buildbeautiful issue 2 by Potton

ISSUE 02

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SELF BUILD… Case study snap shots • Top Tips • How to budget • Self Build Academy • Plots for sale IMAGE © JEREMY PHILLIPS AND HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING

BE A UTIFULLY TAILO R ED

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

WELCOME A message from Potton’s Self Build Director Paul Newman

16 KEEP IN TOUCH FOLLOW US ON TWITTER LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Last year, to celebrate our 50th Birthday, we published the first edition of our magazine build beautiful. We have been stunned by how popular it has been with our customers and are delighted to present this, the 2nd issue. It’s bigger than its predecessor and we hope more informative and enjoyable to read – quite literally there’s more of everything. I’ve identified a few personal highlights below, we really do hope you enjoy reading it and would love to hear from you on what we should cover in the next issue. It’s been another busy year for the team at Potton and it’s clear that more and more people are deciding to self build. It’s also clear that the sector is continuing to develop and evolve and as you would expect Potton is playing a leading role in this. Perhaps the major change this year has been the emergence of Custom Build schemes as a new ‘flavour’ of self build. You can read about Potton’s Custom Build projects and plans on page 16. Every self builder has a budget and without doubt it’s the most important part of the project. Anyone who tells you otherwise is deluded and should be avoided at all costs. In his article David Snell, probably the world’s most experienced self builder, explains why it all starts with budget and offers up his experience to help you stay on track with your project. We have had a record number of visitors to our show centre in St Neots this year. Our Gransden show home has been refurbished and in my opinion looks absolutely stunning – let us know on Facebook what you think. The construction of our sixth still to be named passivhaus show home is well underway and the centre is now firmly in place as home to the Self Build Academy. This year, the Academy has played host to over 1,200 people as they attend courses, events and seminars. If you are serious about self build then why not sign up at www.selfbuildacademy.co.uk. Finally, if you have preconceived ideas about the style of houses we produce for customers then think again. The eight case studies showcased in this issue will make you reconsider and hopefully illustrate the full breadth of what we do.

27 On the cover Christine & Richard Baker, Isle of Man

HAPPY SELF BUILDING…

Paul Newman Self Build Director

IN THIS ISSUE

CASE STUDY 1 | CHRISTINE & RICHARD BAKER

FACTORY FOCUS

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE BUDGET

CASE STUDY 2 | TERESA & TERRY GIBBONS

CASE STUDY 3 | TOM ALLEN & ZOE GODBOLD

FORTY YEARS IN THE MAKING

WHERE DREAMS ARE BUILT

SUCCESSFUL SELF BUILD

BORN AND SELF BUILT IN THE SAME VILLAGE

ADDING CREATIVE FLAIR TO A CONVENTIONAL DESIGN

CUSTOM BUILD

PLOTS FOR SALE

CASE STUDY 4 | MICHELLE & ANDREW EARLE

SELF BUILD LIVE

ted The comple on ti transforma en sd of our Gran e show hom revealed!

THE PROBLEM WITH SELF BUILD IS...

OFFERING VALUE TO LAND OWNERS

“OUR HOVEL TO HOME”

POTTON’S PASSIVHAUS KINGSPAN EDITORIAL

CREATING A TRULY ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME

GOODBYE TO “MR SELF BUILD” A pioneer of our industry who will be greatly missed... Last year we said goodbye to our former owner and Chairman Peter Hutchinson, who sadly passed away in July, at the age of 83.

When in 1992 Potton built the UK’s first permanent self build show centre in St Neots in Cambridgeshire, featuring three fully finished homes for aspiring self builders to visit – it was opened to critical acclaim.

Born and bred in Potton Town, Peter set up his own woodworking business in 1964, making pallets and fruit packing cases for local farmers. The company went on to manufacture engineered timber components for the construction industry and in fact as Peter used to say “if it’s made of wood, we will manufacture it.”

Receiving an OBE in 2007 for his services to the self build industry, Peter said “I am very proud that the team of people who helped make Potton a success are being recognised for their achievements. As a company, we didn’t focus on profitability, we were about the best possible product, customer service with systems and productivity to match.”

After a trip to America, Peter saw an opportunity to build timber houses in the UK, especially as nobody else was doing it at that time. Throughout the 1970s Potton produced thousands of kits for council houses in new town areas throughout the UK and also entered the export market, sending house packages and modular buildings to the Middle East and Africa. When the building of council houses came to an abrupt end in the late 70s Peter set his sights on the private sector and supplied timber frame kits to major developers and builders throughout the country, with the likes of Barratt Homes, Laing Construction and Trusthouse Forte as clients.

And now with in excess of 10,000 people every year self building their own homes in the UK, Potton has become an established and well respected company providing the self build market, both here and overseas, with stylish, bespoke and beautifully designed homes.

Always the entrepreneur and after seeing his daughter renovate an old cottage and re-discovering the structural beams behind the plasterboard, Peter developed an idea to design and build ‘country cottages’ for rural England. So together with his close friend Architect Clive Plumb, Peter embarked on designing a post and beam structural system that was inspired by the Tudor style of houses – hence the Heritage range was born.

Peter always said he wanted the name Potton to roll off of people’s tongues in the same way as the name Hoover does…Well Peter, we think you most certainly achieved that!

Instrumental in founding and developing the UK self build industry Peter launched the first self build house design at the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1984. Potton was featured on breakfast TV and had numerous visits from Royalty including the Queen, which put the company firmly on the map.

Peter Hutchinson… A man ahead of his time, he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him, and worked with him.

APPRAISING A PLOT

BARN KITCHEN

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

DESIGN SERVICES

CASE STUDY 6 | JEAN & ERIC SAWYER

GRANSDEN MAKEOVER

CASE STUDY 5 | CHRIS & ELLIE SCRIVENS

CHANGING EXPECTATIONS

STATE OF THE ART MAKEOVER

BRAND NEW KITCHEN FOR WICKHAMBROOK BARN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR CASE STUDY 7 | GARETH & MAY HUXTABLE

SITTING ON THE KEY TO SELF BUILD

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

TOP TIPS

CASE STUDY 8 | GEORGINA & CHARLES SERAFINI

VALUES PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

A TOUCH OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SELF BUILD ACADEMY

SEMINARS & EVENTS FOR SELF BUILDERS

SELF BUILD TOP TIPS STAYING CLOSE TO HOME

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 01

FORTY YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Christine and Richard Baker had lived on the Isle of Man for many years, they had refurbished properties in various locations on the island but had yearned to build their own home for almost 40 years.

Christine Richard Baker

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Isle of Man Build Cost:

£1,397m2 Current Valuation:

£675,000

WINNER

Best Timber Frame Home

They eventually came across a garden plot in the perfect location, which had “in principle” planning permission. Their aim was to build a home to their very own design and specification without compromise. “We wanted a low energy, contemporary but un-fussy design with lots of glass, inside/outside living, open plan living area and a basement garage underneath.” The initial design, which was drawn up by Richard, was a contemporary cubist design based on a concept drawing he had seen in a magazine. “We didn’t want something that was trying to be old looking or traditional retro styled, we wanted clean uncluttered lines, be reasonably minimal in design but incorporating some sustainable energy saving products” says Christine. The couple, who already knew of Potton and its reputation, sent their drawings to the company in order to provide a feasibility study and obtain a price, after which they met with one of Potton’s self build specialists. “He showed great interest in our ideas and our layout and was very helpful in guiding us through some minor detail changes to our design” says Christine. The plans for the basement area had been designed by a local structural engineer and after showing them to Potton’s technician Keith Butler to ensure compatibility with the timber frame, he identified a mistake that could have been disastrous. “Thank goodness we decided to

show him the plans” said Richard “he identified an error with the positioning of the steel beams in the basement and actually saved the day by designing-in an additional laminated timber beam into the main frame.” Following this Christine and Richard felt very confident that Potton had the experience to produce a quality product and they were not disappointed. “One of the major benefits for us was Potton’s service of producing our plans. Their price was a fraction of what we would have had to pay an Architect so this got the project off to a really good start.” After months of complex groundworks, the couple took delivery of their timber frame. “The erection team were excellent, very professional and most helpful, communication with them and the Potton Contracts Manager was excellent.” “Our most memorable moment in the whole process was going from a basement to a fully erected frame in just 6 days….magic!!” said Richard.

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IMAGES © JEREMY PHILLIPS AND HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING

Christine and Richard used local subcontractors to finish the roof, the triple glazed windows were sourced from a European supplier and the staircase was supplied by a local company. All other work was carried out by Richard and Christine with the exception of the second fix electrics which were all tested and certified by a local electrician.

THEY FITTED THEMSELVES

The couple were very keen to incorporate renewable and eco products into the house design and decided that in order to meet their budget they would install all the items themselves.

• Built the front wall and fitted entrance gates

“We would do it again if we were younger, but we would include a lift” says Richard. “Potton supplied an allround terrific service and if we were to do it again, we would certainly use them again… and we would certainly recommend them.”

One of the many benefits of using Potton was their service stretched well beyond designing and erecting the kit.

• Air Source Heat Pump • Underfloor Heating system • Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system with heat pump for exhaust air extraction - A separate exhaust air heat pump for domestic hot water

• Landscaped the garden and laid all of the paving and driveway • Re-built the stone boundary wall with materials re-claimed from the rubble dug out for the foundations

G RO U N D F LO O R

• Fitted the 3.6KW solar photo voltaic system to the roof • Unloaded from a lorry into the basement then fixed 300 sheets of Fermacell wall board throughout the house • Decorated the whole house and chose all the bathroom furniture and floor coverings • The couple are currently in the process of constructing a small hydro-electricity turbine utilising the stream that runs through the garden.

F I R S T F LO O R

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

FACTORY FOCUS WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE In this edition of build beautiful, we’re shining the Potton spotlight on our factory - a department which, on the whole, goes pretty unnoticed but is home to the outstanding team who skilfully craft your Potton home. Established in 1973 and located at Potton’s head office in Bedfordshire, the factory has seen several extensions over the years and today consists of nine units. The factory is a hub of activity and has over 50 dedicated staff members including; transport manager, supervisors, storemen, assembly operatives, sawyers, forklift truck drivers and treatment plant operatives. The team work seamlessly to produce the quality product Potton has built its reputation on. Taking delivery of 5000 tonnes of timber per year and turning out hundreds of homes of varying sizes per year, the factory is a constant hive of activity.

