House Planning Help Podcast
Episodes
HPH398: What does it take to create a bio-based Passivhaus? – with Janna and Seb Laan Lomas
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Janna and Seb Laan Lomas explain the ethos behind their self build which blends low energy design and natural building while reducing plastics in the ...
HPH397: Sheep's wool insulation and other natural fibre options – with Mark Lynn
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Lynn from Eden Renewable Innovations explains how sheep's wool insulation is made, outlines the pros and cons, and suggests how it is best spec...
HPH396: Getting planning permission for a replacement dwelling – with Mark Doodes
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Doodes from Mark Doodes Planning explains what we mean by applying for planning permission to demolish and rebuild a house, how it is done, what ...
HPH395: How easy is it to insure a natural building? – with Dr. James Glockling
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. James Glockling explains how insurance works and outlines some of the challenges of insuring a natural building. Check out the show notes for more...
HPH394: Could you automate air sealing on a house build? – with Hugh Franklin
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh Franklin from Aeroseal UK explains how the airtightness of a building can be improved using a water-based, low VOC atomised polymer which is deli...
HPH393: How can you reduce the embodied carbon of a project? – with Elly Deacon Smith and Kirk Rushby
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elly Deacon Smith and Kirk Rushby from Arbor Architects explain why they consider the embodied carbon of their projects, how they do it and how it i...
HPH392: What's the difference between good and bad retrofit? – with Marion Baeli
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marion Baeli, author of "Residential Retrofit," offers hands-on experience of designing and retrofitting high performance homes. As well as drawing on...
HPH391: Earth floors – with Jeffrey Hart
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeffrey Hart from the Earthen Floor Company gives us the lowdown on natural earth floors, explaining what the components are, how they are mixed and t...
HPH390: Practical considerations when looking for a plot of land – with Ben Adam-Smith
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Adam-Smith shares a few thoughts about what to look for in a plot of land for a low energy house build. Check out the show notes for more informat...
HPH389: Air-to-air mini split heat pumps – with Es Tresidder
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Es Tresidder from Highland Passive explains what an air-to-air mini split heat pump is, why he believes it's a good choice for heating a high performa...
HPH388: How are building regulations made? – with John Palmer
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having spent the last few years working within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, John Palmer explains how building regulation...
HPH387: How do you make a Victorian terrace home more comfortable? – with Will South
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will South from Etude takes us step-by-step through the retrofit of his Victorian terrace house in Brighton, which has improved the health, comfort an...
HPH386: The potential of mycelium-based composites – with Joshua English
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua English, co-founder of Okom wrks labs shares his journey into the creation of a mycelium-based composite material, which has structural and loa...
HPH385: A stunning contemporary home on a sloping site – with Kirsty Maguire
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Architect Kirsty Maguire shares her experience of designing and building her own Passivhaus on a challenging sloping site in Newport-on-Tay, Scotland....
HPH384: De-risking a Passivhaus project – with Sally Godber
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sally Godber, a Director at WARM consultancy explains why reducing the risks on her own Passivhaus project was so important, what that entailed and ho...
HPH383: A beginner's guide to creating a comfortable home – with Andy Mitchell
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Mitchell, Managing Director of 21 Degrees, explains what factors influence human comfort and how we have tried to make our homes more comfortable...
HPH382: What is a Principal Designer? – with Ben Nother
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Nother, a Director at Hawkland Group, explains the two different roles of Principal Designer in meeting building regulations and addressing CDM he...
HPH381: What is Passivhaus Premium? – with Phil Neve
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Phil Neve explains what Passivhaus Premium is and why he chose to target the standard for his own self build in Somerset. He also talks through his bi...
HPH380: What is Passivhaus Plus? – with Heather Johnson
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Heather Johnson from AD Practice explains what Passivhaus Plus is, how it differs from Passivhaus Classic accreditation and what benefits achieving th...
