Building Ideas - with Mark Millar
Mark Millar has joined Fix Radio to host our brand new property development show!Every week the show offers practical advice, shares real-life experiences and introduces ‘out of the box’ thinking, designed to help working tradespeople develop their property.Mark and his panel of guests take a look at all the big questions, including financing, project management, finding the right partners, planning permission and embracing new building techniques and technologies.
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Episodes
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Major Changes Coming For Landlords & Tenants
Sunday, 15 June 2025
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
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Passivhaus Architect - Gil Shalom
Sunday, 8 June 2025
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
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An Ambitious Passivhaus Project & Starting A Self Build
Sunday, 1 June 2025
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
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A Look Into Brick Cladding
Sunday, 25 May 2025
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
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Good Business Practice & Project Management
Sunday, 18 May 2025
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
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The Incredible Story of Athelhampton House
Sunday, 11 May 2025
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
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Andrew Walker's Incredible Barn Conversion Is Almost Finished!
Sunday, 4 May 2025
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
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The Green Homes Plan & What It Means To Landlords
Sunday, 27 April 2025
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
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Renovating To Get On The Property Ladder
Sunday, 20 April 2025
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
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Your Future Home Standard Strategy
Sunday, 13 April 2025
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
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Rural Areas & Cottages
Sunday, 6 April 2025
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
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Mortgaging, Borrowing & Financing Self Build Projects
Sunday, 30 March 2025
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
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Building Your House Without Trade Experience
Sunday, 23 March 2025
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
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How To Become A Top Quality Builder
Sunday, 16 March 2025
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
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Getting Your Paperwork In Order
Sunday, 9 March 2025
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
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Building Sustainably In London
Sunday, 2 March 2025
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
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Flat Conversions With Robin Callister
Sunday, 23 February 2025
Mark Millar is joined by Robin Callister from Urbanist Architecture to talk you through flat conversions for HMOs
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Keeping In Line & On Top of Building Regs
Sunday, 16 February 2025
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
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Another Look At Retrofit
Sunday, 9 February 2025
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
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Getting Into Property Development
Sunday, 2 February 2025
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)
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Advice For Self Builders From Fix Radio Presenters
Sunday, 26 January 2025
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
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Find Your Plot
Sunday, 19 January 2025
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
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Some Great Renovation Ideas From Scott Baggaley AKA Scott DIY
Sunday, 12 January 2025
Scott Baggaley AKA Scott DIY joins Mark Millar to discuss how buying a property that needed a huge amount of work doing transformed into an incredible renovation journey that's seem him gain a huge following online, with an upcoming Channel 4 show on the horizon. Scott gives some tips and ideas for renovating your home and for those who aren't in the trade explains the limits of what you could and should attempt with regards to DIY
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Dr. Joe Jack Williams Discusses Zero Carbon Housing
Sunday, 15 December 2024
Sustainability expert & advocate, Dr. Joe Jack Williams discusses Zero caron homes, building with timber, his collaboration with a Japanese forestry company and plans to lobby the Government with regards to Zero Carbon houses and sustainable building methods
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Architect Laura Jane Clark's Georgian Property & More!
Sunday, 8 December 2024
Mark Millar is joined by Architect, Laura Jane Clark to discuss her experiences, ideas, Her own Georgian home renovation and other notable projects
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Will 2025 Be A Good Year To Build?
Sunday, 1 December 2024
As we come into the final month of 2024, Mark Millar invites a range of guests to join him and discuss what 2025 might have in store if you're planning to build. Guests include: Paddy O'Hart (selfbuildconsultancy.co.uk), John Newcomb, CEO of the Builder's Merchants Federation & Katy Ashcroft from the National Self Build & Renovation Centre
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Colour & Design Options For Your Walls
Sunday, 24 November 2024
Mark Millar invites artist, designer & decorator Claire Noble to join him and give you a guide to colour choices, design options and mural creation for the walls of your self build, new home or existing property
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Building With Timber
Sunday, 17 November 2024
Mark Millar invites some champions of wood and timber framed construction to join him and discuss the benefits of using timber in your building practices. Andrew Waugh from Waugh Thistleton Architects talks about the possibilities and sustainability with regards to timber frame structures and Carpenter/Builder, Garvin Morey (Sterlingdale) discusses a notable build he completed with wood at the center of his building methods
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A Chat With Architectural Technologist Angela Rossi
Sunday, 10 November 2024
Mark Millar is joined by Achitectural Technologist, Angela Rossi so that Mark can ask her about her approach to design and about her building ideas
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Avoiding Running Out of Money On Projects
Sunday, 3 November 2024
Mark Millar is joined by guests so that he can get both expert advice and the experience of the self builder with regards to running out of money on self build projects. Guests include: Tom McSherry from Buildstore, QS Tim Phillips & Charlotte Gowers
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