ER OV

300 TONNES

LARGEST PRIVATE HOUSE

844m2

OF RECYCLING

5000 TONNES

LARGEST ORDER

WOOD PER YEAR

for Center UNITS Parcs,Woburn

PER YEAR

625

THE MANUFACTURE PROCESS Once our customers’ drawings and schedules have been completed by the design office they are passed to Production for manufacture. Component parts lists such as wall insulation, wall panel framing timbers and sheathing board are accurately sized and collated. The supervisory team then distributes the specific requirements of each project to their respective teams. The timbers are cut using state of the art equipment and then treated as necessary using our onsite treatment facility. Steel beams and hangers are purchased allowing time for assembly prior to despatch.

Heritage range houses have their large section post and beam superstructures cut to size and surface finished to customer’s requirements. “From the moment the timber is delivered, our rigorous quality control procedures take place” said Martin Waker, Potton’s Operations Manager. “The wood is checked for length, grade and moisture content, discarding anything that doesn’t come up to standard. “Quality is something we take very seriously” said Martin “and this continues right the way through the process.”

WORKING OUT WASTE... The factory is sustainable and recycles the majority of its waste where it can. We have large wood burners on site, where the timber off-cuts are used to heat the factory buildings throughout the winter, with the summer waste going to a local pet breeder who stores it to provide their own winter heating. The sawdust is taken away to manufacture commercial “spill-kits” and the plastic sheeting and strappings are baled and sold to recycling specialists. The Potton factory is the beating heart of the organisation, where plans go from being paper drawings to a tangible product - another major step to your dream home becoming a reality.

Manufacture is a surprisingly speedy process - from receiving the information of your new home into the factory, to the point of delivery takes approximately two weeks. As part of the Potton Self Build Academy we regularly open our doors for customers to see the process for themselves. We walk them through every step, explaining in depth what goes into creating a new Potton home. Of course, it’s not just about creating timber frame homes. For those customers who have chosen to build their home using SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels), we also fabricate Kingspan TEK® panels, co-ordinating all the components ensuring they fit seamlessly together.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF If you would like to tour the Potton factory you can book onto our Introduction to Self Build seminar, held monthly at our nearby Show Centre. Visit www.selfbuildacademy.co.uk/events or call 01480 403285 for more information.

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

Smart self builders & renovators always have the materials they need to hand... The trouble with most self build mortgages is that they’re not designed to suit the needs of self builders and renovators. BuildStore’s highly experienced self build mortgage advisers have access to exclusive mortgage schemes individually tailored to suit you and your project, whatever your financial requirements.

...and that includes the money

Funds can be released at the beginning or end of each stage of your build to suit your circumstances and we offer a choice of leading lenders and competitive rates.

The BuildStore Difference

Finance Advice at Potton

3 Up to 85% on your land and build costs

Angela Harrison, a BuildStore Mortgage & Protection Adviser is available via pre-booked appointments at the Potton Show Centre in St Neots.

3 Negotiate better deals and keep workmen on site by having the cash to pay your bills, when you need it 3 Unique Accelerator advance stage payment mortgage 3 Possible to stay in your current home while building

Call 01480 403285

to book your appointment today

www.buildstore.co.uk Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. For arranging self build and custom build mortgages, we charge a fee of £595. £95 is payable on application and a further £500 on offer. For all other mortgages, we charge a fee of £295 which is payable on offer.

MAB 7

Could custom build hold the key to your new home? Custom build allows you to choose your plot and the design of your home to be built on it. Plots come ready to build on with all services and outline planning in place. Choose to do as little or as much of the work yourself, with professional assistance and support available from beginning to end.

For more information and to view current and future custom build sites visit:

Custom Build Homes is a division of BuildStore, the UK’s leading self build & renovation expert

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IT ALL STARTS WITH THE BUDGET …and indeed it ends with the budget as well, because a successful self build is one that comes in on time and on budget. Budgeting is not something that you think of once and then forget. It is an on-going process that has to be honed and refined throughout the project. PREPARING THE BUDGET From the very first thoughts of self building it’s necessary to consider just how much money you can afford to spend on the project. This will be made up from your savings, any equity you have in your current home and the amount you feel that you can successfully borrow. That’s your total budget and, for most people, that is a finite amount. One of the great advantages of working with a package deal company is that they will have a vested interest in your self build going all the way to fruition. They don’t just draw pretty pictures of houses and get paid for it. Their interest is in you being able to buy their complete package. And therefore they will intrusively question you and use their experience to make sure that whatever you set out to build can be built within your budget. Additionally, they will be concerned that your chosen design is physically capable of being built on your plot and that it will find favour with the planners.

THE PLOT The first and, perhaps, the biggest expenditure is going to be the plot. In some areas, where house prices are low, that may be around a quarter of the eventual value of the home. In high priced areas, it may be two thirds or more of the end value. So how do you value a plot? The answer is that any plot gains its value from the home that could, or should, be built upon it. You need, therefore, to understand values and then you need to learn to do what any developer does when they see a plot, which is assess each element of the project and relate it to the profit or margin to be made. Most self builders don’t set out to make money. Instead they set out to build the home they want for the money they’ve got and the fact that they make money in the process is almost incidental. But profit is an important reward for all the hard work that you’ll be putting in and its existence will mean that you’re not building in negative equity. There is a formula for valuing land, which works in most cases: Land costs (A) + Build Costs (B) + 20/30% Margin (A+B x 20/30%) = End value (C) Always do your sums. You have a clue with the land cost in the estate agent’s details. You can look up the Average Build Cost tables in Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, you can also refer to Potton’s Price Guide available from their website or show centre.

DESIGN TO THE BUDGET Once the costs of buying the land are deducted from your total budget, you’re left with your build budget. When you prepare your ‘Wish List’ of things that you want for your new home, write them all down and then leave space at the top for the most important element, which is, of course, the budget. There is nothing sadder than going all through a design process, falling in love with a particular concept, and then finding out that you can’t afford to build it. Only work with Architects or designers who understand costs and can relate whatever they draw to your budget. Package deal and timber frame companies are particularly good at this and will be concerned, throughout the process, that whatever they are proposing will be capable of being built within your budget.

KEEP ON BUDGETING It’s not a one off thing. You start off with a preliminary budget. You have the initial designs drawn up and you relate that to the budget before you go any further. If all seems OK then you move to the planning drawings and then, if any changes occur they have to be related back to the budget. As soon as you’ve got detailed dimensioned drawings get an Estimating company to prepare a full costing and, once again, relate that to your budget. Each time there is a change, either brought about by circumstance or elective, it must be referred back to the budget. If something is more expensive then something else has got to give. If something is cheaper then, maybe, you could increase what you spend on other items. But don’t rush to do so as the savings may come in handy, further on down the line.

GARAGES AND OUTBUILDINGS The garage is often the Cinderella when it comes to budgeting, almost forgotten, as if, somehow, it’ll come for free. It doesn’t. Garages and outbuildings can be quite expensive. If your budget is tight, consider whether these can be left to another time when, perhaps, finances are not so stretched.

EXTRAS There will be extras. It may be a few more power points. It may be fitted wardrobes or expensive floor or wall tiling. If your budget can stand them then there’s nothing wrong with the project evolving. But don’t get caught out with a huge bill at the end of the project, which you can’t afford to pay. Never allow any extras to be enacted without a written price being given and your agreement to it, prior to the work being carried out.

CONTINGENCY Throughout any self build there are going to be contingencies. Some things are going to cost more. Bad ground can crop up unexpectedly despite intrusive surveys. Bad weather can extend the time line. There is nothing you can do about this other that maintain a tight management strategy and have a contingency fund of around 10% for most projects and 20% for those where there are known site problems or where you’re planning a basement Self build projects often have cost overruns. Sometimes these are due to unknown factors but, most times, they are due to elective factors such as more expensive kitchen units or bathroom suites. And that’s what the contingency is there for. Very few self build projects end in financial disaster, so long as the budget is kept in mind and those that do overrun on cost are usually saved by the margin or profit that is built into every properly conceived project.

TopTip! David Snell

INCLUDE A SENSIBLE CONTINGENCY FIGURE

We would recommend at least 10%. Don’t use this money to pay for increases in specification or changes in design. If you do then you are likely to find that you will not have enough money to cover those truly unexpected events!

Author of ‘Building your own home’.

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 02

BORN AND SELF BUILT IN THE SAME VILLAGE Teresa (Terri) & Terry Gibbons had been living in Spalding for the last 10 years and after returning to the area, decided the time was right to investigate the possibility of self building.

Teresa Terry Gibbons PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Lincolnshire Land Cost:

Owned

Build Cost:

£240,000 Current Value:

£unknown

Terry’s parents live in a bungalow on a 1/3rd acre plot which was becoming too much for his 96 year old father to look after. Terry, having his own garden to maintain decided to build to the rear of the bungalow, so there would only be one property to look after. The plot had many old buildings which had to be demolished before any building work could start. Once cleared, the couple started to investigate a suitable design to fit on it. “We saw various architects” says Terry “but to be honest they just wanted to design something they had drawn and were not particularly interested in what we were trying to achieve.” The couple started their research and came across Potton. They visited the self build centre at St Neots and met self build consultant Tom Allen. “We found the Potton designer to be the most helpful we had come across, he was always interested in what we wanted, but was ready to advise if he thought we could improve on our initial rough ideas” said Terri. “We have Tom to thank for some of the lovely details we have in our house. His support and advice was first class.” It was important to the Gibbons that they had a large open kitchen that included a dining area, and a brick fireplace, they wanted a separate

lounge, large windows wherever possible so they could maximise the natural light throughout the house. After a few minor tweaks the planning application sailed through and by the end of February 2014, the groundworks, footings and slab for the 120m2 house were complete. “Through his work Terry knows lots of subcontractors in the area, and working with a builder friend from Whittlesey gave us a really good start” said Terri. “Potton’s erecting team arrived to put up the timber frame on March 17th and in no time at all we had a shell to start working on” Terry added. With the help of his friend, builder Tom Merchant and son in law Philip, the roof was felt, battened and tiled immediately the erection team had finished. With bricklayer Tom Wilson starting immediately after, the build was well under way in a very short space of time.

