From Spar store to beautiful home
WHEN Elizabeth Williams one day popped into the local Spar supermarket to buy some milk when she was passing by, little did she know that one day she would own it.
But not as a convenience store – but as a site with the potential to create something special.
Something that would bring extra visual joy to the streetscene of a pretty residential road in the village of Newton, nestled on the seashore along the coast from Porthcawl.
Elizabeth, originally from Port Talbot, says: “When I saw it, I instantly knew we had to buy it. For many years, I’ve had a fascination for old buildings, especially buildings with some history behind them and it’s always a bonus if it is located in a conservation area, as many of the original character and features remain.
“Initially I knew we could design something with a contemporary feel which would fit in with the character of the existing properties in the village, a place that includes a variety of designs.”
Where most people would have seen the leaking soil pipe and leaking roof, Elizabeth saw potential and was overwhelmed with excitement to get started with the transformation.
Of course, before any of Elizabeth’s creative ideas could even begin to become a reality, there were discussions with the local authority’s planning department to get change of use from commercial to residential and discuss the design of the proposed new home.
Elizabeth, aged 55, says: “The process generally ran smoothly, there were certain challenges as the design had to meet criteria set out by the planning department.
“This involved, for example, adhering to certain design of bricks, tiles and colour of rendering which was in keeping with the local area. The overall process took approximately two months to conclude.”
Designs and planning in place, the renovation and transformation from Spar to special home could begin, working through the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, with the whole demolition and building project taking about seven months.
But the project moved on when circumstances allowed and Elizabeth could see the beginning of the dream home emerging.
She says: “I wanted to create something with a coastal feel, being so close to Newton beach, so we discussed the matter with our architect Peter Lee and tasked him to design a property encompassing this.
“He came up with the boathouse design and that’s how it evolved.”
Her imaginative ideas for the house combined with Peter’s design skill created the shape of a boathouse with its upper-storey overhanging the ground-floor entrance and the pitch of the roof reminiscent of the classic, traditional A-shape of a boathouse.
Elizabeth says: “My favourite space is the open-plan kitchen overlooking the garden that oozes tranquillity, but maybe my favourite feature is the locality – being so close to the sea and situated in an area of so much history and character.”
And part of that history has continued at the new house with the choice of its name based on its past as a shop; no, not Spar, but Chard House.
Elizabeth explains: “After purchasing the property we were reliably informed that the first ever owners of the store were known as Mr and Mrs Chard so, as we wanted to retain some of the history, we named it Chard House.”
Elizabeth says her family and friends are amazed by the new home that sits where once there were shelves of sundries and groceries and that the feedback from the local community has been supportive.
She says: “They seem very happy, as in recent years the area was becoming extremely busy with the shop attracting increased footfall and traffic, as well as delivery vehicles attending the premises at all hours of the day.
“With Chard House we feel we have helped transform our area of the village and enhanced the value of neighbouring properties, especially with its shape and individuality –there is no other one like it.
“I feel extremely relieved and proud and can’t wait to do it all again – I’m already looking!”
And so Elizabeth sails away from her beautiful boathouse by the sea to find another old building to rescue and revive.
■ Chard House is for sale for £495,000 with Thompsons Estate Agents, Porthcawl, call them on 01656 784525.