HEM Architects

Call Directions Website Contact the business

HEM Architects Sheffield residential architects specialising in creative, sustainable homes which delight every day.

Our lives are centred around our homes so why shouldn’t they be designed to maximise your happiness and health? HEM Architects specialise in creative, sustainable residential architecture in Sheffield & Oakham. We’re on a mission to help everyone live in beautiful, practical homes that have minimal impact on our planet. Our friendly and highly skilled team are on hand to take inspiration from the mess and joy of your everyday life to create a beautifully crafted home which will delight you every day. We're looking forward to helping you transform your dream into reality.

Is your garden starting to feel like more of an expensive, physical strain than a sanctuary? A huge garden or side plot ...
22/10/2026

Is your garden starting to feel like more of an expensive, physical strain than a sanctuary?

A huge garden or side plot is fantastic when raising a family, but as time goes on, keeping up with endless maintenance can become an exhausting burden.

If you're feeling land-rich in space but cash-poor when planning your retirement, helping your children onto the property ladder, or considering downsizing, you don't have to move away from the neighbours, routines, and community you love to simplify your life.

Building a bespoke, low-energy home right in your garden allows you to downsize next door into warm, tailor-made comfort while releasing tax-efficient value from your plot.

Worried about high-risk, stressful planning applications? You don't need to gamble with your equity. We evaluate site feasibility, planning policy, and budgets early on to de-risk the build step-by-step.

Ready to explore what's possible for your plot whilst managing your risk?

Download our free guide: ‘Unlock the hidden value of your garden’ using the link below.

21/10/2026

Thinking about building on a plot on the edge of a town or village, but always assumed planning permission was out of reach?

National planning policy has just opened up a huge opportunity.

Here is the simple version: when local councils fail to meet their official housing targets, the rules shift heavily in your favour. If there’s a proven need for homes in your area, plots that are physically close to an existing settlement suddenly stand a much better chance of getting approved, even on land that was previously blocked.

What does this mean for you?

* Unlocking ‘impossible’ sites: Plots right on the edge of existing communities are back on the table.
* Planning certainty: Councils can no longer easily turn down well-designed, sensible proposals if they’re falling behind on their own numbers.
* Realising plot value: A piece of land you had previously written off could now be your ideal self-build site or a high-value development opportunity.

If you own a site on the edge of a settlement or want to check whether your local council is missing its housing targets, we’re here to help you navigate the details.

Drop us a DM or comment PROJECT below to chat through what this shift could mean for your plot!

Negative Pre-App Feedback? It’s Not a Dead End. It’s Data.A negative pre-app response or planning refusal can feel like ...
20/10/2026

Negative Pre-App Feedback? It’s Not a Dead End. It’s Data.

A negative pre-app response or planning refusal can feel like hitting a total brick wall. Watching your finance get used up while your site’s potential hangs in the balance is hard.

A negative pre-app isn't a final verdict.

It’s informal, non-binding feedback based on early, incomplete information.

When you reframe that knock-back as valuable data, it becomes the exact roadmap you need to achieve planning approval.

At HEM Architects, we specialise in converting planning friction into high-value approvals through strategic design adjustments and evidence-based planning policy analysis.

Take our Last House case study:

We secured planning permission on the very first attempt for a multi-generational home in a sensitive Conservation Area and Green Belt delivering a house 61% larger than standard planning policy typically allows and unlocking £484,000 in added development value.

It is also up for sale.

-----

Ready to turn your stalled development into a success story? Book a phone call with us using the link in the comments.

Planning a low-energy home? We’d love to meet you in Harrogate.We’re excited to be exhibiting at the Homebuilding & Reno...
10/10/2026

Planning a low-energy home? We’d love to meet you in Harrogate.

We’re excited to be exhibiting at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show again from 30 October – 1 November.

Come visit us at Stand B337 to talk about making your dream home a warm, energy-efficient reality.

We’re also presenting two expert sessions during the show:

The Ideal Plot Could Be Under Your Nose: How to Turn a Garden into Your Dream Home
Friday 30 Oct @ 13:00 – 13:20 | with Alan MacDonald

From Old Home to Eco Home: How to Slash Your Fuel Bills and Make Your Home Warm and Cosy
Saturday 31 Oct & Sunday 1 Nov @ 15:00 – 15:30 | with Paul Testa and David Hilton

Save the dates and drop by Stand B337 to talk low-energy homes.

See the link below to register for 2 free tickets.

07/10/2026

Do you have a site in a rural area that you wrote off because it’s outside of a settlement boundaries? Planning rules have now become more favourable.

Under the latest National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) update, limited infilling between existing homes is now recognised as acceptable development, even outside settlement limits.

That plot you thought was impossible to build on might actually get approved.

Watch the video to hear HEM Architects Director, Paul Testa, explain.

