11 Nov 2009 12:11:06

Self builders urged to consider sustainability

Builders who construct their own properties have been urged by one eco-expert to consider future fuel bills when drawing up plans.

Speaking at the weekend's Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Harrogate, Tim Pullen advised builders to prioritise the sustainability of projects when they begin designing.

Mr Pullen told the 200 visitors that conserving energy was a "key issue" when designing a new projects.

He said that by putting energy saving at the forefront of the design process it would enable properties to remain affordable to run for at least ten years.

"Energy is obviously a key issue," he said.

"Because we don't actually think about what the house is going to cost to run and how much energy it is going to use."

He also claimed that increases sustainability would mean properties were worth more in the future.

"If the house is going to last longer and cost less to run then you have added value to the house, so you have actually increased the value of the house just by building it sustainably," he added.

Latest figures from AMA Research show that self-build completions are expected to total 14,000 by the end of next year.

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