have recently been relaxed and so you may not need planning permission. It’s important, though, to ensure it’s all done properly so one way is to look for a design and build company that comes highly recommended by someone you know, preferably with work you can see. The National Association of Building Contractors (NABC) is a good place to start so go to https://nabc.org.uk/ or try other places like Rated People at ratedpeople.com/local/builders which gives you recommendations from other customers.
MAKE YOUR HOME MORE LIFESTYLE FRIENDLY By Angela Kelly
HAVING gone through 2020 as The Year of the Pandemic we now face 2021 as The Year of Change. So many people have had to stay home for so long during large parts of last year and this year that we are now viewing our lives very differently. Relationships, hobbies and health have all come under close scrutiny. Forced to confront home vs lifestyle, we’ve discovered that some are not fit for purpose and we may have made the decision that the way forward is to move house.
For some people, there is the realisation that their home is too small for their needs and only a move to a larger property will do. For others, the plan is to make the current property bigger and more lifestyle-friendly. This may mean an EXTENSION to your home, either just covering the ground floor or creating two floors with more rooms. The permitted development rules
Individual extensions like ORANGERIES and CONSERVATORIES can also involve a wide choice of local suppliers and installers. Again, try to go on recommendation and see their work first before getting them along for an initial discussion about possibilities. As well as the cost of building, you will also be looking at a new area to furnish so having in mind exactly what you want to do with this is helpful. It may offer an opportunity to RE-DECORATE and to re-think FURNISHINGS in adjacent areas or even throughout your home. It may be that your property is too large for you and you want to DOWNSIZE or go to something smaller with a garden or nearby green space.
Covid has thrown several other curveballs our way during the year, too, so many may have had to change jobs, pursue a totally different career or become self-employed. For some, covid has been the catalyst to reevalue lives and recognise that things need to change dramatically. Whatever the pandemic has brought your way, it’s very likely that this year will represent a chance to move forward and do things differently.
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