If you want to build a new home but are worried about a planning block, comment PROJECT below, and we’ll send you a link to book a phone call to see what’s possible.

Last year the team visited one of our Passivhaus projects yesterday that was close to completion. The Burrows in Stocksb...
03/10/2026

Last year the team visited one of our Passivhaus projects yesterday that was close to completion. The Burrows in Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire.

We first secured planning permission for Peter and Joanne back in 2012 and, as self-builders, they’ve shown tremendous perseverance in bringing their vision to life.

This unique Paragraph 55 (now Paragraph 84) home is built into the wind-swept hillside, making the most of a fantastic setting with views across South Yorkshire. Its earth-sheltered form reduces the impact on the landscape while keeping the home well-insulated.

Performance has been central to the design. With a heating demand of 14 kWh/m².a, the home is exceptionally efficient. Joanne and Peter said they spent just over £100 on energy bills last year and it has been really warm and comfortable.

Every habitable room has been carefully oriented to capture daylight and views, while avoiding overheating and maintaining comfort.

The site itself was a former quarry, so much of the stone used in construction was reclaimed directly from the grounds.

Also interestingly, the house sits on the Barnsley / Sheffield boundary. So the house is in Barnsley, but step outside the door and you're in Sheffield.

The Burrows achived an important milestone back in 2012. It was the very first home in South Yorkshire to achieve planning permission under Paragraph 55, paving the way for more innovative, landscape-led design in the region.

-----

If like Peter and Joanne you have big ambitions for an Passivhaus or new build home then please get in contact with us using the link in the comments.

We're thrilled that Felicity Heath has recently joined the practice as a Project Architect.Felicity brings a wealth of e...
29/09/2026

We're thrilled that Felicity Heath has recently joined the practice as a Project Architect.

Felicity brings a wealth of experience across a range of residential scales.

Her journey began in specialist conservation, including retrofitting Naval assets, before moving on to larger housing and student schemes.

She’s passionate about breathing new life into existing buildings and unlocking the full potential of every site she works on.

Outside of the studio, Felicity stays super active where you can find her hiking, taking part in water sports, or out on the netball court.

Best of all, we’re already enjoying her fabulous baking in the office!

Please join us in giving Felicity a big welcome!

Our recent video on planning changes was super popular and promptedsome questions. So we've answered 3 of the most commo...
23/09/2026

Our recent video on planning changes was super popular and prompted
some questions. So we've answered 3 of the most common ones.

A common thread running through these questions is that the new NPPF changes how councils assess planning applications for new homes.

Previously a blanket 'no' will be replaced by a more balanced weighing of the benefits of housing against the site constraints.

----

If you'd like to understand if your site or a previously refused application has potential?

Click the link in the comments to book a phone call.

19/09/2026

A beautiful home needs beautiful words thanks

Sort Trae in Thurgoland near Barnsley is an award winning modern home and studio built to Passivhaus standards.

The design carefully considers the exposed, steeply sloping site. The ground floor of the 2 storey house was set in to the hillside to limit its impact on the neighbours’ views. The home is respectful of its surroundings and takes advantage of the fantastic valley views.

This Passivhaus home has minimal energy demand, year round comfort and plenty of health benefits. This will help Susi stay cool on even the hottest summers day and keep her energy bills to a minimum.

Client
Main contractor .co.uk
Engineer
Glazing
Kitchen

Turning four planning refusals into an award-winning home in a garden.When Jo & Gail decided to downsize, they didn't wa...
17/09/2026

Turning four planning refusals into an award-winning home in a garden.

When Jo & Gail decided to downsize, they didn't want to compromise on design and sustainability.

They had a vision for a light-filled, contemporary "forever home," but their plot presented big hurdles: a steep slope with mature trees and a history of four failed planning applications due to overlooking and tree concerns.

HEM Architects were asked to take on the challenge and give them the confidence that their dream was genuinely achievable.

By designing a clever two-storey dwelling embedded right into the hillside, we were able to solve the big constraints.

We placed a solid, snug masonry plinth on the lower level for private bedrooms, and elevated the main living spaces to the top floor to capture breathtaking views.

Wrapped in timber shingles that silver over time to blend effortlessly into the trees, the home is both beautiful and energy-efficient.

Planning permission was granted on the very first attempt, proving that your ideal next chapter might be much closer than you think.

---

With new planning rules explicitly supporting new homes in gardens to create gentle density and support existing services, your garden could be the location of your dream house.

If you're interested in going from "don't know" to being confident you can build in your garden, we have a simple 3-step process. Book a 15-minute phone call with us using the link below to find out more.

Address

Floor 2 Parkhead House, Carver Street
Sheffield
S14FS

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441144420123

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when HEM Architects posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to HEM Architects:

Shortcuts

Share

Category