From now until the Spring Equinox, our evenings are longer than our days. Perhaps you’ve even caught yourself muttering ‘the nights are drawing in’, which is a sure sign we’re well into autumn and heading towards winter.

Despite our love of all things digital, homes still proudly bear cases, shelves and bedside tables groaning with the weight of books. In fact NIQ figures showed 116 million books were sold in the UK during 2024.

If the two words ‘planning permission’ leave you cold, you’re probably due a refresher on home improvements, especially what’s possible without authorisation.