Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Building Ideas - With Mark Millar

Mark Millar looks into what is happening with the Future Home Standard as we kick off 2026, best approach and what impact it'll have on the construction industry this year, based on what we know about it to this point.

Mark Millar catches up with Carpenter, Andrew Walker, who joined Mark on one of the first ever episodes to talk about his barn conversion. All of these years later, Andew is finally on the finishes touches. Ben Raynor joins to talk about a new project and shares fresh news about the project he's been on the show to discuss twice in 2025. Fix Radio Presenter, Todd Glister phones in from his self build project, shares his finish date in early 2026 and talks about what he's been up to on the project recently.

Mark Millar looks into what many are saying are the biggest changes coming to the buy-to-let market for generations and also claims that it's 'all over in six months' for Landlords in the UK. Property Expert, Rick Gannon joins the show to layout some of the changes, shares his thoughts and talks about where the opportunities are in the market. Paul Shamplina, Founder of Landlord Action shares his perspective, talks about what they would propose instead of these reforms and discusses whether it really is all over in six months time.

Mark Millar talks to Planning Consultant, Simon Rix from Planix and asks for advice on how to navigate planning permission in England and improve your chances of having planning approved. Mark and Simon talk about the inherent challenges and out to work with and around them as best as you can. There's explanations on why this can be so tricky and therefore how to 'play the game' and gain the best outcome possible.

Mark Millar has a quick look into how 2025 has been and what next year might be like from a self build perspective. Mark asks QS Tim Phillips to join him and share his thoughts and also checks in with Tom McSherry from Buildstore to ask a few questions from a financing perspective. 

Lord Marvin Rees joins Mark Millar to talk about the vision for Bristol as a major European city and some of the major ongoing developments like Brabazon and the YTL Arena.

Mark Millar talks to Marcus Beck about the sustainability pledge that he’s taken with his wife, Abigail, to live green in Wales under the unique One Planet Development policy.

Mark Millar is joined by Interior Designer - Charlotte Dawson. Charlotte is ready to save your renovation job and help you avoid disaster, Charlotte talks about the biggest mistakes to avoid, How to manage and plan a timeline and also the importance of having a second opinion on renovation projects.

Passivhaus Architect, GIl Shalom joins Mark Millar at the Fix Radio studios to have a longer conversation and get into more depth with regards to the Passivhaus standard and building method. Gil talks about retrofitting and renovating to reach Passivhaus certification, compared to building groun up. Gil talks about materials, the role heat pumps and EPC ratings play, the history of Passivhaus and goals for the future with regards to new build.

Mark Millar looks into some of the ongoing and planned developments in Bristol and the surrounding areas. Mark talks to Jason Collard from Hive about their sustainable focus and approach and then chats with Seb Loyn & John Thompson from YTL Group about the ongoing creation of Brabazon, a new town that promises an exciting future for the city and it's residents.

Mark Millar looks into how we can improve our home and make better use of space, design, rooms and features. For those of you fed up and wanting to sell, Mark looks into how to improve the home to add value and increase demand. Guests include: Natallia Tanko & Kevin Porter

Mark Millar looks into two projects in France and Greece taken on by Brits and invites them to share their experiences and an insight into what it's like taking on a renovation project abroad. Guests include: Ash Waters (France) as well as Chris Bishop & Jo Thompson (Greece)

Mark Millar invites guests to join him and talk about where they feel there's a lack of ingenuity and good application of ideas in the domestic building process. Mark talks about whether some things are a matter of taste or just bad design as well as what the ideas more worthy of exploration might be. Guests include: Tim Philips, Julian Owen & Robin Clevett. 

Mark Millar is joined by a developer (Nick Webb - Prism Construction) about his struggle to get planning to build houses on the site of a pub that has been derelict for a considerable period of time. Nick has sunk £1 million into the prokect so far and feels he's out of options as red tape holds him back from getting the vital planning permission he requires. Marsworth Parish Council Chairman, Bob Kennedy joins the discussion to explain why Nick's planned development is in the best interest of the village and gives a bit of context into why this is all happening.

Mark Millar looks into how we deal with subsidence issues with experts from the industry and ponders whether buying properties with existing issues, solving them and selling for profit could be a good business model.

Mark Millar introduces a new guest on the show, Dale Wherton, who is an incredible skilled Bricklayer beginning his journey in property development. Mark also catches us with Ben Rayner who first joined the programme in May to talk about his plans for his now completed build! 