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THEY FITTED THEMSELVES • All first fix carpentry including fitting the staircase • All plumbing work including fitting bathrooms • Designing and fitting the underfloor heating system [the air source heat pump was fitted and commissioned by a plumber from Wisbech] • Fixing all plasterboard [skimming carried out by a local plasterer] • Fitted the kitchen and completed all ceramic tiling • Laying all external drainage

The couple sold their family home to finance the build, and bought a small property to live in during this time. They put their “temporary” house on the market with good time to spare, only to find it sold within a week. This meant moving in with their daughter and son-in-law until the house was suitable to live in, even though maybe not complete. Terry carried out a lot of the work himself and at the same time Terri was on the phone chasing prices and products, calling on suppliers, collecting numerous samples. It was a real joint effort and in April 2015 the couple moved into their new home albeit there was still some work left to do. They both agree “seeing the end result was just so rewarding” and they both agree - “The house is everything we could have asked for and more!”.

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SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

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SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 03

ADDING CREATIVE FLAIR TO A CONVENTIONAL DESIGN Realising that their budget of £90,000 to buy a new home wouldn’t

Tom Allen Zoe Godbold

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Cambridgeshire Land Cost:

£68,000

Build Cost:

£85,000

Current Value:

£225,000

get them far in Cambridgeshire, Tom Allen 35 and Zoe Godbold 32 decided to draw on their savings, and with the help of a BuildStore mortgage, set out to look for a plot of land and to use their self build expertise to build their own home. Established as a key member of the Potton team of self build experts Tom, who has helped over 100 Potton clients to build their dream homes, felt it was time he ‘did it himself’. So together with Zoe, who has an eye for interior design, finishes and layouts, the couple were in no doubt they could achieve something great. “I thought….why not self build? With my knowledge and Zoe’s creativity, plus professional support and advice from my Potton colleagues and contacts, we can make our ideas and requirements become a reality and build the house we have always wanted but never thought we would own” said Tom. After a relatively short time spent looking for land locally, the couple were able to secure a plot with planning already approved for a modest detached home. Opting not to change the approved foot print of the house in order to minimize the timeframe, the pair focussed carefully on how the interior of their new home would best fit their lifestyles, how the internal space they had could become a visual statement and reflect their creative personalities.

Tom also self-managed the main trades throughout the build; the couple had chosen a mix of Potton approved contractors and local contacts that Tom knew. His other main role was to source materials that were of good quality, sustainable and most of all cost effective. Built on a corner plot of approximately 1/8th of an acre and completed in just eight months, the property demonstrates what can be done with a limited budget and a lot of creativity and flair. “What you see when you walk through the door isn’t what you’d expect when you see the property from the outside” commented Zoe. “It blends in with the rest of the street but once you walk in, the vibrant colours and quirky design elements show the house in a completely different light and we love it!”

Zoe transformed the interior into a fun and inspirational living space, applying her magic to conventional design. By careful planning and by investing a lot of time researching, she has achieved a unique, quirky yet functional living space. With a vibrant palette and considered detailing, each room has a different twist; the lively interior design makes this build very different from the average starter home for two. Whilst interior design was their key factor, Tom and Zoe were conscious that their budget should work hard for them and worked around the clock to obtain a look and feel that was inspirational yet achievable. Taking a ‘hands on’ approach, the couple did a lot of work themselves with Tom working evenings and weekends to complete the bathroom and kitchen tiling.

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...the property demonstrates what can be done with a limited budget and a lot of creativity and flair. R E A R E L E VAT I O N

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SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

THE PROBLEM WITH SELF BUILD IS...

CUSTOM BUILD

BY POTTON By Paul Newman, Self Build Director

…not having a suitable plot to build on. A recent poll conducted by MORI determined that around 26million UK adults wanted to build their own home. Despite this huge latent demand, the number of self build homes completed in 2015 will be around only 10,000. There are many different flavours of custom build; some offer complete flexibility over the design and appearance, whilst others, rather disappointingly, give choice over only the specification of fixtures and fittings. In my view the latter is merely conventional house-building rebranded.

Be the first to hear about

NEW

custom build sites

As you might imagine, the Potton model for Custom Build is centred around meeting the needs of our customers. A Potton Custom Build home is a one-of-a-kind home, designed for a specific client and location. It offers a fully serviced plot with a choice of systems and routes of build and enables the customer to build their home or have it built for them.

Courtesy of Carillion-igloo, HomeMade™ Homes and HTA Design

Whilst estimates vary slightly, it’s generally accepted that the UK needs to be building 250,000 new homes per annum simply to keep up with current demand. That number has not been achieved since the 1970s so clearly something is wrong with how our housing market operates. Minds with greater capacity than mine have investigated the subject and some have concluded that self build and custom build homes are part of the solution. The government agrees and has been working to support and stimulate the sector. So far, the most notable amongst these is the Self build and Custom Housebuilding Act which received Royal Assent in March and requires local authorities to keep a register of individuals interested in constructing their own home and then to ‘have regard’ to the register. The intent of Self Build Act will in time be reinforced by the requirements of the Housing and Planning Bill which will require by law that authorities match the demand demonstrated by their registers with plots that receive planning permission. In combination, these two pieces of legislation will provide a massive boost to self and custom builders.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF BUILD AND CUSTOM BUILD? It depends. For Potton, the answer is relatively simple. Self Build - An individual finds a plot and takes overall responsibility for designing, planning and constructing the house they build on it. Custom Build - Someone other than an individual wanting to self build brings forward a site for development. The site may consist of single or multiple plots and at the very least is provided with the infrastructure necessary to enable individuals to design, plan and construct self build houses on it.

NEW HOMES DESCRIBED AS SELF OR CUSTOM BUILT 16

AUSTRIA AUSTRIA

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We work with landowners, stakeholders and partners to bring forward sites by securing planning permission, designing and procuring the infrastructure works and finding customers to purchase plots. Critically, we are not buying land for development. This is beneficial for landowners as it enables them to receive a fair price for their plots from self builders and for self builders as Potton is not seeking to make a profit the sale of land. Once the self builder has reserved a plot we work with them to design their home and help them to construct it. Our work is guided using a thematic Design Code developed in partnership with the planning authority. Our first Custom Build scheme French Fields is now on site and others are well underway - see www.potton.co.uk/custombuild for more information. Aside from our own efforts, we are engaged in another flavour of Custom Build with developer Carillion Igloo where we are one of six home manufacturers selected to build 54 Custom Build houses at Heartlands, a scheme located in the Cornish village of Pool. Each manufacturer has a portfolio of customisable designs, which allow the customers to tailor the look and feel of their home so that it meets their needs and fits with their lifestyle. The UK Custom Build market is a developing one. Cherwell District Council has launched a mammoth scheme with scope for 1900 self build units. Because of its size almost every dwelling type and style is likely to be represented including apartments.

REVOLUTION OR EVOLUTION We have a long way to go in the UK on our self build journey. I look forward to be able to report back in the future that we have seen a step change in how housing is planned and constructed and that the change includes a significant increase in the numbers of self and custom build homes.

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PLOTS FOR SALE...

By David Patterson, Principal Land Consultant

Offering value to land owners that traditional development can’t In order to carry out development you have to start with one thing. Whether it is a single plot for a self builder or a site for a Custom Build scheme of 5 – 100 units you have to have the same thing... land. This land needs to come with planning permission or the potential to gain planning permission. Potton recognises that finding suitable land is a fundamental barrier for self builders, so in a bid to bring more plots to market Potton have collaborated with me to source suitable sites for small custom build schemes across the country. So, for the land owners, how does Potton’s Custom Build model differ from a traditional form of development? A traditional developer will buy the land on day one, factoring in the finance cost of carrying the land value throughout the duration of the development. They will then seek a profit which is the difference between the final sales value of each house and its cost, including the cost of the land. So the cheaper they can buy land, the higher the profit. The key to Potton’s relationship with our land owner partners is that they are our first customers and rather than lowering the land value by traditional development, we work in partnership with the land owner to make plots available to self build. We market the sites as Custom Build opportunities meaning that purchasers buy each plot at market value and then work with our team of self build consultants to design and build their dream Potton home. We arrange for the sites to be serviced and for the plot transfers to take place... all on behalf of our land owner partners.

DEVELOPER HOUSE

POTTON CUSTOM BUILD HOUSE

1600 sq ft

1750 sq ft

Fixed design

Bespoke design

Developer’s specification

Own specification

Example price paid: £350,000

Example land & build cost: £350,000 End value: £385,000 - £420,000

The Potton Custom Build model works for everyone. The land owner achieves a higher land value and the scheme is attractive to purchasers because they get their own unique house with equity. If you are a land owner with a site which you think may be suitable for a Potton Custom Build scheme, you can contact us via www.potton.co.uk/development For further information about the custom build plots Potton currently has for sale please visit www.potton.co.uk/custombuild

Of course, Potton has to make a profit too. But our profit is based on the supply of the timber frame structural kits only, rather than the price of the finished house. But how attractive is Potton Custom Build to potential purchasers? Take two sites on the same road. One is being built by a traditional developer and one is a Potton Custom Build scheme. A purchaser comes along with a budget that will buy a four bedroom family home of, say, 1,600 sq.ft. on the traditional site. What do they get for this..? They get the developer’s design and the developer’s specification although, if they reserve early enough, they might get to choose the colour of the kitchen. They will also have paid top dollar for their new home. Meanwhile, down the road on the Potton scheme, the same purchaser could buy a plot of land and build a four bedroom family home of, say, 1,750,sq.ft. for the same budget. They would get their own design, their own specification and, what’s more, their completed house would be worth 10-20% more than they paid for it.

We have plots available in the following locations

Lincolnshire

Registe upcom r for ing sites p

otton.c o register.uk/

Cambridgeshire Cheshire Shropshire Telford Oxfordshire Cornwall Leicestershire

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

An efficient heating system that saves you energy, space and money Underfloor heating (UFH) is an ‘invisible’ heating system that works by pumping a controlled flow of warm water from any heat source, such as a boiler or heat pump, through tubing hidden beneath or laid in panels directly on top of the existing floor.

The extensive range of UFH systems from Nu-Heat means that virtually any project can now enjoy the benefits of UFH – whether you’re building from scratch, looking to install UFH on the ground or first floors, extending or converting.

