines the pros and cons, and suggests how it is best specified and installed. He also shares some common traits of natural fibre insulation as a category. Interview with Mark Lynn In this episode Ben Adam‑Smith sits down with Mark Lynn, Managing Director of […]

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HPH396: Getting planning permission for a replacement dwelling – with Mark Doodes

Ben — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:13:05 +0000

Mark Doodes from Mark Doodes Planning explains what we mean by applying for planning permission to demolish and rebuild a house, how it is done, what some of the challenges might be and how to do as much as possible to improve your chances of a successful outcome. Interview with Mark Doodes Mark Doodes is […]

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HPH395: How easy is it to insure a natural building? – with Dr. James Glockling

Ben — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:47:48 +0000

Dr. James Glockling explains how insurance works and outlines some of the challenges of insuring a natural building. Interview with Dr. James Glockling Dr. James Glockling began his career with the Loss Prevention Council, the insurers’ hub for studying fire, security, flood and other loss‑mitigation challenges. He later deepened his expertise at the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and […]

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HPH394: Could you automate air sealing on a house build? – with Hugh Franklin

Ben — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:47:54 +0000

Hugh Franklin from Aeroseal UK explains how the airtightness of a building can be improved using a water-based, low VOC atomised polymer which is delivered when the building is pressurised. This simpler approach speeds up the process of air sealing and gives real-time feedback on the airtightness score. Interview with Hugh Franklin Hugh Franklin is […]

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HPH393: How can you reduce the embodied carbon of a project? – with Elly Deacon Smith and Kirk Rushby

Ben — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:56:29 +0000

Elly Deacon Smith and Kirk Rushby from Arbor Architects explain why they consider the embodied carbon of their projects, how they do it and how it is balanced with competing factors. Interview with Elly Deacon Smith and Kirk Rushby Elly Deacon Smith is the Founding Director of Arbor Architects with nearly 25 years of experience. She began her career […]

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HPH392: What’s the difference between good and bad retrofit? – with Marion Baeli

Ben — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:07:34 +0000

Marion Baeli, author of “Residential Retrofit,” offers hands-on experience of designing and retrofitting high performance homes. As well as drawing on her personal retrofit she shares the lessons learnt from revisiting properties that took part in the Retrofit for the Future competition over a decade ago. Interview with Marion Baeli Marion Baeli is Principal, Sustainability […]

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HPH391: Earth floors – with Jeffrey Hart

Ben — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:24:29 +0000

Jeffrey Hart from the Earthen Floor Company gives us the lowdown on natural earth floors, explaining what the components are, how they are mixed and the process of installing them. He also outlines the benefits and limitations, and highlights what makes them a great choice for an eco home. Interview with Jeffrey Hart Jeffrey Hart […]

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HPH390: Practical considerations when looking for a plot of land – with Ben Adam-Smith

Ben — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:33:53 +0000

Ben Adam-Smith shares a few thoughts about what to look for in a plot of land for a low energy house build. Start with realistic expectations Ben starts the podcast by sharing a few pieces of advice about the whole exercise of looking for land: The good news is that those who stay determined normally […]

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HPH389: Air-to-air mini split heat pumps – with Es Tresidder

Janice Gardiner — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:45:29 +0000

Es Tresidder from Highland Passive explains what an air-to-air mini split heat pump is, why he believes it's a good choice for heating a high performance home and the various pros and cons of going down this route. He also reflects on one of the toughest stages of his retrofit when they took the roof […]

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