Mark Millar is joined by Jasper Thompson, founder of Help Bristol's Homeless to talk about the ways he's helping homesless people in Bristol find temporary and long term options for housing.

Mark Millar is joined by Alice Chapman to talk about her work building tens of thousands of tents at music festivals like Glastonbury, Boomtown and others. Mark also answers a listener question about self build as we head out of the summer. 

Mark Millar looks into an interesting partnership in Hull between Giroscope, who provide social housing and Plumbing firm, Kesselmann Plumbers Ltd. Guests include: Govind Manocha from Giroscope & Paul Tozer from Kessellmann Plumbers Ltd. 

Mark Millar is joined by Andy Barton to discuss his Glamping 'Yellow Submarine' on the coast in Cheddar. Andy tells the story of how he came into possession of the lifeboat and how he converted it into something you can stay in on your holidays!

Mark Millar looks at going at it again and what you can learn from your first build. Guests include: Scott Baggaley AKA Scott DIY & Jools Cardozo

Mark Millar is joined by Ian Cowie from Blyth in Northumberland to talk about what he's doing to regenerate the local area. Ian tells an incredible story from drug addiction and prison to helping the community he once terrorised.

Mark Millar looks into getting the electrical aspects of your self build sorted. Mark talks to Paul Collins, Technical Director from the NICEIC about the importance of doing your due dilligence with regards to who you get to do the work. Electrical Contractor, Mike Toulson about options and possibilities with regards to smart home technology and touches on timescales, money and availability.

Mark Millar is joined by Richard Collins, founder of the CSR-A Accreditation and Sustainablity Advocate with a keen involvement in the construction industry. Richard talks about the accreditation and why he's created it, How you can build more sustainably and how to do it without it costing you more. 

Mark Millar invites Chartered Planning Consultant, Mark Doodes to join him and run through some high profile planning misshaps that made the national and local press. They talk through what went wrong or the challenges presented, what could have been done differently, how to avoid running into similar issues and Mark Doodes gives some solid advice at the end to recap.

Mark Millar talks to Charlotte Taylor about her Old Manor House Renovation project that she's taken on with her husband. Charlotte talks about the plans for the house, What she's found so far and what is next for the project.

Mark Millar takes a look at two options for insulating a home that may seem unconventional, but actually have more history and prove more effective, than many of the more conventional options. Mark talks to Michael Leung from Balanced Earth Architects in Byron Bay about the use of hemp. Paul Lynch from Ecococon discusses using straw elements to insulate and build.

Mark Millar is joined by two notable names from the heating and low carbon heating tech industry to discuss heat pumps in the run up to The Installer Show at the NEC next week. Mark asks Gareth Roberts from Carbon Zero Renewables about his doubts around heat pumps and talks to John Hancock, COO of Wolseley Group, about their work trying to train and educate the installer and end user 

Mark Millar looks into the massive legislative changes coming for landlords and tenants in the rental market, here in the UK. Mark talks to Eleanor Bateman, Public Affairs Manager for the National Residential Landlords Association and gets some helpful information for those struggling to get their head around it all. Mark speaks with Property Developer, Stuart Wyeth about how he's keeping on top of the rule changes and Mark shares some final thoughts as well

Mark Millar is joined by Passivhaus Architect, Gil Shalom so that he can get a further insight into how Passivhaus works and approach to design. Gil talks about why he got involved with Passivhaus, the project with Sarah and Steve Barr (from last week's episode) and also other notable projects. Gil also gives some advice for those seriously considering this method of building/renovation

Mark Millar is joined by new guests so that he can begin to follow their renovation and self build projects. Mark talks to Sarah and Steve Barr about the 17th century Schoolhouse that they're aiming to turn into a Passivhaus domestic dwelling. Mark also talks with Ben Rayner about his 4-5 bedroom self build project with an 8-month build time

Mark Millar is joined by Paul Richards from Aquarian Cladding to discuss options for brick cladding. Mark asks about the pros and cons, design and colour options, what it's like to work with and fire safety when compared to other cladding options

Jon Ransome from Ransome Flooring joins Mark to discuss his experiences running a business in construction and shares his cautionary tale that can be applied to many getting into property development as a full time business plan. Jon shares some good practice for project management and discusses the importance of being able to delegate and bring others into your business

Mark Millar is joined by Giles Keating, the owner of Athelhampton House, A stunning Tudor manor house in Dorchester which is open to the public and full of history. Giles talks about the incredible work he's gone in slashing the energy costs to the house to practically zero, using modern low carbon heating technology