HPH379: What is inclusive design? – with Stephanie Kyle
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephanie Kyle from Floyd Slaski Architects explains how we can design for disability, gender, religion, and anything that's considered a protected ch...
HPH378: Accessibility for all – with Guy Harris
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Guy Harris from AccessiblePRS explains why accessible housing is important, what the key considerations are and how to deliver it well. He also shares...
HPH377: Retrofitting a 1950s semi-detached ex-council house – with Toby Cambray
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Toby Cambray talks about the experience of working on his own retrofit project, and the lessons learnt in the process. Check out the show notes for mo...
HPH376: What is WUFI? – with Toby Cambray
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Toby Cambray talks about the risks associated with moisture in buildings, and the modelling techniques – like WUFI® – that can be used to assess ...
HPH375: A day in the life of a builder – with Mike Whitfield
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Whitfield shares his experience of running a local construction company that specialises in Passivhaus. He explains how the business is structure...
HPH374: Building for People - with Mike Eliason
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Eliason talks about his book, Building for People, and the massive opportunity we have to create better places through being more intentional and...
HPH373: Using a willow bed to treat sewage - with Laila Dudhill
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Laila Dudhill explains some of the challenges she faced when planning her new build home at the bottom of a sloping field. Not only did she have to de...
HPH372: Introducing the circular economy to housing
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katherine Adams and Connie Spoor talk about the circular economy and construction, and practical strategies for making reuse a priority on housing pro...
HPH371: What is wood fibre insulation? – with Chris Brookman
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Brookman from Back to Earth explains what wood fibre insulation is, how it could be used on a project and why careful specification is required....
HPH370: Where your money goes on a home retrofit project
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Florence Collier, founder of Humblebee, takes us step-by-step through the deep retrofit of her 1970s home. She explains the costs relating to each mea...
HPH369: Converting a barn to meet the Living Building Challenge – with Toby Diggens
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Toby Diggens explains what it takes to meet the requirements of the Living Building Challenge, and working to the standard when renovating an existing...
HPH368: Creating biodiverse natural landscapes – with Toby Diggens
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Toby Diggens, founder and co-director of Digg and Co outlines how we can all contribute to creating ecologically diverse and resilient landscapes to c...
HPH367: A furniture maker builds a timber eco home – with Lucinda Leech
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Furniture maker Lucinda Leech shares her story of building a modest, but beautiful eco home. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH366: Could a home energy transformation pay for itself?
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Howard Johns, founder of One Zero, outlines their home energy transformation service which includes topping up insulation and adding solar PV, battery...
HPH365: Becoming a housing activist – with Cypren Edmunds
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cypren Edmonds, a housing activist and advocate for bio-based building materials, describes the challenges he has faced living in social housing in Lo...
HPH364: The power of community led housing – with Kareem Dayes from RUSS
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kareem Dayes, co-founder of RUSS in Lewisham, explains why setting up a Community Land Trust was a route to deliver genuinely affordable housing and c...
HPH363: Is it worth getting an asbestos survey for an existing home?
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Byrne from RB Asbestos Consultants explains what asbestos is, why it was used so widely in construction, its potential impact on health, and how ...
HPH362: An easier way to build a certified Passivhaus – with Clare and Ross Booth
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clare and Ross Booth from Coldwells Build share details of their prefabricated, turnkey Passivhaus designs that aim to simplify the delivery of high p...
HPH361: What's the difference between a renovation and a retrofit?
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Testa from HEM Architects explains the difference between renovation and retrofit, using his own home as an example of a deep retrofit. Check out...
HPH360: Why MVHR maintenance and servicing is important – with Richard Hollas
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Hollas from 21 Degrees explains why regular MVHR maintenance and servicing is essential, what it entails, and we accompany him step-by-step as...
HPH359: External shading solutions – with Paul Morris
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Morris from Solar-Shield explains how external shading can help control solar gains and reduce internal temperatures, keeping your home cool as t...
