Planning permission is a requirement for anybody who intends to carry out developments or major improvements to existing structures. It is imperative that a self-build planning policy is watertight in order to gain planning permission prior to the commencement of any construction – however, the process can be confusing, particularly when different planning policy tiers are taken into account.

Taking care early on in a project can save you time when it’s needed most. But with so many variables and elements to consider, some of the most pressing issues can get lost in the mix or missed entirely.

So, what exactly is 3D visualisation and how can representing your architectural design help you save serious money when it comes to building your home?

Here at BDS Architecture, we recently shared some top tips to maximise light and brighten a dark room (if you haven't yet checked out these tips, click here). These ideas, such as decorating with light colours and using mirrors to reflect light around the room, can really make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home, but they're not the only options. In fact, there are actually even more ways to maximise light and make your home feel more open, airy, and spacious, and we're going to show you how.

Here are 4 more tricks to maximise light and brighten a dull, dark room:

A loft conversion or an extension are both ideal choices for people who want to expand the available space within their home for a number of different reasons. But which is the right option?

All renovations are large projects that should be seriously considered before they're undertaken. When you're dealing with the renovation of a period property, however, even more careful thought needs to be applied.

There comes a time in most homeowner’s lives when they simply need more space. More space may be required, for example, if a homeowner is expecting another baby or looking to start a room sharing business. This leaves a homeowner with only two options - extend or move house.

A leading team of surveyors have recently predicted that UK house prices will have risen 6% since the start of the year to the end of it. With buyers now being supported further and able to once again consider purchasing new homes, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has suggested that more than £16,000 could be added to the value of the average UK home.

There’s no denying that architects and building designers have been responsible for some of the broadest smiles ever seen. A job done well by these professionals can achieve incredible results and leave a customer or client happy for a very long time.

Almost 20% of UK homes are now equipped with their very own conservatory offering extra living space, places of solitude and portals to the back garden and if you are considering getting your very own, it is easy to do so with the help of an architectural design service.

When it comes to redesigning or rebuilding your home, there is certain to be a few elements that you want or need to get as close to perfect as possible. Of course, not all of these will be vital in the long term and knowing what to prioritise in terms of budget, time and resources will ultimately see better decisions made.