Cost & Efficiency As the surface area of the floor is so much larger than that of a radiator, UFH can run at a lower flow temperature. When paired with a modern condensing boiler, UFH is cheaper to run and approximately 25% more efficient than radiators. And, with a heat pump, up to 40% cheaper to run! You can even enjoy warm water UFH that heats up as quickly as a radiator, giving an instant and consistent warmth, at one-third of the running cost of electric UFH. 18

top tips CREATING YOUR PERFECT HEATING SOLUTION DESIGN IS IMPORTANT A good bespoke design will always take into account insulation, heat losses and chosen floor coverings (stone, ceramic tile, carpet, engineered hardwood, timber, linoleum or vinyl), providing a solution that performs SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT Installing UFH is pretty simple - a competent DIYer can lay the tube. Still, support from your supplier can make all the difference if you ever have any questions, from how components are installed to how the system is controlled LOOK FOR A RENEWABLES EXPERT There are various criteria that must be met to qualify for RHI payment, so source an experienced supplier that will make sure the system complies A good supplier like Nu-Heat will be helpful and honest, giving you all of the information and advice you need to decide on a solution that will work for you and your home. Speak to an expert on 01404 540650 or watch our video: www.nu-heat.co.uk/ufh-explained

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 04

“OUR HOVEL TO HOME”

If you ask Michelle and Andrew Earle where they were living during their self build project they will say “…in a mundic block built house we affectionately called ‘The Hovel’.”

Michelle Andrew Earle

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Cornwall Land Cost:

£212,500 with existing house Build Cost:

£200,000 Current Value:

£475,000

Michelle and Andrew have two grown up children and had renovated a number of houses over the years before moving to the West Country in 1984. It was whilst living in Cornwall that the couple considered building their own home and began looking at plots of land when they saw an advertisement for a 1/3 rd of an acre plot with an existing house. Down a private narrow lane and with wonderful views, the plot was perfect so the couple decided to take the plunge, buy the land and create their new home. The couple started to do their homework, reading self build magazines, attending self build events at The National Self Build Centre in Swindon and began exploring different building methods. It was at the Centre they took a tour around Potton’s “Renaissance” show house and began talking to Potton’s Sean Adams. “We talked to Sean before actually deciding to go ahead with the company. We had a number of ideas about the house and developed them with his help and actually finished up with a design based loosely on Potton’s Heritage range” said Andrew. “We wanted to make the most of natural light and solar gain” said Michelle, “Sean was very knowledgeable and supportive throughout”. Planning permission was granted which allowed the couple to live in the existing house until their new home was complete – providing that it was demolished after. The new house was to be built almost immediately behind the existing house, so convenient for the couple to self-manage the project.

They worked with local labour wherever they could, a local general builder prepared the foundations and carried out most of the building work and a chance meeting with a local carpenter (who coincidentally used to live in the old existing house) allowed them to complete the second fix carpentry to an extremely high standard. Andrew also did a lot of work himself, preparing the plumbing and underfloor heating ready for commissioning by a local plumber. After 16 months of building, the couple moved out of the old existing house they fondly called ‘The Hovel’ and into their new home. “Potton were very good and Sean was “The face of Potton” for us” said Michelle, “we would definitely build again.” “I still remember those memorable moments” said Andrew “when the digger arrived to pull the foundations and when that huge crane arrived to lift the roof trusses in place!” “The original plan was to make the house as eco-friendly as possible, however we decided it was more cost effective in the long term to spend money on high specification insulation, underfloor heating and generally concentrate on ‘quality’ throughout” said Michelle. Mundic blocks were a common type of concrete block used in the south west of England. They were often manufactured with poor quality local or ‘recycled’ aggregates and in many cases have degraded and weakened in-situ.

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SELF BUILD LIVE BUILDING A PASSIVHAUS - WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT Potton’s decision to build a Passivhaus at their St Neots show centre marks a significant step in the development of self build in Britain. Mark Brinkley, the author of the Housebuilder’s Bible, explores the background of Passivhaus and Potton’s Self Build Live events programme. The emergence of Passivhaus - complete with its German spelling - has been a game changer for construction. What Passivhaus has done is to successfully blend the various strands of our knowledge in the area of energy saving and put them into a single, logical package. Follow the Passivhaus recipe to the letter and you will get a house which really does use very little energy, and promises a level of comfort that most new homes still fall way short of.

POTTON’S PASSIVHAUS Last year, Potton took the decision to build a contemporary Passivhaus at their St Neots Show Centre. I attended the launch event in May and was struck by the level of excitement and enthusiasm shared by everyone concerned. From the outset, it was planned to be a very public build with frequent open days being held, allowing self builders to experience at first hand just what building a Passivhaus involved. In place of the usual rush to complete, the build programme for the Passivhaus has been deliberately slowed down over a 12-month period so that more events can be fitted in. Potton’s new Passivhaus will open as a show home Summer 2016, in the meantime there are plenty of upcoming events which are well worth attending. The project has a dedicated website, www.selfbuildlive.com, where you are able to book your place on the free open days as well as accessing video diaries and photo galleries documenting the build. It’s already a really useful “go to” resource for aspiring self builders.

HOW DID IT ALL COME ABOUT?

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SO WHY THE NAME PASSIVHAUS?

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Back in the 1970s, when builders and architects were experimenting with low-energy building for the first time, there was a school of thought that aimed to heat a house with sunshine and nothing else. These homes required acres of south-facing glass, in order to collect the free heat from the sun, and massive brick or concrete walls and floors inside, designed to store the heat overnight. They were known generically as Passive Houses and there were a number built in the 70s and 80s, mostly in the USA. The only problem was that they didn’t work. In climates such as Arizona, with hot sunny dessert weather throughout the year, they sort of made sense but everywhere else the weather was simply too unpredictable. Relying on sunshine alone proved to be no way to heat a home but there was the germ of an idea here which refused to go away. Whilst a no-heat home was impossible, a very-low-heat home remained a feasible goal. But how much heat was needed? And what was the best way of managing this heat?

The Passivhaus story is fascinating. It started life in 1988 as a research project carried out by a Swede and a German. The idea was to go through all the many permutations of low-energy, eco-homes which had been built since the 1970s, to analyse what worked and what didn’t. The Swede, Professor Bo Adamson, continued with an academic life before retiring, but the younger German, Dr. Wolfgang Feist, not only built the first Passivhaus himself, so as to demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept, but went on to found the Passivhaus Institute in Darmstadt and to become a worldwide ambassador for the standard.

These are the questions which Adamson and Feist sought to answer with their new standard. They chose the name Passivhaus as they saw it as a refinement of the earlier Arizona-style Passive Houses. But, in reality, the German Passivhaus standard is far more rigorous about insulation and airtightness than the pioneers ever were and treats free heat from the sun as a bonus, no more. Sunshine is no easier to manage now than it was in the 1970s and these days, a surfeit of sunshine is as likely to cause problems over-heating in summer as it provides pleasant warmth in winter. Despite this, the name Passivhaus has stuck.

Passivhaus is not a German building regulation, as some seem to think. In fact, it’s administered by a private organisation headed by Feist himself, making it wholly independent of political interference.

Where previous attempts at energy saving concentrated on certain technical aspects of homebuilding, like using thicker walls with more insulation, or better glazing systems, Passivhaus starts out with a couple of aims in mind and then decides how to get there. The first goal is to build a house that is comfortable all year round, without having to resort to extra layers of clothing. The second goal is to do this whilst using a minimal amount of energy.

Its independence has been critical to its success. Other standards, such as our short-lived Code for Sustainable Homes, exist only at the whim of national politicians, and they can be tinkered with or indeed abandoned by a ministerial diktat, as happened to the Code. In contrast, the Passivhaus standard is based on a thorough understanding of building physics and is not something to be altered at a whim.

WHAT IS THE PASSIVHAUS STANDARD?

In fact, embedded at the very heart of the Passivhaus standard is a target. The energy use for space heating in a Passivhaus should be no more than 15kWh/m2/ annum. That means that each square metre of your home shouldn’t require more than 15kWh of energy to keep warm and comfortable throughout any given year.

Mark Brinkley Author of ‘Housebuilder’s Bible’

Now a typical four-bedroomed selfbuild home measures something like 160m2 (internal floor area) and this translates as a space heating requirement of 2400kWh/annum. If you were using a gas underfloor heating system to provide this heat, your annual fuel bill for this would be around £100 (at 4p/ kWh), or £2 a week. Compare that with an existing 20th century home where it would probably be costing you over £1,000 a year to heat. Even a newly-built building regs standard would probably be costing between £300 and £400 a year to heat. So you can see that Passivhaus really is very different to what we have been used to achieving.

SO WHAT IS INVOLVED? There are four cornerstone principles which make Passivhauses work. 1) T he components used to build the house are of the highest quality and are checked to see that they are correctly installed. 2) T he design is developed using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) which works out what the anticipated heat demand will be. The U values of all the insulation and the other materials making up the superstructure are calculated with great precision, as are the cold bridges. If the model design doesn’t meet the target of 15kWh/m2/a, then it is amended until it does. More insulation can be added, or cold bridging can be addressed, or sometimes even the overall design can be changed. 3) G reat attention is paid during construction to sealing potential air gaps and the house as a whole gets air-tested to see that it meets the required benchmark. 4) C onsequently the air quality inside the house is controlled by a mechanical ventilation system to ensure that the air inside stays fresh and that heat isn’t wasted.

MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM? DOES THAT MEAN I CAN’T OPEN THE WINDOWS? You can live however you wish to in a Passivhaus. If you feel the need, you can leave windows wide open throughout the winter. Just don’t expect Passivhaus-style fuel bills if you want to stay warm. However, if you want to enjoy the designed-for comfort and low running costs that Passivhaus is famed for, you have to learn how to get the best out of the design. Which, by and large, means keeping the windows closed in winter and learning to let the ventilation system manage both the temperature and the air quality. Which sounds complicated but is not really very challenging. Most have three settings: off, on and boost. Some have a summer by-pass which adds in the possibility of getting some summer cooling. Once every six months or so, you need to change the air filter. If you can manage this, you can manage a Passivhaus.