HPH358: Getting the right mortgage for a house build project – with Tom McSherry
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tom McSherry from BuildStore explains the importance of cashflow when it comes to building a house and why a big part of selecting the right mortgage ...
HPH357: Beginner's guide to eco renovation – with Judith Leary-Joyce
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Judith Leary-Joyce shares her experience of retrofitting a Victorian end-terrace house to reduce energy consumption, make it more healthy and comforta...
HPH356: What is Passivhaus certification? – with Kym Mead
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kym Mead from Mead Consulting explains what Passivhaus certification is, how the process works and why there is a difference between certified Passivh...
HPH355: The Story of Upfront Carbon - with Lloyd Alter
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lloyd Alter explains the term upfront carbon, its relevance to us all as consumers, and why he felt compelled to write a book on the topic. Check out ...
HPH354: How natureplus helps you identify sustainable building products - with Tilmann Kramolisch
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tilmann Kramolisch from natureplus explains why their eco label was established, how materials and products are assessed, and what it means to use a n...
HPH353: 12 tips for a successful Passivhaus project
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Speakers from the Passivhaus workshop event at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon each share a top tip. Check out the show notes...
HPH352: Encouraging and supporting home retrofit in your local area
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Neighbours Wookey and Rob Leedham explain why they were motivated to retrofit their homes, how they built up knowledge and why engaging with others on...
HPH351: Creating affordable, high quality, low carbon homes - with Linda Farrow
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Linda Farrow from Agile Homes explains how their prefabricated panelised system can deliver high quality and truly affordable homes that are good for ...
HPH350: What is value engineering?
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Adam-Smith explains what value engineering is and how it can help us to do more with less. He reflects on a short video about Slate House in Heref...
HPH349: Timber build approaches – with Meredith Bowles
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meredith Bowles from Mole Architects shares his experience working with timber as a construction material and explains the benefits and drawbacks of t...
HPH348: Why do homes get mould? – with Alexx Stuart
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexx Stuart from Low Tox Life shares her experiences of toxic mould exposure and offers some advice on how best to keep your home healthy and mould f...
HPH347: Common pitfalls to avoid when building a house – with Amelia Lee
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amelia Lee from Undercover Architect shares some common themes that tend to crop up on owner-builder projects (particularly with people who are doing ...
HPH346: Passivhaus homes where cooling is a key consideration – with Andy Marlow
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Marlow from Envirotecture explains why Passivhaus homes are a good fit for most climates in Australia, how they approach these projects and what ...
HPH345: Why is the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) such a useful tool? – with Sarah Lewis
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Lewis, the Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust and author of PHPP Illustrated, explains what the Passive House Planning Pack...
HPH344: Hazel Tree Passivhaus – with Janice Gardiner
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janice Gardiner, an ecologist and the client of last week's interviewee Josh Wood at Green Trace Architect, is here to tell us what it is like to be ...
HPH343: A low cost eco home on a challenging infill plot – with Josh Wood
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Architect Josh Wood gives us an insight into his own self build project, where the balance between keeping costs low and creating a sustainable home h...
HPH342: How to incorporate reused materials on a self build - with Kirsty Maguire
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Architect Kirsty Maguire explains why reusing an existing building is always preferable to demolishing and rebuilding. However, when buildings are in ...
HPH341: Should embodied carbon or energy efficiency be our priority? – with Jae Cotterell
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jae Cotterell, founder of Passivhaus Homes, explains the importance of the choices we make when considering our construction approach. It is possible ...
HPH340: How to reclaim VAT on a self build or conversion - with Andrew Jones
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Jones explains how to reclaim VAT on a self build home or conversion as well as sharing some common pitfalls to avoid. Check out the show notes...
HPH339: What is the Housebuilder's Bible? - with Mark Brinkley
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Brinkley, author of the Housebuilder's Bible, explains how his book can guide you towards building a better home. He also shares some of the them...
HPH338: How to measure and monitor the performance of a home - with Luke Smith
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Smith from Build Test Solutions talks about making building performance measurement more commonplace, and how you can't manage what you don't mea...
