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As an urban slummer I've never quite got my head round 1.5 storey, room in the roof type properties. For some it may be a planning requirement but for the bulk who go 1.5 presumably it's because it's a fair bit cheaper in terms of materials (particularly brick/cladding etc)?

Technically the cash is returned to a bank account of your choosing at closure and only the bonus has to be used in conveyancing. For the Lifetime ISA the bonus is added to the account at the end of the month when you made a deposit and the full sum needs to be used in the property transaction. I didn't realise I had to transfer my Help to Buy ISA over to the Lifetime one by, I think, January of the first year of the LISA so missed out on maybe a couple of grand worth of extra bonus which grates a bit. And currently have £2k sitting in a LISA from the top-up I made in the March and can't access. So not sure if my current self-build self is up or down but at least I should get a good weekend away at 60!

Lifetime ISA might be better (not checked if that includes land but think it replicates Help to Buy) as you can plank £4k in a year compared to £200 a month with Help to Buy.

Hanley also lend in Scotland though my experience was they'd only lend about 75% of what Ecology would to us.

In shape, size and first floor layout it is very similar to the plans we have sketched (and are having drawn just now) so it goes without saying that I think it looks really good! Love the idea of sectioning off the snug/bedroom and downstairs shower room from the rest of the property - we also have a downstairs shower room and separate snug-cum-spare which I'll have a look at again to see if it's possible to section that off. First instinct is it might not be.

Thanks all. Ferdinand, it's happening (to some extent) in Scotland already with minimum EPC ratings coming into force across all tenures, with owner-occupied homes to meet EPC C by 2030, where cost-effective and technically feasible. The devil will be in the detail but it may well force a sea change in attitude to energy efficiency and its economic value in homes.

I'm trying to compare the cost of a system with a u-value of 0.10 which is approximately 5.5k more expensive than one which has a u-value of 0.15. Are there any ready reckoners about to calculate payback of the additional capital cost?

Thanks, I should probably have looked before I presumed - see the standard ducting is only 75mm, for some reason I thought it was much bigger. Should be fairly straightforward then with a bit of foresight in the detailing. While on that, does anyone know where I'd start getting costs for precast concrete to negotiate down?

Sage advice I'm sure!

I suppose at least the fixed costs for these things gives them an incentive to get moving! Thanks; instinctively, I think it makes sense to go concrete throughout but can't work out how you'd put mvhr in, or alternatively why you'd build a very airtight house without it!

Appreciated all - there's multiple concrete companies within 5 miles of the build so definitely reckon the pump costs are heavily inflated.

Thanks - was that from a local/national supplier? Also, did the ICFers go with pre-cast concrete first floors (as has been suggested to us) or an alternative? If the former, were you able to duct MVHR?

Thanks - I'll be sure to ask them for a quote.

Thanks - I'm being quoted £1250 for 200m2 house so a bit toppy but perhaps not excessive.

Indeed, thanks.

Google found me a place in Wrexham... not sure if they deliver to Glasgow!

Thanks - appreciated.

I'm currently looking at an ICF quote which assumes a concrete cost of £121/m3 and an additional £865 per pump. A quick look on google suggests these are at the higher end of what the costs perhaps should be though some of the sources are dated. What's the 'real life' cost of concrete for slab (and potentially for ICF walls) just now?

Are there any more sustainable types of concrete mixes available and, if so, what sort of premium do they come in at?

I'm looking at a supply and erect quote just now which includes a cost of renting bracing which 1) I'd have expected to just be part of the installation service and be provided by the company and 2) seems a bit high (though not going on a lot). Has anyone paid for rent/purchase of bracing and, if so, how much did it cost?

Thanks. I'm doing costings for our lender just now so a rough m2 would be good - going to go out for quotes later on the week but not sure how responsive these companies are. Also, how much negotiation can be had with the 'quality' suppliers? I know with your big standard double glazing companies you usually pay half or less of the original quote but presumably the margin for negotiating down is significantly smaller at this end if the market?

Bump for this - any more recent experiences of pricing, quality, service from the named companies? Have you went supply and install or split it and what has your experience been like?

Just picking up on this. Thanks.

Yes, if you can rectify it - I had perhaps mistakenly presumed it was done prior to epc, completion certificate etc and after all the wall build-up has been done. If you can do it before plasterboard goes on then it may well be a spend to save.

Fair enough - perhaps money for something which doesn't add any value to the living experience or performance it the house then.