Traditional home with modern twist

OWNERS Lee & Amber Wilmot

PROJECT Self build

LOCATION West Sussex

SIZE 215m2

PROJECT COST £391,914

DESIGNER Scandia-hus

Lee and Amber Wilmot weren’t looking for a self build opportunity. But when Amber’s father considered selling his garden plot, the chance to create a house from scratch was tempting. There was no planning permission in place and initial conversations with the council weren’t promising. “There had been some development down the road so we assumed we’d be able to get consent,” says Lee. The main issue was the tree preservation order on the plot, plus objections from neighbours.

After a more positive discussion with their local councillor, they got in touch with timber frame self build home specialist Scandia-hus to help get them through planning. “Our project manager at the company, Aron Turney, came to all the pre-planning meetings,” says Amber. Compromises were reached on the design and there were restrictions on what materials could be used. It took 14 long months of discussions, but the Wilmots finally had building consent.

Impressed by the work Aron had put into the planning process, Lee and Amber decided to commission Scandiahus for the timber frame and asked them to put the project out to tender. With the contractors employed and Lee taking on project management, work began on site just as the pair discovered they were expecting their first child. “We had to make a few adjustments to the interior layout,” says Amber.

Getting out of the ground wasn’t easy, as the clay soil required deeper foundations than expected and it ended up being expensive to remove the extra slop. But once ready, the next stage progressed without a hitch. “The frame went up quickly. It was exciting to see it take shape,” says Lee. There were a few bumps in the road, namely involving some trades not used to working with timber frame and a delay with the window delivery, but it all came together and the house was finished before the Wilmots’ son was born. “We love our home and would definitely self build again.”

Full story online: www.self-build.co.uk/wilmot