HEM Architects

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Last week’s video on the new planning policy changes got a huge response. It’s clear many of you are trying to figure ou...
12/09/2026

Last week’s video on the new planning policy changes got a huge response.

It’s clear many of you are trying to figure out what the updated planning rules mean for you.

The new rules explicitly favour well-located, sustainable development, opening up opportunities for garden builds, grey belt sites, and infill plots.

Swipe through the carousel to see a bit more how the changes apply to your specific plot:

🏡 Gardens & infill sites
🌳 Edge-of-settlement & green belt land
⚡ Sustainable, low-energy builds & Passivhaus
🌾 Exceptional isolated rural sites

You can read more details about the planning changes in the blog on our website. Link in the comments.

05/09/2026

The updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) creates new opportunities for people looking to build beautiful, low energy homes.

There is now explicit support for new homes in gardens.

For new homes in infill sites such as replacing garages, and gaps between and behind existing houses.

More relaxed rules for new homes on the edges and outside of settlement boundaries.

Also more support for development on Grey Belt sites.

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Book a phone call with us and we can help you understand what you need to do in order to get planning approval for a dream home or a life changing development opportunity. Comment PROJECT and we will send you the link to book a call.

From cramped and chaotic to bright, warm, and built to last. We loved working with Claire and Dave on their home in Cros...
03/09/2026

From cramped and chaotic to bright, warm, and built to last.

We loved working with Claire and Dave on their home in Crosspool, Sheffield.

When their 1950s house no longer met their family's needs, we redesigned the ground floor—adding a smart extension, a dedicated utility space, and key upgrades that have completely transformed how they live day-to-day.

Swipe to see the transformation, and check out the lovely Google review they left us.

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Feeling stuck in a home that no longer works for your family? Now is the time to start planning.

September is our busiest month for Project Preparation Workshops, and we only have 5 spots remaining for new projects.

Start your journey with a Project Preparation Workshop for £199 + VAT.

Use the link below to book a phone call and we can arrange your Project Preparation Workshop.

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

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