Visitors at one of our popular Self Build Live events. In truth, none of them is perfect for a Passivhaus. The amount of heat required is so small that it’s quite possible to piggy-back a small heating element into the ventilation ducting. But ventilation isn’t quite the same thing as warm air heating because its balanced between dry inlet rooms and wet extract rooms. The bathrooms in particular are designated as extract rooms and these won’t receive any of the pre-heated air, so they would require some additional heating, such as towel radiators. Wood-burning stoves have their own issues because the amount of heat they throw off (typically 3kW or more) is far more than is ever required to keep all but the very largest Passivhaus warm. They also need to be carefully installed with specialist flues in order not to compromise the famous Passivhaus airtightness standard. So many people revert to wet central heating because it’s easy to control and it doesn’t rely on the ventilation system distributing the heat around the house. It also provides domestic hot water, something Passivhaus doesn’t really address. The shame is that the heating demand is so low that it is likely that the system will rarely be used. One common compromise is to just fit underfloor heating downstairs and let the ambient warmth of the Passivhaus filter through to the upstairs without any further boosting.

DO I STILL REQUIRE A HEATING SYSTEM? Whilst Passivhaus has reduced the amount of heat required in a home to an absolute minimum, it hasn’t eliminated the need for it altogether. Much of that heat required to keep warm is supplied by so-called incidentals, a combination of people simply living and breathing in a house, together with equipment and appliance gains and plus, of course, a little help from the winter sun. But you still need some sort of credible space heating strategy to keep it comfortable at all times. The choices are: • Install a wet central heating system, either underfloor or radiators • Add heating coils to the ventilation system • Go for a wood burning stove

Visitors see first hand the construction of Potton’s Passivhaus

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT? Passivhaus itself isn’t wedded to any one build system; you can build one using almost any recognised structural system, from concrete to straw-bale. But it’s an aspiration that you have to start with. You can’t get half way through a build and then decide to make it a Passivhaus: that will cause more problems than it solves. It’s something that has to be planned for from Day One and so it pays to work with people who know what they are talking about. Consequently, Passivhaus has until now tended to be the preserve of the specialist and the enthusiast. You had to know about it and seek out the right people. That is why it’s so significant that Potton have chosen to run with Passivhaus, because this combines their deep knowledge of selfbuild with this emerging global standard for energy-efficiency.

Potton’s own Passivhaus taking shape

INSPIRING TOMORROW’S SELF BUILDERS Potton played host to 70 children from near-by Elsworth Primary School recently to help bring their latest school topic of “Houses and Homes” to life. The children, aged 4-7 had a short introduction from Potton’s Self Build Director Paul Newman, where the children learnt about the importance of health and safety. Each child was issued with an extra small hard hat and high visibility vest, which Potton has subsequently donated to the school. The children then went on to see demonstrations in construction techniques, had guided tours around the self build show homes, built model houses from Lego and put their imaginations to work to sketch Potton homes - 12 of which have been chosen to create Potton’s 2016 Self Build calendar.

With Potton’s backing, the spread of Passivhaus in the UK looks set to accelerate as more and more self builders get to see what it is and how it works. In the next few years, I would anticipate that the self builder’s first question will have changed from “Should I build a Passivhaus?” to “Why would I not build one?” In the meantime, I would urge you to come along and experience Potton’s Passivhaus build first hand. For build photos, video diaries and upcoming events please visit SelfBuildLive.com

Come & see a live Passivhaus build!

SelfBuildLive.com

CREATING A TRULY ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME One of the most important choices homeowners face when setting out on their self build journey is which construction method to use. In addition to the obvious considerations of aesthetics and construction cost, energy efficiency should also be a central part of this decision process as it will have a lasting impact on both comfort and the cost of running a home. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) offer a simple and highly adaptable construction solution which can be used to quickly build properties needing to meet the highest level in energy performance, including the Passivhaus Standard.

SIPs The panels are faced with oriented strand board (OSB), either side of a highly insulated core and can achieve outstanding U-values. The thermal performance of the basic panel is easy to improve by the addition of extra insulation to either the internal or external face.

The Kingspan TEK® Building System can be quickly and easily installed and offers the freedom to achieve a wide range of designs (Image courtesy of Felicity Monckton)

For further information on self building us in Kingspan TEK g visit Potton.co.uk/ sips

SIPs are designed and factory cut to each home’s unique design requirements. This approach gives designers the freedom they need whilst also ensuring that the panels slot together accurately when onsite, forming a continuous layer of insulation at junctions to minimize thermal bridges. Furthermore, the combination of their jointing system and OSB facings, can allow SIPs to form extremely airtight structures. Once airtight tape is applied to junctions, they can easily meet the Passivhaus requirement of 0.6 air changes per hour @ 50 Pa. This highly airtight design approach makes mechanical ventilation essential in order to maintain a constant flow of fresh air within a property. MVHR units use the heat from the outgoing stale air to warm incoming fresh air, further reducing the property’s heating demand and creating a fresh and comfortable indoor environment. Once they arrive onsite, SIPs can usually be fitted with virtually no adjustments, providing a highly predictable, dry build program which can typically be completed within a matter of weeks. Once the shell of the building is erected and a breather membrane is applied to the outer face of the SIPs, the property is weather tight and internal fit out work can begin, reducing both the length and cost of the building process.

THE MODERN APPROACH Self building can be a daunting process with so many important decisions to make at every stage. SIPs offer a tried and tested solution for creating homes which are not only beautiful to look at and live in but also simple to construct and extremely energy efficient, giving you peace of mind both for the short and long-term.

For further information please contact:

t: 01767 676400 • e: sales@potton.co.uk Kingspan Timber Solutions, sister company to Potton, has great experience of low energy builds. Above, multi award winning Hanham Hall is a zero carbon scheme constructed using the Kingspan TEK® Building System.

www.potton.co.uk/sips www.kingspantek.co.uk/selfbuild

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

APPRAISING LAND Is it a plot or not?

Mark Stevenson Managing Director

With millions of people wanting to self build but only thousands managing to do so each year, finding land is clearly part of the challenge and making sure that your plot is suitable is key to your project being a success. To make sure land is suitable for development, start by asking a few questions. ARE THERE COMPLICATIONS?

IS IT A REALISTIC PROPOSITION? Why has no one built here before? Would the expense be too much making the project financially not viable? Would I be able to get planning permission? Quite often the answers are obvious, and a great place to start is to ask people. Talk to the landowner and neighbours to find out if a development has stalled in the past and why. You can also conduct your own research, the main areas to look into would be;

AM I TAKING A RISK? It is never a good idea to buy land without being reasonably confident that you will secure the planning permission required. Ideally, the land will already have permission in place, this will give you a good idea of what can be built and will form the basis of properly valuing the plot. If the plot does not have permission, then consult Potton to understand what might be possible. If the prospects are favourable, negotiate an ‘option to buy’ subject to securing permission and carrying out all the necessary site investigations.

WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SECURE PLANNING PERMISSION? Have there been approvals granted for self builds in the area? Were they approved first time or did it go to appeal? Was there local support or objection? This will show how ‘pro development’ local residents and the council are. It is worth finding out if your plot is situated within the development boundary of the town or village. Sometimes referred to as the ‘red edge’, it identifies the urban area considered suitable for development. Replacement dwellings, infill and garden plots are great as they will likely be situated within this boundary and are more likely to be ripe for development.

PLOTS IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE Be cautious. If you are offered a field at what seems to be a bargain price, then the likelihood is that it won’t be suitable for development. In rural areas, replacement dwellings are the most common way of building a new house. Securing planning permission will be specific to the plot and what you want to build so you will need to understand if this is possible. Check the Local Authorities development plan and investigate the council’s planning policies to assess whether your proposals meet their criteria. Consider having a ‘pre app’ with the council to find out if your plans are sensible. The Potton team will be able to advise you on the specific merits of a ‘pre-app’ as they can sometimes be an expensive waste of money.

Download your FREE Land Appraisal document For further information and to download Potton’s Land Appraisal document please visit www.selfbuildacademy.co.uk/appraisal

Many complications can be overcome with the right amount of money and time. Land within conservation areas, areas of outstanding beauty, open countryside and situated adjacent to listed buildings will have restrictions which will limit what you can build. Consider legal issues such as covenants, easements and rights of way, which can be equally restrictive. Ensure that any existing permission has adequate time left in which to start your build before expiry! Many build complications will be obvious such as access, site gradients and boundaries. Take time to meet with neighbours and talk to anyone that may know the history of the site. Employ a professional to carry out a site investigation prior to purchase to identify potential site problems and make sure that your proposed purchase price reflects the investment you have or will have to make.

DO I HAVE ACCESS TO THE PLOT? Your plot may have what looks to be a suitable access – but do you have a legal right? It is best to have an access directly off a public highway. Ideally, the access should be in your ownership and there should be sufficient room at the entrance to construct the necessary visibility splays and provide safe access and egress. The access needs to be suitable for construction traffic and delivery of materials. Mains services will more than likely need to be brought down the access way to connect to your new home. Be cautious when considering a plot that only has a right of way as this may not provide you with the necessary easements for services and someone else may be able to control or limit how you access your building site. Ensure your plot is not bound by a ransom strip preventing you from legally being able to cross over to your plot. These can be expensive and could cost you as much as 40% of the development uplift value to resolve.

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WILL I BE ABLE TO ‘SERVICE’ THE PLOT? It is essential that your home has the benefit of mains water, electricity and drainage. It should also have a suitable connection to things such as the internet. Make sure that connections to services are possible and that the cost of doing so is affordable.

AM I PAYING THE RIGHT PRICE? Quite literally, the million dollar question. Valuing a building plot is much more difficult than valuing a house as there are many more variables. You need to know what you want to build and understand the type of property the land will support in order to value the plot accurately. You will also need a good idea of your build cost as well as an understanding of costs of development such as CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy), legal and professional fees. Start with the end value of the completed home and deduct the total cost of development along with your retained equity. What’s left is the plot value…simple! Take a look at David Snell’s formula on page 9 for more guidance.

BEATEN BY A BUILDER… Builders are not prepared to pay any more than they have to for a plot and as a result of having to make a profit, they will probably pay less than a self builder. The advantage that builders have is that they understand the cost of development and how to control it. If you are really serious about buying a plot, think like a builder, do your homework, understand costs, identify the potential value, know the risk involved and buy accordingly.

