Plan it, Build it

The Arnolds of East Dulwich hope to have their wishes for an open-plan kitchen granted. However, the project may not gain the approval of their neighbours. The programme also charts the fortunes of Ed White, who needs to create more space in the family home to accommodate the needs of his daughter Hannah.

Britain is a crowded country and most of us live up close and personal with our neighbours.So is it possible for one family to get the extension they need, without compromising the space enjoyed by those who live closest to them?The Doves want a bigger kitchen and an extra bedroom. They don't envisage any problems but planner Carol Boydell is all set to reject their application. Then the Doves come up with a scheme that turns their situation around. Watch out for little Ian's dance of pure joy!Paul and Paula Carmichael live in a popular Coventry suburb. They want an open-plan kitchen where son Dexter can play as mum Paula prepares dinner. It sounds simple but once again the planners are worried about what the neighbours will say.By the end of the show there's been a total transformation - but have Paul and Paula ended up with the space they longed for?

This show is all about enlarging on a budget. Times are tough and money is tight but families up and down the land desperately need to increase their living space. So is it possible to extend without spending a fortune? Both families in today's show prove that it can be done. The Goodes have a modern two-bedroomed home and have budgeted £15k to extend it. Can £15k buy a whole extra bedroom and the equivalent space downstairs? The answer is a resounding yes! The results are impressive. Leon and Lindsey Samson have taken a huge risk and started work on their home before planning permission has been granted. They simply cannot afford to waste time waiting. It is a nerve-wracking process but, just like the Goodes, the Samsons come through smiling.

This episode looks at listed buildings. Is it possible to extend and adapt listed buildings or are they simply a historic headache? A very determined couple attempt to turn a Grade 2 star listed building into a beautiful family home. The Crown House in Hastings is an abandoned pub, but if Pete and Janine Rich can get permission for change of use, from commercial to residential, they will take the first step in a quite remarkable transformation. The projected spend is high, but the potential rewards are even higher. Joel Griggs has sunk all his savings into a most unusual project: he wants to create a crime museum in Hastings. Joel's museum will be located in caves behind a Grade 2 listed facade. He is confident he can make the business a success - but only if he gets planning permission to erect a large sign on the front of his listed building. If all goes to plan, Joel will be turning over an astonishing £80,000 per annum.

We love period properties - they have character, quality workmanship and elegant proportions. But all too often period properties simply aren't fit for modern day living. And planners can cause problems when it comes to making changes. In this show, a couple in Sheffield want a modern extension on their 1930s home, but they're told they must make some compromises; and a couple of architects are also forced to change their plans. The Singhs in Coventry have totally gutted and rebuilt their period home, and they're delighted with the results. All three families believe that ultimately their extensions will substantially increase the value of their properties. Three ambitious projects, three very different households, and three different sized budgets. So who will get planning permission? And who will get the most additional space for their money?

Getting permission to extend in a conservation area can prove extremely problematic. Roland Cain has bought a flat but cannot get the planning permission he desperately wants to open up his attic. He plans to spend £40,000 to create an extra bedroom so his son can visit from university, but getting permission for an extended dormer window is proving a headache. The O'Reillys live in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Their home has fantastic views over the High Weald in Hastings, but they need planning permission to extend one corner of the house and incorporate an outside bedroom. Carol Boydell from Hastings Planning Office loves the area, but will she grant the all-important planning permission? It's a nail-biting wait.

Planners have pretty much seen it all, but occasionally an application lands on their desk that takes them by surprise. In this episode, one young couple wants permission to set up a dog hydrotherapy centre, and another couple wants to build where no-one else would dare. Both applications have significant financial repercussions. The dog hydrotherapy centre is an investment that could yield real returns, and the couple building their dream house could end up with a million-pound finished property. There are problems in the form of a great crested newt and a lapsed application, but both couples prove that when it comes to planning, persistence pays.

In Hastings, the Brett family want a teenage den in the garden and a Juliet balcony.

One homeowner wants a perfect seaside retreat, others an extra bedroom and cinema room.