Creating a low carbon home is about more than adding technology. Heat pumps, solar panels and batteries can make a real difference, but they work best when they are part of a well considered design from the outset. By focusing first on the fundamentals, insulation, airtightness, ventilation, layout and orientation, a home can stay comfortable year round while using far less energy. When the building fabric performs well, systems can be smaller, simpler and easier to live with, and renewable technologies can be integrated in a way that feels natural. This approach creates homes that are efficient today and adaptable for the future, offering long term comfort, resilience and value.

Choosing the right builder is one of the most important decisions in any home renovation or self‑build project. In this guide, we break down the three main procurement routes, explain how to compare builders with confidence, and outline how an architect can support you from feasibility to final construction. Whether you’re seeking competitive tenders, early contractor involvement or exploring self‑build, this article helps you understand the options and make informed decisions for your project.

Tricky sites are rarely straightforward, but they often hold the greatest potential. Steep slopes, tight boundaries, mature trees and complex planning conditions can feel like obstacles at first glance. Yet when developers and architects collaborate, these constraints become opportunities for innovation. Developers bring ambition, investment and commercial clarity; architects bring vision, problem‑solving and contextual sensitivity. Together, this partnership can unlock sites that others might dismiss, creating viable projects that respect their setting and deliver unique homes or developments for future owners.

Carbon Literacy and Low Carbon Architecture | Thread Architects

How to build a new home in open countryside - a guide to Paragraph 84

An update on the changes to Class Q Permitted Development rights 2024 and other options for creating new homes in the countryside.

Rachel has recently completed a Passivhaus designer training course and is now a Certified Passivhaus Designer.

Designing Bespoke Homes in the Green Belt: A Sheffield and Solihull Perspective

Explore how Thread Architects helps clients convert agricultural buildings into homes under Class Q permitted development. Learn about planning routes, design constraints and creative opportunities for barn conversions in the UK.