HPH337: Wind power and solar power - past, present and future
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Derek Taylor talks about advances in wind and solar power over the last 50 years. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH336 : Ben's Passivhaus 5 years on
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Adam-Smith marks five years of living in his Passivhaus home by reflecting on his self build journey and what the house has been like to live in. ...
HPH335 : Designing an intentional community - with Anne Thorne
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anne Thorne talks through the architectural design process of Cannock Mill Cohousing community. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH334 : Combining smart home technology with energy efficiency – with Jonathan Dixon
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Dixon talks about incorporating home automation into a Passivhaus retrofit of a 1960s detached house, built using cross wall construction. Ch...
HPH333 : What is the One Planet Development scheme? - with Brendan and Ludka Powell
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ludka and Brendan Powell explain the Welsh 'One Planet Development' scheme and how it led them to building an off-grid, straw panel Passivhaus. Check ...
HPH332 : How accurate are Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)? – with Tom Gwilliam
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Gwilliam explains what Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are, how they are created and why they are unlikely to be a useful measure of how en...
HPH331 : What is a mechanical services engineer? – with Alan Clarke
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Clarke explains the role of a mechanical services engineer on a low energy house build, in designing a heating and ventilation system that works ...
HPH330 : What is a planning consultant? – with Andy Moger
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Moger, from Tetlow King Planning, explains the role of a planning consultant and the benefits they can bring to a project. Check out the show no...
HPH329 : What does a structural engineer do? – with Beth Williams
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Beth Williams from Build Collective outlines the role of a structural engineer and explains what tasks might be undertaken on a house build. Check out...
HPH328 : Insulating internally with a thin layer of wood fibre board - with Martin Twamley from Steico
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Martin Twamley from Steico explains how to use breathable internal insulation, while avoiding the risks of condensation and mould. Check out the show ...
HPH327 : Upskilling in DIY during a home retrofit – with Es Tresidder
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As someone with no previous interest or skills in DIY, Passivhaus Consultant Es Tresidder explains why he went about changing that for his own deep re...
HPH326 : Is it worth upskilling your knowledge of Passivhaus? – with Simon Bell
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Landscape Architect and Director of HLM Architects, Simon Bell, explains why he decided to upskill when it came to building his own house. Check out t...
HPH325 : What reduces the performance of insulation? – with Mark Siddall
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Siddall explains how thermal bypass – or air movement around insulation layers – might impact a self-build or retrofit project. Check out the...
HPH324 : Why robust planning is vital for a home retrofit in stages – with Alan Budden
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Budden explains how a phased retrofit might work and what preparation is required. He also shares how he's retrofitted his own home, which includ...
HPH323 : Can I heat my home with an air source heat pump? – with Nathan Gambling
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Influential podcaster and heating systems expert, Nathan Gambling, explains why choosing the right installer is even more important than selecting the...
HPH322 : An EnerPHit standard retrofit of a Victorian mid terrace home – with Guy Hargreaves
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Homeowner Guy Hargreaves reflects on adapting and expanding his Victorian mid terrace home, retrofitting the whole building to EnerPHit standard. Chec...
HPH321 : How do you make an existing home energy efficient? – with Paul Ciniglio
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With price hikes being caused by the volatile energy sector, Paul Ciniglio from the National Energy Foundation explains what we can be doing to our ho...
HPH320 : Precision-cut timber frames – with Antoine Costantini from Kithurst Homes
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Antoine Costantini explains how Kithurst Homes has embraced modern cutting technology to increase efficiency and minimise waste. Check out the show no...
HPH319 : Natural materials and healthy homes – with Tom Woolley
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Architect, educator and builder, Tom Woolley, takes us through some of the natural construction materials we should be using to build healthier homes....
HPH318 : Do I need a structural warranty for my self build home?
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jake Fitness of Self Build Zone explains what a structural warranty is, and why you might need one on your self build or renovation project. Check out...
