The Home Project Podcast

Planning Permission Changes, What Homeowners Need to Know

Could recent changes to planning legislation make it easier to get planning permission for your dream home or renovation project?

In this episode of The Home Project Podcast, hosts Bart and Tina are joined by Julia Riddle of Castle Planning, an experienced planning consultant, to discuss the latest changes to the UK planning system and what they mean for homeowners, self-builders and anyone looking to unlock the potential of their property or land.

We explore the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including new opportunities for building outside existing settlements, developing within large gardens, making better use of urban plots and revisiting projects that have previously been refused planning permission.

Julia also explains the important changes to the planning appeals process, why submitting a robust application from the outset is more important than ever, and how revised Biodiversity Net Gain exemptions could reduce costs and delays for smaller developments. We also look at what the updated guidance means for listed buildings, conservation areas and improving the energy efficiency of heritage properties.

0:00 Planning Changes Explained

Connect with Julia Riddle

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-riddle-35bbb225/

Website - https://www.castleplanning.uk

Connect with us:

Tina Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski

In this episode of The Home Project Podcast, hosts Bart and Tina are joined by Sebastian Aronovitz, founder of The London Kitchen Company, to demystify the process of designing, sourcing, and installing your dream kitchen without blowing your budget.

Whether you're embarking on a full home extension, a kitchen renovation, or simply trying to choose between off-the-shelf cabinets and bespoke joinery, Sebastian shares insider knowledge on how to avoid costly mistakes, select durable materials, and steer clear of passing social media fads.

00:00 - Teaser & Episode Overview

Connect with Sebastian Aronovitz:

LinkedIn -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-aronowitz/

Connect with us:

Tina Patel -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel

An expert project management approach is essential for a successful home renovation. In this episode of The Home Project Podcast, hosts Tina Patel and Bart Kolosowski sit down with Neil Kahawatte, an architect specialising in private residential projects. Together, they unpick the misunderstood role of a project manager in domestic builds, exploring why professional guidance is the ultimate key to avoiding costly pitfalls, keeping timelines secure, and maintaining peace of mind.

00:59:59 - Introduction & Guest Welcome

01:01:23 - The Reality of Home Projects vs. Media Myths

01:05:02 - Shifting the Dial to Enjoyable Builds

01:07:21 - Navigating Fees & Choosing the Right Professional

01:10:10 - Defining the "True" Project Manager

01:16:45 - The Threat of Unsolved Site Problems

01:18:48 - The "Cockpit Analogy" & Unintended Consequences

01:22:45 - Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

01:29:17 - Choosing a Lead for Small Scale Projects

01:33:04 - The Explicit Appointment Process

01:36:24 - Procurement Routes & Contract Administration

01:40:14 - The Cost-Benefit Breakdown

01:43:51 - "Think Slow, Act Fast" (Lessons from Pixar & Megaprojects)

01:47:43 - Managing Consultant Gaps & Sequenced Delays

01:58:12 - Final Takeaways

Connect with Neil Kahawatte:

LinkedIn -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkahawatte/

Website - https://www.neilkahawatte.com/

Connect with us:

Tina Patel -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel

Bart Kolosowski -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski

Why does your structural engineer cost you more than expected?

Engineering fees often take the blame, but the real cost drivers lie elsewhere.

This episode unpacks what a structural engineer does on a residential project, from foundations and load paths to deflection and embodied carbon. We look at the design decisions, not the fees, that push steel tonnage and construction costs up.

We also cover underpinning, why it is one of the most expensive interventions a homeowner can make, and how to tell which cracks in a wall need attention and which are simply a house settling. A £40 soil test can save thousands off a foundation bill.

Get these decisions right and a project runs efficiently. Get them wrong and the cost, and the carbon, only grows.

"A good engineer should be trying to find efficient solutions." - Alison Wallis

You’ll hear about:

Connect with Alison:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-wallis-a5302919/

Weave Engineers - https://www.weaveengineers.co.uk/

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Do you know if your renovation actually needs a party wall notice?

Most homeowners assume the Party Wall Act exists to stop them building.

In this episode, we unpack the Party Wall Act with a chartered party wall surveyor, covering exactly which works trigger it, from loft conversions and rear extensions to basement digs and chimney breast removals. We explain the notice periods, the difference between consent and a formal award, and why early, open conversations with neighbours nearly always save time and money.

We also get into the practical traps: building too far from the boundary line, serving notice before planning permission is secured, and letting too many surveyors get involved on a single job. The episode sets out how the award process actually works, who pays for it, and what genuinely causes delays.

Get the process right and the act works in your favour. Get it wrong, and a simple extension can turn into a costly, drawn-out dispute.

