People turning to home improvement

With the housing market troubles still not letting up, many Brits are investing in their own property, it has been claimed.

Grand Designs Magazine editor Claire Barrett explained many people had emailed the publication with budgets of between £30,000 and £150,000.

She added this showed many homeowners were ready and willing to put money into their property, with conservatories, extensions, kitchens and dining rooms all examples of what could be added.

"If people can see that they are going to get some return on that eventually, there are still great opportunities for people to make a safe investment [by] investing in their home," Ms Barrett said.

Recent figures from B&Q show the DIY specialists recorded an 89 per cent year-on-year sales increase in the first quarter of 2009.

Sainsburys Home Insurance also noted a trend for home improvement, with 65 per cent of respondents to a recent survey having taken part in some form of modification over the past year.