WE LEARNED...

DON’T BE AFRAID to experiment with your design. By being open-minded and ready to work with the architect, we managed to make some alterations to our original drawings that satisfied the planning requirements while still finding the space for the five bedrooms we need. We also gained a large basement storey.

MAKE INVESTMENTS in items that will keep providing returns. The biggest green features we went for, like the ground source heat pump, may have been rather pricey to install, but they have helped to vastly reduce our energy bills and will stand us in good stead for the future.

DO YOUR RESEARCH before starting your project. Looking back, I wish that I had liaised more closely with the local planning department before spending time and effort on my original drawings, which were ultimately rejected.

BE CAREFUL when making unplanned alterations. We modified the basement water protection system mid-build, which was a headache. Sometimes, trying to save money on your initial budget can lead to greater costs if you then have to make changes partway through the project.