One of a kind
After eight long years of searching for the perfect plot, Nigel and Louise Papworth took a gamble at auction on a site that gave them just the space they needed
In search of a home to retire to, the Papworths enlisted Potton to design and build a timber frame abode
For first time self builders Nigel and Louise Papworth, retirement was soon on the cards, but their Edwardian home didn’t tick all the boxes for the next chapter of their lives. Having scoured the market for suitable properties to downsize to, they came to the conclusion that the house they wanted simply didn’t exist – so they’d have to build their own. Louise was always keeping an eye out for renovation projects or plots of land that would enable the pair to start from scratch. Eventually, the couple discovered their ideal site in the village of Poynton – or so they thought. e balance between the rural setting
and suburban life was perfect and the price was right, too. But just as the Papworths were about to sign on the dotted line, a casual browse on Rightmove turned everything on its head.
A former plant nursery plot had appeared on the website and it was everything the couple had hoped for, and more. “e old greenhouses had all been demolished, leaving the whole site as a blank canvas,” says Nigel. “We took the next day off work and immediately realised it was perfect for what we wanted. e land was due to be auctioned in six weeks, so we held off signing on the original plot we’d earmarked and attended the auction. Much to our surprise, we won. e new site came in cheaper than what we had been prepared to spend, too.” Nigel and Louise paid £375,000 for the land, leaving them with an initial budget of £600,000 for the construction of the bespoke house that they’d retire to.
Inspired design
As keen walkers, the pair had visited this part of the country many years ago while hiking the Sandstone Trail, known for its outstanding views across the Cheshire Plain. e location and rock composition in the area inspired much of the house’s design.
According to Louise, the pair had plenty of scope to craft a scheme that suited their tastes. “e plot we found was in a lovely hamlet. But, there has been a lot of redevelopment since the 50s and 60s, which means there’s no clear vernacular,” she says. “is gave us a lot of flexibility with design. So then we started looking for a company that would be able to turn our dreams into reality.”
After some research, Louise found timber frame provider Potton on the internet. “e company’s fixed fee for design and planning was particularly attractive,” says Nigel. “We gave them our drawings and they prepared the final plans. We made two sets of minor amends and they took care of the whole process.” e application was submitted and planning was approved with no problems.
“It took a few months to agree all the final plans, but this part of the procedure isn’t something you should rush,” says Nigel. “During this process we were busy travelling the length and breadth of the country, attending various exhibitions in search of products we could specify for the build. After planning was granted and we’d placed our order with Potton, we agreed a delivery date for a few months later. is gave us the time we needed to find a groundworks contractor to do the foundations.’’
Living on the flip side
To make the most of the spectacular views afforded by their outstanding plot, Nigel and Louise were inspired to design their house with an upside-down layout. By situating their main living area on the first floor, they could enjoy the outlook throughout the day and into the evening, before retiring downstairs to one of the four bedrooms on the ground floor.
e timber frame solution provided the couple with a swift route to realising their vision. In fact, this part of the process progressed
like a dream – which is more than can be said of the foundations.
e pre-engineered form of construction Nigel and Louise chose demands absolute precision with regards to groundworks and foundations. Unfortunately, it transpired that the groundworker responsible for laying the drains had worked to a drawing of the roof plan – which has a larger square footage than the ground floor. It wasn’t until the timber skeleton arrived to be erected that there seemed to be a problem. Holes for drains, sewage etc had to be recut using saws, which added delays and further costs at this early stage.
In addition to that, the concrete was poured in at different levels, meaning the depth for underfloor heating and insulation in some rooms was significantly reduced. As a result, Nigel and Louise had to purchase thinner, more expensive products to rectify the measurements. Up to this point, the pair hadn’t considered employing a dedicated project manager. However, after this problematic start they agreed that they needed to appoint an expert for a smooth and seamless build.
Things begin to look up
In just six weeks, the timber frame was assembled and had already started to resemble the home the Papworths had spent so much time designing. As a builder of Passivhaus designs the project manager possessed a wealth of expertise and knowledge in modern methods of construction. Importantly, he had connections with a host of trustworthy tradespeople he could call upon to execute the structural and technical demands of the project.
It was at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon that the couple discovered the cladding system that would become one of the focal points of their build. Nigel and Louise were instantly drawn to CED Stone’s Tier Sandstone panel system. Using modular sheets, you can create a distinctive and natural-looking finish. As an added bonus, the product was available in red sandstone – the type
of rock associated with the local area. “is finish, combined with the timber covering and silicone render, works incredibly well,” says Nigel. “We changed the ratio of the substrates several times in order to reach the perfect balance of both design and cost.”
roughout the build, the couple were keen to have as much involvement as possible. As part of that, they specified every single element of the project themselves. “We spent nearly every day on site, making decisions and liaising with the suppliers to ensure that things were just right,” Louise says. “As our project manager reminded us, there was nothing normal about our self build, so that did require a lot of input from our side.”
Added challenges
Creating a unique home did throw up some extra obstacles for the project team. One example was with the upstairs balcony’s spiral staircase, which goes down to the garden and ground floor access. e flight is made from galvanised steel, but this material can’t have direct contact with the cedar balustrade as it would cause the timber to corrode. To overcome this, the contractor had to engineer stainless steel straps, affixed using bolts of the same material. It took one worker two weeks to drill all 300 of the holes that were required for this solution. “When situations like this arose, we knew we had a good team on board,” says Nigel. “Instead of pushing us towards a shortcut, they would always go away and research the right way to do things. You could say that this was partly what caused us to run over budget, but looking back, I’m glad we approached things correctly and paid attention to the extra details.”
e couple learnt a lot on their first self build journey. “One of the main lessons we’ve taken away from this experience is that you have to accept that things don’t always go according to plan, no matter how hard you try,” they say. “You could have the most fool-proof schedule, but things just happen. You can only go as fast as your
tradespeople do, and the great British weather will always try and stand in your way.” It’s not worth pushing your workers to do a rushed job, as you might end up compromising on quality.
Beautiful outlook
In just over 18 months, Nigel and Louise were able to transform a disused former nursery plot into a luxurious, contemporary timber frame home. Despite having to take out a mortgage at the very end to finance the garage – which features a room above – and landscaping, the couple’s attention to detail has proven to be extremely worthwhile. “My favourite feature is the balcony,” says Louise. “After all the stress of making sure the components worked together correctly, it’s by far the most rewarding aspect of the project.” Nigel loves the woodburner. “It makes a great focal point,” he says. “Plus, each of the bedrooms downstairs has its own patio, which is a nice touch.” To complement the surrounding countryside, the Papworths have kept most of the landscaping informal. ey’ve created a meadow of wildflowers, with a small orchard of mixed fruit trees and incorporated a 14m semi-circular pond below the balcony.
For a project that got off to a potentially disastrous start, Nigel and Louise’s passion and determination enabled them to turn things around. Even though the couple are still working, they can return home to a tranquil haven that’s unique and tailored to their tastes and requirements. “We get an instant sense of relaxation when we step through the door,” says Louise. “You can’t compare it to a house you’ve just bought – you feel very much part of it.”
I’m glad we approached things correctly and paid attention to the extra details