POTTON DESIGN SERVICE CHANGING EXPECTATIONS… When we launched our very first set of self build designs in 1981 there were only 12 of them. Back then, life was relatively simple both for us and for our customers; select a design, make a few simple modifications to it and once planning has been obtained - start building.

Fast forward to 2016 and it’s fair to say that life is somewhat more complicated. We have now designed and constructed over 6,000 self build properties, giving us a significant back catalogue to draw upon and have introduced a variety of different design routes that customers can choose from to interact with us. More important than any of this though is the belief that we are designing houses for our customers not for ourselves, the knowledge that every design is bespoke but must still work within its setting and the fact that what we create must be both buildable and affordable.

We have, for many years, published the most popular designs from our portfolio in hard copy. The Ideas Book is invaluable for those of our customers who want something fairly traditional and want something to look at to take inspiration from. We now also have an online-only More Design Ideas Book available for download on our website www.potton. co.uk/download which adds in additional houses that didn’t make it into the top 50 shown in the printed book.

We have found through experience that in today’s marketplace design is not an area where it is appropriate to have a one size fits all approach. So, over the past few years we have worked hard to expand our design horizons and develop our ability to provide a completely bespoke service. We have done well at this and now find that one of the hardest parts of providing a bespoke service is helping our customers to think critically about what they want from their self build and encouraging them to develop a brief that helps them articulate what they want and gives us something we can design from. Our resources, abilities and experience in this area continue to develop and I truly believe the days when you could say with authority “that’s a Potton” have pretty much come to an end. Working alongside our Self Build Consultants our architectural team are always happy to take a design brief and provide a concept for further development.

Our in-house architectural team have an in-depth knowledge of our building systems and the designs in our portfolio. They understand the limitations of what can and can’t sensibly be achieved and are readily able to get the best out of an existing design given any particular starting point. This approach genuinely suits a lot of customers and for them makes the process of giving us a design brief where they can have real input, much more straightforward than having to start completely from scratch.

Despite all this, we understand that there are a number of our customers who simply want to work with an architect and this is fine. Many customers already have a designer in mind or have started working with someone to develop their design and we are used to this way of operating. In situations where the customer knows that they want to work with an architect but doesn’t know who or how to select someone we will suggest Hugh Owens with whom we are developing a strong partnership. Hugh is an experienced RIBA Chartered Architect with an extensive portfolio of work in residential design. One of the major benefits of working with Hugh is that he works alongside our internal team in a way that enables us to assess buildability at an early stage of design development without compromising architectural integrity or detracting from the client’s brief. We are continually looking at ways to develop and improve the architectural service we provide and hope to have further exciting news on this before the end of the first quarter in 2016.

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR AT POTTON.CO.UK/ SHOWHOMES

The Gransden is a beautiful show house with its architectural design elements rooted firmly in English cottage style.

STATE OF THE ART MAKEOVER FOR OUR GRANSDEN SHOW HOME With four, soon to be five, permanent show houses on site at our St Neots Self Build Show Centre; The Gransden; The Milchester; The Caxton and The Wickhambrook barn - The Gransden, has always been the centre piece show house. With its Inglenook fireplace, cottage style joinery and post and beams, it is a firm favourite with customers. Playing host to over 6,000 visitors per year, The Gransden, together with the other houses at our Self Build Centre, has seen a number of makeovers and redecoration projects since it opened in 1992, and in 2015 we embarked on our most contemporary make-over yet. “With family requirements and lifestyles constantly evolving, we wanted to bring this beautiful home right up to date and provide inspiration to anyone considering building or re-modelling to create the home of their dreams” said Fae Perkins, Marketing Manager, Potton. “In order to achieve this, some major internal changes were required, notably the removal of a number of internal walls and an outside porch area.” “The main area of change however is the introduction of a large open plan kitchen-living, TV area that opens up the whole space to reflect the way in which families live today.” The removal of the original conservatory has given way to a bright open kitchen area with folding glazed doors, large windows and a vaulted ceiling, incorporating roof lights. With the help of Callerton Kitchens and Quickstep Flooring, this amazing kitchen space has given us a balanced blend of traditional and contemporary. With formal dining rooms less of a trend, the existing sunroom/ dining area is now a relaxed dining space for all the family. “The project also called for a complete change of colour scheme throughout” continued Fae.

“We have also collaborated with Nest Labs to utilise the most innovative heating control system, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, which are both connected to the wi-fi system and can even be controlled from your mobile phone.”

“The Heritage style home is extremely popular with our customers; therefore we wanted to ensure sensitivity towards the traditional elements yet transform the whole house into a contemporary warm space – and we’ve hopefully achieved exactly that.” Fae concluded.

SHOW

MILL LANE, LITTLE PAXTON ST NEOTS, CAMBRIDGESHIRE PE19 6EF

(EXCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS)

SAT: 10AM - 4PM

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

T: 01480 403285

TUES - FRI: 9AM - 5PM

RE OPENING

YOU CAN SEE THE ‘NEW’ GRANSDEN, TOGETHER WITH OUR OTHER SELF BUILD SHOW HOMES AT:

T EN

Ideal Standard helped us re-design the bathrooms and cloakroom. They provided a free-standing bath, open shower areas and a mix of classic styled sinks and taps, all of which are beautifully complemented with tiles from The British Ceramic Tile Company. An eco-boiler from Worcester Bosch ensures there is ample hot water for any family home.

“The Gransden is a beautiful show house with its architectural design elements rooted firmly in English cottage style.”

Fae continued: “With energy efficiency in mind, we worked closely with tp24, the leading specialists in LED lighting, who introduced us to products that sit between the traditional and contemporary – a blend that is so popular with self builders today.”

“When it came to the final dressing and furnishing there was no doubt that LOMBOK would be the perfect partner to work with and they have achieved an excellent balance of old and new. With the use of some Artisan styled products we have further enhanced the warm liveable atmosphere of the “new” Gransden Show house” said Fae.

E IM

“We’ve revitalised the dark stained timbers with a tone that complements the neutral shades of the walls and ceilings and worked closely with paint specialists Brewers to brighten the house whilst retaining its ever appealing cottage style.”

A NEW ERA FOR SOTTINI

The timeless bathroom brand known for its excellence in function and elegance in form. www.sottini.co.uk 30

Visit Our

MILCHESTER

WICKHAMBROOK

CAXTON

GRANSDEN

COMING

NEW PASSIVHAUS TO POTTON SHOW CENTRE

ON SO

Self Build Show Centre

PASSIVHAUS

Our stunning show homes will inspire your imagination.

E IM

After visiting the Potton Self Build Show Centre we loved the look and ‘feel’ of the Gransden so much, we knew that was the style we wanted to base our new home on. David Peake

TUES - FRI: 9AM - 5PM SAT: 10AM - 4PM

C RE OPENING

We visited the show centre and were able to walk around the houses and get a real feel for the design. Carol & Andy Whitehouse

SHOW

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Four of our stunning self build designs have been brought to life at the Potton Self Build Show Centre in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.

SELF BUILD SHOW CENTRE ST NEOTS CAMBRIDGESHIRE PE19 6EF T: 01480 403285

Take a virtual tour at Potton.co.uk/showhomes SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 05

A TOUCH OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Having lived on the same village farm in a beautiful Gloucestershire village for the past 20 years, Chris and Ellie Scrivens had never really thought of building their own home.

Chris Ellie Scrivens

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Gloucestershire Land Cost:

£185,000 Build Cost:

£265,000 Current Value:

c.£500,000

It wasn’t until an old family friend decided to apply for planning permission to build a two bedroom bungalow on part of his garden that the self building seed began to take root. The plot was a good size, almost 0.2 of an acre and would allow Chris, Ellie and their children Archie and Lucy to stay in the village where Ellie had been born. They had been given first refusal on the plot and around a year later (in 2013) decided to buy it. The only down side was that they didn’t want to build the two bedroom bungalow the planning permission allowed. The couple’s idea was an open plan family home with 3 bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom, plus a room they could use as an office for their respective businesses. However to build a home that met their needs and would suit the plot, a fresh planning application with new designs would need to be submitted and they thought that would probably require appointing an architect. However, Chris and Ellie had read different self build magazine articles over the years and also read features about Potton, who provide a complete self build package so decided to make contact with the company’s West Country self build specialist Sean Adams. From the moment they met Sean they felt that he knew exactly what they wanted. “He was very perceptive about our needs, he listened to our ideas and helped us come up with a design that suited us perfectly” said Ellie. “We got on well with Sean and really liked him and felt assured by his experience. It was so easy to get him to draw up and make the new planning

application and with Potton handling the building regulation application, we knew we were in the right hands.” So with their farm house sold Chris, Ellie, Archie and Lucy temporarily moved in with Ellie’s brother and the self build wheels where set in motion. Chris who owns his own general building company, talked his ex-boss out of retirement to act as on-site project manager, checking-in site deliveries and also to oversee the foundation piling, which the local authority had deemed necessary due to the soil conditions on site. He also helped Chris with brickwork and other jobs that needed a skilled hand. The project started in January 2014 and was fully completed during September that same year. “Our biggest thrill” says Ellie “was to see the lorry arriving with our frame on it! The erection work went really smoothly and the Potton team were excellent and most helpful. And although there were a couple of problems with the frame and the stairs, these were dealt with both quickly and satisfactorily and did not affect the build programme.” “Overall the service we received from Potton was excellent, especially from the architectural and design point of view, our thanks to Sean.”

We would definitely do the same again!

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JOIN OUR SELF BUILD ACADEMY The Self Build Academy provides workshops, seminars and events each targeted at different stages of the build process. Together, they will guide you all the way through the process of building your dream home and will help you develop the knowledge needed to successfully complete your project.

SELF BUILD ACADEMY 2016 An Introduction to Self Build:

How to Find Land:

If you want to know more about Self Build and have not yet found your plot, ‘An introduction to self build’ is the perfect place to start.

This one day course will provide guidance on how to successfully find your ideal plot.

The day also includes an opportunity to tour our factory and visit our show homes.

• Top Tips • Is it a plot? • Managing Risks • Planning Permission • Legal Matters

Appraising a Plot:

Making the Most of Your Plot:

Aimed at those who have identified or own land, this informative day will provide you with all the knowledge you need to appraise your potential plot. Covering key topics such as; land without planning permission, planning conditions, design considerations, services and legal matters.