"Consent trumps everything" in the party wall process. — Jonny Callard

You’ll hear about:

Connect with Jonny Callard:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnycallard/

Thomas & Thomas Surveyors - https://ttsurveyors.com/

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Are your renovation decisions quietly draining your budget?

The advice to get a structural survey is well established. The advice to get professional input before you even make an offer is not.

In this episode, we dig into the decisions that add cost without improving your home. Buying a property without the right professional input, skimping on surveys, engaging contractors before there is anything to price against. We cover what to check before you purchase, why a measured survey is non-negotiable, and how developing the brief properly shapes both the design and the budget.

We also look at how contract terms, unrealistic timelines and late design decisions quietly inflate construction costs in ways that are almost impossible to see coming.

Get these decisions wrong and you will spend more, build less, and end up with a home that does not work for you. Get them right and every pound goes further.

"The best projects are done in partnership." - Uwe Schmidt-Hess

You’ll hear about:

Connect with Uwe Schmidt-Hess:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/uwe-schmidt-hess-4a868383/

Patalab - https://patalab.com/  

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Should budget or design come first?

The assumption is that a design can always be scaled back once the costs land.

We explore why setting a budget and developing a design in isolation is one of the most costly mistakes in residential projects. We cover what happens when design runs ahead of budget, why early-stage cost planning is essential, and how hidden costs, from structural work and party wall obligations to long lead-time materials and contractor delays, can derail even well-resourced projects.

We also look at why the full project team, including quantity surveyors and contract administrators, should be engaged from the outset, and why timely decision-making is as critical as the design itself.

Get this wrong and you face a tender bomb. Get it right and your project stays coherent from brief to build.

"There's nothing worse than a tender bomb." - George Charalambous

You’ll hear about:

Connect with George Charalambous:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-charalambous-mrics/

T&T Surveyors - https://ttsurveyors.com/

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Are you spending money before your project has even begun?

The assumption is that the sooner works start on site, the sooner the project is finished. In reality, a premature start is one of the fastest ways to waste significant money.

We cover where the real pre-construction money traps are, from missing permissions and party wall awards to CIL charges, overcomplicated building management systems, and the VAT savings most homeowners never know to ask about.

We also look at why cutting corners on fees and structural elements almost always costs far more than it saves.

The right advice before a spade goes in the ground is not a cost. Getting it wrong almost certainly is.

"You need checks and balances on bigger, more complex projects." - Sam Wiseman

You’ll hear about:

Connect with Sam Wiseman:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wiseman-634ba313a/

Stockdale Project Management & Quantity Surveying - https://stockdaleuk.com/

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Is your renovation idea as viable as you think it is?

The figure in a homeowner's head and the layout they've settled on are rarely either accurate or final.

We explore how to properly stress-test a project before it costs you serious money. We cover how the brief-writing process uncovers what you need, why hand-drawn sketches outperform any online room planner, and how to approach budget conversations honestly from day one.

We also get into planning risk, building regulations, and the unexpected costs that regularly blindside homeowners who haven't done the groundwork. Fire consultants, redundant sewers, and trees in the garden are just some of the hidden factors that can reshape a budget before a spade goes in the ground.

A great design doesn’t just look special it feels special; this episode will help you design the home you’re dreaming off.

"You can tell a great space when you walk into it." — Andrew Dobson

You’ll hear about:

Connect with Andrew Dobson:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-dobson-architect/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrewdobsonarchitects/

Website - https://www.andrewdobsonarchitects.co.uk/

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Is the planning system really as unpredictable as everyone says?

Plenty of homeowners treat a refusal as a catastrophe and an approval as a green light to break ground. Neither assumption holds up.

We walk through the entire planning process from first principles. That means understanding whether your project needs full planning or permitted development, how to structure an application that makes it easy for a planning officer to say yes, and what a robust set of supporting documents looks like.

We then get into what happens when things do not go to plan. Refusals come with reasons and those reasons are a roadmap. We weigh up resubmission against appeal, look at the real cost of each, and explain why front-loading surveys and preparation at planning stage almost always produces a faster, smoother project than rushing in underprepared.

Only one in three planning appeals succeeds. Prepare properly at the start and you are unlikely to need one.

"Starting early doesn't make you finish early." - Bart Kolosowski

You’ll hear about:

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

Mentioned Episodes:

Planning Permission for Homes: Delays, Risks and How to Beat Them with Geoff Megarity - https://shorturl.at/WqqXw 

Is Permitted Development a Shortcut or a Risk for Homeowners? with Geoff Megarity - https://shorturl.at/6h05I 

Planning Permission Demystified: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know with Aaron Zimmerman - https://shorturl.at/ehERW 

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/