CHANGING THE TIMES

BEHIND the estate agent boards on a popular suburban road in Whitchurch, Cardiff, a transformation is taking place.

The Orchards is a mansion house believed to date back to 1891 and it’s being given a new lease of life as the centrepiece of a six-home exclusive housing development by Vaynor Independent Property.

The main mansion house itself is being renovated into three luxury homes, which will all embrace its original features and celebrate its quirky layout.

The remaining site is being developed with a five-bedroom detached house and two semi-detached cottages, aimed at people looking to downsize to a smaller home.

High ceilings, large windows, balconies, bi-fold doors and impressive open-plan spaces combine to make The Orchards’ homes individual and modern but with the core of the older property at their heart.

Steven Davies, operations manager with FCE Wales Ltd which is building the homes, says: “The mansion house would not have worked as a single dwelling.

“It would have taken up to £500,000 to restore the home and that would have led to negative equity.”

The company bought the mansion and site for £850,000 in August 2015 and started the build in January.

Steven says: “We always work with a company of architects and town planners and that assists us with the pre-planning application process, so we are informed of how to progress with planning for the site most successfully.”

The family-run company has developed unique buildings, making the most of character features and creating luxury new-build homes.

The original part of the mansion had not been updated for decades and many rooms were not being lived in.

The company has split the main house into three homes – The Hollies, Oakland and Beech View.

This has been achieved by extending the rear gable end of the older property to create Beech View and by adding a “symmetry” extension to the left of the building to create Oakland.

The main part of the building has been transformed into The Hollies.

The site also has the addition of Maple Lodge, pictured above, a fivebedroom, three-storey detached home plus two semi-detached three bedroom cottages called Cherry Cottage and Laurel Cottage.

Many walls have been knocked down to create modern, open-plan rooms and every area has been utilised to create en-suites, walk-in wardrobes, utility rooms and loft bedrooms.

The Hollies is the home that showcases the most period character features.

Entrance to The Hollies is via an impressive wooden porch with detailed original stained glass windows.

The beautiful, sweeping original staircase has been restored and is the central spine of the home.

The landing windows also have original stained glass incorporated into new window casings and the triple height stairwell rises to an impressive vaulted ceiling crowned by a chandelier.

The Hollies has a large open-plan kitchen diner plus a large lounge, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, an en-suite and two cloakrooms.

Steven says: “It’s hard to choose,