This seminar is ideal if you have identified a building plot to gain advice on whether it is suitable to build on, how we can tailor designs for the plot, how to navigate through the planning process, energy efficient construction methods and project costing.

How to Plan & Start:

How to Manage, Control & Complete:

Our experts will talk you through the build options, how to manage the construction process and explain the information that needs to be available before you can get started. Planning and programming, health and safety, procurement along with budgeting and tools to control your costs are also part of this course.

We will explain the various roles and responsibilities during construction, managing the site, health and safety, communication and how to deal with challenges and problems that are likely to be experienced. You will learn what you need to know to complete the build and how to reclaim the VAT.

for dates and to book visit

y.co.uk selfbuildacadem

COURSES TO SUIT YOU... No matter what your current self build status our Academy has a course for you. Whether you’re at the initial stages searching for land, or ready to build we can guide you through the process.

SELF BUILD ACADEMY 2016 Green Build Day:

My Energy Efficient Home:

Creating the Look:

A jargon busting day aimed to give you a real insight into the products and services that are available to help you to build an energy efficient and sustainable home.

This session will give an introduction to the design and construction of a modern energy efficient home and includes

This day is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with various self build suppliers and interior design experts, focusing on creating the look and perfecting the internal style of your new Potton home.

Design Your Perfect Kitchen Masterclass:

Self Builder Networking:

Pop Up Shows:

This dedicated kitchen design masterclass is brought to you by Callerton, and provides the information you need to consider when designing your dream kitchen.

These informal events commence with a short presentation covering a topic such as finance, design or a customer case study followed by a Q+A. You are then invited to chat with likeminded aspiring and seasoned self builders over coffee and cake before taking an opportunity to browse our show houses.

Our ‘Pop-up’ events invite you to come and walk around a Potton build during the construction phase and ask any questions you may have about the process of building a Potton home.

Self Build in a Day:

The Design Process Explained:

Self Build Live:

This course gives a detailed insight into how to identify a suitable building plot and gain planning permission. An inspirational presentation on what to consider when designing your self build home, including identifying needs, wants and ‘nice to haves’. The day will conclude after lunch with an introduction to designing and building a home which is energy efficient and comfortable to live in.

This seminar will walk you step by step through the process of designing your new self build home using examples to illustrate what’s involved, from creating a brief, through to completing a design ready to make a planning application.

Allowing access all areas, Self Build Live gives you the opportunity to visit the live build of our 5th show home at various stages, with the build due to be complete Summer 2016.

• Consideration of the site and planning • Building form and internal plan • Envelope performance and thermal mass • Fuels, heating and services • Choosing the right insulation

Held across the country during the year.

For more information visit SelfBuildLive.com

visit selfbuildacademy.co.uk/events for course dates and booking SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

Having completed the transformation of the kitchen within the revamped Gransden show house early 2015, Callerton were challenged by Potton (as their kitchen partner) with doing the same for the Wickhambrook Barn. The Gransden kitchen is a hybrid, incorporating both contemporary and shaker elements and Potton’s brief for the Barn was that the kitchen should be much more contemporary to complement the open-plan setting. The Barn is an impressive building with high vaulted ceilings in both the entrance hall and kitchen areas - which necessitated an equally imposing kitchen. Callerton have risen to the challenge incorporating a whole series of new products and design innovations. Their furniture features contrasting wood effect and hi-gloss elements via the doors/drawers, and a mixture of the two within their innovative pinstripe Retro feature. The kitchen design incorporates the very latest products from Siemens, Corian and Franke: Siemens supplying the appliances, Corian the impressive joint free worksurfaces, with the sink and hot water/filter tap system from Franke.

Callerton’s design team have come up trumps with a kitchen that not only stands out, but one that is both practical and functional. The imposing tall bank incorporates most of the cooking and refrigeration appliances. The centre island includes the hob, copious amounts of work and storage space, plus a breakfast bar which suitably accommodates busy family life. Within the break-front wet area can be found the sink, tap, dishwasher and even more storage. If you are looking for inspiration for your new dream kitchen – a trip to our Self Build Show Centre should be high on your agenda.

COME & SEE CALLERTON KITCHENS AT THE POTTON SHOW CENTRE

SAT 10-4

BRAND NEW KITCHEN FOR THE WICKHAMBROOK BARN

5& 9-

FUNCTION & FORM

TUES - FR EN I P O

Turning Dreams to Reality

SEE MORE CALLERTON KITCHENS AT THE POTTON SHOW CENTRE

Over thirty years’ success in the design and manufacture of exclusive kitchen furniture has placed Callerton at the forefront for style, innovation and choice.

Aberdeen 01224 826 776 - Ayr 01292 618 277 - Beaconsfield 01494 681 444 - Belfast 028 9020 9209 Berwick-upon-Tweed 01289 305 100 - Bishop’s Stortford 01279 501 642 - Broxburn 01506 862 780 Cambridge 01223 213 266 - Colchester 01206 766 601 - Edinburgh (EH11) 0131 337 3434 - Edinburgh (EH3) 0131 523 0477 Glasgow (G11) 0141 337 1435 - Glasgow (G76) 0141 644 1435 - Harrogate 01423 900 565 - Horsham 01403 790 812 Hull 01482 648 813 - Kendal 01539 729 632 - Kilmarnock (KA1) 01563 546 203 - Kilmarnock (KA1) 01563 831 340 Leeds 0113 294 1414 - Montrose 01674 676 965 - Newcastle-upon-Tyne 0191 286 0514 Newmarket 01638 560 778 - Perth 01738 639 090 - Sheffield 01142 769 388 Shipston-on-Stour 01608 690 870 - St Neots 01223 213 266 Stourbridge 01562 887 212 - Swindon 01865 596 768 Winchester 01962 735 135 - Wirral 0151 342 7442

www.callerton.co.uk SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 06

THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR… Originally from Wiltshire, Jean Sawyer and her husband Eric had totally renovated their first house and had even self built their four bedroomed, family home in Oxfordshire, back in the Eighties.

Jean Eric Sawyer

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Oxfordshire Land Cost:

£5,000 in 1990’s Build Cost:

£234,000 Current Value:

£450-500,000

AS FEATURED IN BUILD IT MAGAZINE

Some years later, with the self build bug still alive and kicking, the couple decided to approach their neighbour with the view to buying the piece of land adjoining theirs. The land was purchased for £5,000 with an agreement that building would not begin during the lifetime of their neighbour. Then in 2012 with retirement approaching and no barriers to building, the couple submitted an outline planning application for the land – which was initially refused. However, the couple re-submitted the plans in December 2012 and in January 2013 they were granted planning permission “that was most definitely one of our most memorable moments” said the couple.

interior and passed it to one of Potton’s self build experts. “Potton was excellent in interpreting Eric’s drawings, they made some suggestions and minor adjustments to suit the timber frame construction method” said Jean.

Keen to get started on ‘the house next door’ the couple started to do their homework. “We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted, we planned to downsize, build an energy efficient house that would be better suited to our needs and will hopefully leave some money in the bank for our retirement”.

“We found the whole process with Potton - from start to finish - very good, everybody we had contact with was friendly and helpful.”

They visited the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon to see, amongst other things, Potton’s ‘Ruskin’ show house and subsequently visited the company’s self build centre in St Neots. The couple attended Potton’s Self Build Academy® factory tour and after reading articles about the company in various self build magazines, viewing their website and reading their blogs, the couple decided that Potton would be ideal for them. Eric prepared a detailed drawing for the 140 sq metre house, with traditional exterior and modern

The couple placed their order with Potton in March 2013 and the foundations were started five months later. The timber frame arrived in October and Jean and Eric were well underway with their new home. “Another most memorable moment for both of us” say the couple, “it was amazing to see our house arrive on the back of a lorry!” “We had two separate teams working on the timber frame erection, the first put up the main superstructure and then when the roof trusses were delivered the second team came out to complete the work.”

Once the frame was erected the couple set about working with local contractors to complete the build, all of whom were excellent. During this time the couple worked alongside the contractors to complete all of the work Eric had designed, this also included the pièce de résistance… a stainless steel and glass staircase that Eric actually made in his workshop next to the garage on the site! Their new home includes solar hot water, an air source heat pump which feeds the underfloor heating – which Eric designed and fitted himself! The couple planned all of the interior design themselves, choosing kitchens and bathrooms and floor and wall tiling and finally moved from the house next door in December 2014. “Having moved in, there are still a number of ongoing jobs to be completed but at least we are in, and delighted with our new home”

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Three ways to transform your living space

MAGNETIC WALL

LIFESTYLE WALL

SILENT FLOOR

Using Thistle Magnetic Plaster, which has an innovative formula that attracts magnets, you can turn any wall in any room into a fun, interactive display area.

A new wall solution to replace standard plasterboard. With a dense, reinforced core you can hang 15kg oﬀ one screw without the need for specialist ﬁxings.

Delivering substantially enhanced levels of sound insulation, our system enables diﬀerent members of the family to turn it up loud or enjoy a quiet night’s sleep without any compromise.

Improve your home and your lifestyle with our exciting Rooms Made For You range. Designed in close consultation with homeowners, our choice of innovative walls and ﬂoors will transform any living space. To ﬁnd out more about our Rooms Made For You range or for inspiration on how you can transform your living space visit roomsmadeforyou.co.uk

01 674042 965773 297x210mm 100% 11/12/15 HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING HELEN GODSIFF FIONA STILMAN

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HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING XXXX ISSUE

Bereco and Potton work in partnership to create the perfect look for your new home. Our high performance, high security, bespoke timber windows and doors allow you to design your M dreamYhome without limits. C K

Choose from a wide range of products in contemporary or traditional designs and personalise with painted, stained or dual colour finishes and an extensive choice of ironmongery. Our environmentally friendly, engineered and defect-free timber windows and doors are FSC accredited with third party certification and extensive warranties. Compliant with all current UK Building Regulations including the new approved Document Q Security - Dwellings.

www.bereco.co.uk SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 07

SITTING ON THE KEY TO SELF BUILD

After moving from their Hertfordshire home of many years, to the neighbouring corner plot bungalow they had always admired, May and Gareth Huxtable had, without realising, given themselves the key to fulfilling their ambition of building their own home.