Andrew Walker joins Mark Millar to give an update on his amazing 500 year old barn conversion that we've followed on the show since it's inception. Andrew talks about the handmade kitchen, changing your mind on a self build, drawing inspiration from the work he does for customers and what the final stages of the build have in store 

Mark Millar is joined by guests to explain what the Green Homes Plan is, Why you only have a short amount of time to improve your EPC rating to C or above if you want to continue renting it out past 2030 and also why it's still quite vague what the requirements for EPC ratings will be from next year onwards. Mark asks why this is happening, how we can come up with game plan and also how you can get more help meeting these requirements. Guests include: James Wood, Head of Policy at the National Residential Landlords Association & Brian Horne, Technical Lead at The Energy Saving Trust

Mark Millar is joined by Abigail Martin and Jack Baldry - a couple in their 30s who got onto the property ladder with an ambitious and very successful renovation project. Abigail and Jack talk about the planning, the concept, taking on much of the work themselves, working together and give advice for anyone considering doing the same

Mark Millar talks to Journalist, Tim Pollard and finds out what the Future Home Standard is, why it matters to self builders and how you can put a plan in place to ensure you meet the requirements. Mark also talks to Daniel Smith from Internorm about how windows can play a key role in improving your property to meet the demands of the Future Home Standard

Mark Millar looks into the challenges and logistics involved with rural construction, renovation, taking on a cottage and the maintenance involved with features like thatched roofs. Guests include: Jacob Harrell, Paul Shelly & Tim Phillips

Robin Clevett steps in for Mark Millar one final time and looks into options for mortgages, borrowing and also financing your self build projects properly. Robin asks top quality builder, Jack Auletta to give an honest rundown of how financing your build and budgeting should work. Tom McSherry from Buildstore Mortgage Services explains how you can go about getting a mortgage or borrowing the money to finance a building project. Tom also touches on the current climate on the market and gives other financial insight

Robin Clevett returns to cover for Mark Millar for a second week and is joined by Callum Davies-Russell,who has taken on many aspects of his self build project without any previous trade experience. Robin asks Callum about the build, the wins and challenges so far and the limit of what he's been able to achieve without being professionally trained

Robin Clevett covers for Mark Millar and talks to top quality Builder, Jack Auletta. Jack talks about how he went from being an Electrician to getting into house building, How he approaches building and gives advice for those with no trade experience who are working with a Builder on their self build project

Mark Millar talks to Self Build Expert, Mark Stevenson about how you can go about getting your paperwork in order and keeping on top of one of the most stressful aspects of self build

Mark Millar talks to Rachel Owens from The National Retrofit Hub to discuss the options, challenges & virtues of modernising the capital’s properties. Mark is also joined by Architect, Nikolay Shahpazov about his renovation project in the capital that he's aiming to do as sustainably as possible

Mark Millar is joined by Robin Callister from Urbanist Architecture to talk you through flat conversions for HMOs 

Mark Millar talks about building regs, the latest changes, Approved documents, the order and which to do things and how to engage Building Control when self building. Guests include: Martin Conlon & Nicholas Lambert

Mark Millar invites some guests who are Retrofit advocates and at the forefront of Retrofit training and implementation here in the UK to join him and talk about the virtues of Retrofit. Mark talks about the different and new options with regards to tech and renovation as well as talking about how the next generation of tradespeople here in the UK are getting taught to embrace it. Guests include: Victoria Isaac & Joe Booth

Mark Millar talks to tradespeople getting into property development this year and also talks to Stuart Wyeth about his experiences after having found success getting into property development in recent years. Guests include: James Naughton (Bricklayer), Alex Burman AKA Valley Viking (Carpenter/Roofer) & Stuart Wyeth (Property Developer)

Mark Millar invites fellow Fix Radio presenters to join him and give advice for all of you getting into self build. Mark talks to Robin Clevett about how to properly prepare for a large scale domestic building projects. John Roberts talks about how much of the landscaping you can realistically take on and Todd Glister shares some current learnings from his second ongoing self build project

Mark Millar looks at finding a plot for your self build project. Mark talks to Architect, Julian Owen about the considerations you need to make with regards to design and planning as you select a plot. Andrew Smith from Addland joins Mark to discuss the challenges and nuances to finding a location, considering the surroundings and accessability of each potential plot as well as providing some insight into what aquiring a plot involves