Over 50 leading architecture, design and finance experts will offer free advice sessions in ‘Ask an Expert’ at Grand Designs Live and the Green Living Advice Zone.
Grand Designs Live and Green Living Live, taking place from 5th – 9th at NEC Birmingham, provide a host of inspiration and consumer advice with two shows packed full of organisations offering innovation and expertise to spark your curiosity and answer your planning, design, technology, and architectural questions.
This year, Grand Designs Live is offering free ‘Ask an Expert’ sessions; one to one appointments where visitors can sit down with an expert and discuss your own grand design. Specialists include RIBA architects, interior designers, financial, planning, and eco experts. They’ll be available to talk about project management, design, self-build, up-cycling, renovation and more. Bring your plans, drawings, and budgets to get the most out of your session. Appointments can be pre-booked using this link, or you can turn up on the day to secure one of the additional slots available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
At Green Living Live which runs alongside Grand Designs Live, the Green Living Advice Zone powered by OVO is dedicated to helping visitors decarbonise their homes. Advice will cover smart metres, insulation, solar panels, EV charging, heat pumps and how to save water. Experts will be available throughout the show to help consumers tackle the energy and cost of living crisis head on and find the best solutions for their home. OVO recognise the need to help us all play a part in fighting the climate crisis and are passionate about offering advice to move towards zero carbon living. Appointments are available to pre-book here.
Richard Morey, director of Grand Designs Live and Green Living Live organiser Media 10, said;
“With the ongoing cost of living rises coupled with the necessity to live more sustainably and drive our impact on the earth down to net zero, it is crucial for Grand Design Live and Green Living Live to offer our visitors the latest advice for all their design and build needs. Our experts have been carefully selected to cover the most relevant topics – there aren’t many opportunities where consumers can get such extensive free advice under one roof.”
One of the experts, Phil Bagnall, managing director for Matrix Structures, part of the GMOC Group said;
“I welcome the opportunity to talk to you about your dreams and aspirations for your new self-build project. I will be honest, enthusiastic, and as helpful as I can, even if that means pointing you in a different direction to our system.”
Chris Whitehouse, chartered planning & development surveyor, planning expert witness and managing director of UK planning and development practice NextPhase said;
“Planning can be such a minefield, especially on major or protected sites, within the Green Belt and the countryside. Our breadth of experience in these situations is unmatched and we can offer assistance with major applications, planning disputes and appeals. It’s so important to be well informed, and ‘Ask and Expert’ gives the perfect opportunity to collect advice for your unique project.”
Valton Brown, chartered architectural technologist and design consultant at Cudot Architecture said;
“Ask an Expert provides the perfect environment for open dialogue about projects that are wrapped in months of ‘what ifs’. In fact, this is the inspiration behind the name Cudot. It is a derivative of ‘Q.’ (Q dot), because every project starts with a question.”
Rob Bohm, heat & sustainability manager at CLPM said;
“At CLPM we’re passionate about construction – and we care deeply about the environment too. Our construction consultancy is 100% independent of architects, builders, manufacturers, and suppliers so our advice will always be in our clients’ best interests.”
Grand Designs Live and Green Living Live will be welcoming more than 50 experts over the five-day event, running from the 5th – 9th October at NEC Birmingham. Whether you’re planning a complete build project, or renovating just one room, you’ll find all the advice, information and inspiration you need for your own grand design.