Home improvers urged to utilise software

Homeowners who watch the TV show Grand Designs and wonder what a bespoke conservatory would look like on their house may be interested to hear the comments of a software expert.

Eleco Visualisation Software product manager Tim Bates claimed his company's house design merchandise could save homeowners time and money.

He explained the computer technology allowed users to picture how their property might look after work is completed.

"We've had some users who've spent thousands on architects who haven’t quite got it right yet and having this software could have saved them a lot of time and money prior to handing it over to their architect," Mr Bates said.

The firm released Grand Designs 3D last year at the show's live event in October.

It allows homeowners to create and visualise their own project in a virtual space.

Aimed at allowing people building their own home, the software may also be of use to those planning an extension or conservatory.

The National Building Council recently revealed regions in the south and east of England were responsible for half of the UK's new builds in the first quarter of 2009.