HPH317 : Getting ambitious with sustainability – with Kit Knowles from Ecospheric
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kit Knowles from Ecospheric explains why he is driven to keep pushing further in pursuit of sustainability in building projects. Check out the show no...
HPH316 : Why we must embrace sufficiency – with Lloyd Alter
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lloyd Alter explains how we can take personal actions to address our own carbon footprints, and why it's more important to do so than ever. Check out ...
HPH315 : Simplifying the delivery of high performance, sustainable homes – with Mike Jacob
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Jacob explains how Kiss House is using timber component based production to deliver homes to the Passivhaus standard. Check out the show notes fo...
HPH314 : Getting a self build over the finish line, despite setbacks – with Mike Coe
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Coe gives a final update on his now complete Portree Passivhaus, that has seen budgets stretched, contractors disappear for a year, and a Covid l...
HPH313 : What input might an engineer have for a Passivhaus self build? – with Gwilym Still
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gwilym Still, of Max Fordham engineers, explains how good planning and simplicity can improve a home's performance. Check out the show notes for more ...
HPH312 : Building a tiny house with natural materials – with Jeffrey Hart
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jeffrey Hart, natural builder and host of the Building Sustainability Podcast, explains what he's learnt designing and crafting his own tiny house.
HPH311 : Should we celebrate architecture that performs poorly?
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Hawkes from Hawkes Architecture reviews the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) of the RIBA House of the Year longlist and asks why we are ...
HPH310 : Important takeaways from an exemplar straw panel Passivhaus
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Juraj Mikurcik, Nick Grant and Mike Whitfield reflect on the award-winning Old Holloway project, which is built with EcoCocon straw panels and is a ce...
HPH309 : Keeping costs down by embracing simplicity – with Kirk Rushby and Polly Upton
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Architects Polly Upton and Kirk Rushby explain how they used their expertise to deliver a striking, high performance home for a very reasonable budget...
HPH308 : Testing the thermal performance of a house – with Tom Fenton from Veritherm
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Fenton from Veritherm explains how to test the thermal performance of a home, what this data can reveal and how it can then be used. Check out the...
HPH307 : Can you have integrity as a housing developer? – with Mike Webb
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Webb explains why he chose to build to high ecological standards even though he could've made more money by just complying with building regulati...
HPH306 : Building an exceptional house beyond the walled garden – with Nigel Dutt
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nigel Dutt tells the self build story behind Devon Passivhaus, a Paragraph 55 build. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH305 : Building a Passivhaus with cross-laminated timber – with Mick Woolley
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mick Woolley explains how the use of timber was a key element of his award-winning Passivhaus bungalow. Check out the show notes for more information.
HPH304 : What are digitally manufactured houses? – with Bruce Bell from Facit Homes
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bruce Bell, founder of Facit Homes, explains why digital manufacturing has a lot to offer in the future of house-building. Check out the show notes fo...
HPH303 : What does it take to project manage your house build? – with David Arrenberg
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Arrenberg explains why he wanted to project manage his self build, what the work entailed and how much of his time it took. Check out the show n...
HPH302 : A contemporary Passivhaus home in a rural context – with Martin McCrae and Mhairi Grant
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mhairi Grant and Martin McCrae share their self build journey. Their contemporary home seems to have it all, from striking design and great ecological...
HPH301 : Energy | People | Buildings – with Hattie Hartman
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor at the Architects' Journal, shares insights from her new book Energy, People, Buildings. Check out the show note...
HPH300 : The houses I've lived in - with Ben Adam-Smith
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a way of celebrating our 300th episode we're doing something a little different. Ben Adam-Smith reflects on the homes he's lived in and what he's l...
HPH299 : Is mechanical ventilation just something else to go wrong? – with Ben Adam-Smith
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Adam-Smith shares his own experience of living with a mechanical ventilation system. While he's clocked up a few error messages on the unit and ha...