&Gareth Huxtable

May

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Hertfordshire Land Cost:

£315,000 with existing bungalow Build Cost:

£400,000 Current Value:

£unknown

After 12 happy years in the bungalow, the couple began to think about their self build dream and decided to look for a plot to build their retirement home. “We thought it was now or never” said May. They began the hunt for a building plot but wanted to stay close to family. Unfortunately their search proved to be fruitless as the plots that were available were far too expensive and would not be viable. After much discussion, the couple came to the conclusion that they were in fact sitting on their best asset …their existing bungalow. Ideally located, the plot was the perfect size to self build their dream home. “We’d followed Potton for many years” Gareth said “and had seen their show homes at Ideal Home Exhibitions and various self build exhibitions.” The couple visited Potton’s St Neots Self Build Centre and attended a number of Self Build Academy® events, and after taking all the options into account decided to go ahead with the project. “After meeting with one of Potton’s Self Build Consultants we had made up our minds” said May. There was no planning permission on the plot so the couple utilised Potton’s design and planning service.

“We had to completely rethink our design” said May “but with Potton’s help, we settled on a modified version of one of the Shire range.” The couple wanted a family house with plenty of storage including a large utility room, a kitchen built for their love of cooking that opened up into a family area, but discretely separate. “The house had to be a bold design with a bright modern contemporary look. We wanted a separate family lounge and dining area and a low maintenance garden with patio barbeque area for entertaining.” “We were also keen on incorporating some eco-features, including underfloor heating, solar panels, a high standard audio visual system and electrical design’ “Potton suggested that we should consider working with one of their approved project managers and introduced us to John Gaddes of Hermes Project Services LLP “he was the perfect choice, we were very happy with his experience. He was a top quality man and made the whole experience so enjoyable” said Gareth.

“They were excellent” said Gareth “despite all the delays and problems caused by planning constraints put in place by the Local Authority” he said.

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“It was an amazing experience, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole project”… Demolition of the bungalow started in February 2014 and we were moved in, albeit only 90% finished, during November 2014. “There were areas where we went over budget but nothing on a Grand Designs scale. This was mostly due to the high spec kitchen and the landscaping” said Gareth. “We would however recommend anyone self building to research and shop around for prices, it’s not always the household names that will give you the best prices it is more often or not the small local retailers who want the business and offer the service. We were able to purchase our kitchen, our ceramic tiles for example at half the price we had been quoted by some larger stores.” The couple now fully retired, have even considered building again but at this moment are relaxing and enjoying their home, and wouldn’t change one thing!

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IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR

LOOKING TO SELF BUILD BUT UNSURE WHERE TO START?

Whilst these days we wouldn’t refer to ourselves as a ‘family business’, here at Potton we have a long tradition of working with families through several generations. Following in his father’s footsteps, Steve O’Neill joined Potton in 1968 and with son Matt and daughter-in-law Sandra now working with us too, he is the longest serving member of our ‘family teams’. “Watching my family develop is the best thing about working with them” said Steve “but separating work management from family guidance does sometimes prove tricky.” Identical twins Paul and Andrew Knibbs are key members of the factory team and along with Andrew’s wife Laura and mum Jacqui, the Knibbs family love working together. “We work well together and are always on the same wavelength” said Paul. “It’s great having mum working with us as she often brings us cakes – don’t tell Laura though.” Brothers Daniel and Ben Walker are the third generation of their family to work at Potton and although they don’t see each other in their day to day roles, feel it’s good to have each other around – especially if either needs their lunch paying for! In fact, it’s not only a theme that runs through Potton HQ but also with the subcontractors that work with us: Trevor Pryor, Heather Lewis-Pryor, Gavin Pryor, Russel Pryor and Brad Pryor of Pryor Construction Ltd have worked with Potton for more than 30 years and have built in excess of 500 Potton homes www.potton.co.uk/pryor

STEVE & MATT O’NEILL

We’ve worked with Alan Manwaring and his son Matt at AF Manwaring & Son for over 25 years building more than 30 Potton homes together www.potton.co.uk/manwaring And finally Phil & Steve Albrow at Acorn House Ltd, who have worked with us for over 10 years and to date we’ve built eight Potton homes together www.potton.co.uk/acorn And so it is, that through our family teams, Potton’s values are passed on from generation to generation. Underpinning the sustainability of not only our organisation, our culture and our ethos, but also the family businesses we work with too!

THE KNIBBS FAMILY

DANIEL & BEN WALKER

PLANNING YOUR BUILD

SELF BUILD TOP TIPS

Work out your ‘non-negotiables’ Work out what are your ‘non-negotiables’ and put these down in writing for your professional team to consider. If they have a clear understanding of what must be achieved they will be more likely to achieve them. Your professional team will also understand where they can bring added creativity to offer that extra ‘wow’ factor that you may not have considered.

FINANCE

Potton have come up with a ‘top tip’ for each stage of the self build process. For plenty more please visit SelfBuildAcademy.co.uk/toptips

Include a sensible contingency figure in your budget for unexpected costs Include a sensible contingency figure in your budget for unexpected costs. We would recommend at least 10% for this. Don’t use this money to pay for increases in specification or changes in design. If you do then you are likely to find that you will not have enough money to cover those truly unexpected events!

CONSIDERING SELF BUILD

LAND

Ask yourself four questions;

1 2 3 4

Find your plot first and then work out the best style to suit

Do you have the time and commitment to see your project through to the end?

You’ve always wanted to build your dream home, you know exactly what you want, but you can’t find the right plot? There’s no wonder, having a fixed view about the desired design can prove to be very restrictive when looking for land. Find your plot first and then work out the best style to suit the area and how to make the most of the physical features such as views, slopes and trees.

Do you have the skills and knowledge required for the task ahead? Do you understand the cost involved and do you have enough money to complete the build?

DESIGN

Do you have a constitution strong enough to see you through both the highs and lows of building your own home?

Keep a scrapbook to inspire design

Provided you understand your answers to these questions and can ‘fill the gaps’ when it comes to skills, knowledge, time and funding, then press ahead and enjoy what is probably going to be one of the most rewarding experiences that you will ever have in your lifetime!

Download our FREE How To Self Build Guide at Potton.co.uk/how-to

Keep a scrapbook of magazine cuttings and images - it is much easier to see what the customer is trying to achieve with pictures. Use online apps such as Pinterest or Houzz where you can browse thousands of ideas and store them digitally, allowing you to add and remove as your tastes change.

CONSTRUCTION If you don’t feel confident use a Project Manager If you don’t feel confident or don’t have enough time, then consider using a Project Manager to manage the build on your behalf. If your budget is tight then ask a Project Manager to manage the build to watertight, this will take care of the heavy work and save money on the Project Manager’s fees.

The Potton website has a collection of literature, case studies & frequently asked questions to help you with your self build project. LOOKING FOR LAND?

NEED FURTHER INFORMATION?

NEED INSPIRATION?

potton.co.uk/custombuild

potton.co.uk/brochure

potton.co.uk/csom

potton.co.uk/land

potton.co.uk/faq

potton.co.uk/galleries

selfbuildacademy.co.uk

potton.co.uk/directory

potton.co.uk/videos

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

CASE STUDY 08

STAYING CLOSE TO HOME

Georgina and Charles Serafini moved from Scotland to Wales 30 years ago and after being in their home for 26 years, their thoughts turned to building their own home.

Georgina Charles Serafini

PROJECT FACTS

Location:

Wales

Land Cost:

£145,000 Build Cost:

£275,000 Current Value:

£475,000

They wanted to remain in the area and followed up almost 50 potential pieces of land until they found their perfect plot. “We instinctively knew as soon as we pulled up outside a plot if it was going to be what we were looking for” says Georgina. The sixth of an acre plot, being sold by a local farmer, had an outline planning approval and in May 2009 they bought it. A condition in the planning permission meant that work could not start until November 2010 due to a new mains drainage system being fitted in the village. This delay gave Georgina and Charles a chance to develop their house design and build route. “We’d seen Potton featured in various magazines and had perceived the quality of both the company and their products” said Georgina. “Visiting the Potton Show house at the National Self build Centre in Swindon and attending one of the self build seminars confirmed that Potton was the right choice” she continued. Having received the Potton design information, the couple enlisted the help of their son, who is actually a chef but had some great design ideas.

Together, the family came up with internal and external concept plans “We wanted to incorporate ideas from two of Potton’s ranges. Externally we liked the slightly more formal look of the Rectory style” said Charles “and we also loved the Heritage interior with it’s structural post and beams. This would give us total flexibility with layouts, allowing us to take full advantage of the view, plus the opportunity to fill the house with as much light as possible” said Georgina. The family’s design had an open plan ground floor with a large feature window overlooking open country, a traditional Inglenook fireplace and gallery landing area with high ceiling. “We also wanted to include a separate double garage and to incorporate some energy saving features” said Charles.

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“Following a number of excellent design meetings with Potton we came up with a 190 sq metre house that would suit us perfectly” he continued. Work finally started on the garage - which would double as a gym, in July 2010, with groundworks starting for the main house thereafter. Once the floor was complete, the Potton timber frame package was delivered and erected. “The team were very professional and efficient, they were very friendly and helpful but for us the crowning moment was seeing this really tall crane lifting and locating the positions of the roof sections” said Charles. Charles did a lot of work himself. He installed oak timbers to use as window lintels on the front elevation and as their Inglenook feature beam. He carried out all of the first fix carpentry, worked alongside the electrician, helped fit the air source heat pump and the whole house ventilation system. He installed the underfloor heating system, the rainwater harvesting unit and he even installed the bathrooms and helped the carpenter fix the staircase. “We would do it again, and there’s not much we would change although we would have installed a larger rainwater tank to cover dry spells.” “We have no idea of the current value of the house but want to simply enjoy it!” Charles said.

G RO U N D F LO O R

F I R S T F LO O R

SELF BUILD WITH POTTON

Designed to be as

individual AS YOU beautifully tailored self build homes PottonSelfBuild

KINGSPAN TIMBER SOLUTIONS LIMITED. ELTISLEY ROAD, GREAT GRANSDEN, BEDFORDSHIRE SG19 3AR

For more information visit: potton.co.uk or call: 01767

676400

BEAUTIFULLY TAILORED