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  • HPH258 : Using a turn-key design and build company to deliver an ecological home – with Neil Sutherland

    HPH258 : Using a turn-key design and build company to deliver an ecological home – with Neil Sutherland

    Neil Sutherland explains how using a design, manufacture and delivery company can give you a better quality of construction.

    Interview with Neil Sutherland

    Neil didn’t take a conventional route into architecture. After leaving school at 16 he undertook a technical apprenticeship with an engineering company for a few years. It was only after finishing his apprenticeship and going travelling around Europe that the wonders of Florence turned his head to architecture. He returned to Scotland, completed his degree and promptly set up his own practice, MAKAR, an architect-led, ecological design and build company.

    Makar House, Kinloss, Morayshire, Scotland.

    A unique entity focused on the delivery of great places

    Neil summarises MAKAR as not being an architectural practice, builder or manufacturer, but a combination of the three.

    His first ten years in business were spent working out how best to develop and design buildings, and was disappointed by the options available to him on the delivery side of things.

    When he moved to a live on a farm with his family around 16 years ago, he had land available where he was able to develop and grow his business to include the manufacturing. He now has a couple of large workshops and employs close to 50 people.

    Their unique offering means they are currently working at capacity producing homes mostly in the Scottish Highlands, but are also looking to mainstream what they do and make it more widely available.

    Certainties can be provided to clients

    Neil is able to offer certainties to clients, around design, programme, workmanship and cost. With the alternative being to work with a number of consultants and a builder, he says it can be difficult to find a company who are motivated by ecological progressive areas of working who are able to take on an architect’s idea and make it work.

    “As I’ve learnt over the years, the intention is the first stage but one has to figure out how to get things delivered. The execution of things is perhaps far more challenging than coming up with bright ideas.”

    There are three aspects to a successful project outcome

    The first is having a thorough understanding of the client’s brief. This involves taking time to sit down with them and really understand their needs.

    The second aspect is the site analysis. Every site will have constraints and opportunities, but there’s always context; things to respond to, things you want to exemplify or even perhaps reduce.

    The third element is a flexible delivery approach.

    Neil believes as long as none of these three aspects are compromised, as he suggests happens in the standard approach to the design and delivery of housing, the customer will end up with a wonderful outcome.

    Scotland has an abundance of quality timber

    Scotland’s forestry cover has an unusual species mix, dominated by pine, fir, larch and spruce.

    Neil’s company is looking to develop progressive ways of utilising that timber, from a structural perspective right through to insulation. They use the common characteristics of those species for different applications and avoid using chemical treatments wherever possible.

    Spruce and Scots pine for example can be used for the carcassing of a panel type construction, Douglas Fir for large section exposed beams and posts, and larch is used extensively on the external applications of buildings, such as cladding and decking.

    “There’s enough there to do everything we want to do, to do it without chemical treatments, and to work in anticipation of the circular economy, in anticipation of the idea that timber buildings are uniquely adaptable in the sense that they are repairable and you can change them. You can take them apart and put them back together again.”

    They work closely with sawmills

    In other parts of the world, and particularly in Europe there are many small to medium sized mills, which relate to their local resource and how it’s used. In Scotland, many of the small to medium sized mills haven’t survived so MAKAR tend to use a few large sawmills along with a small number of smaller ones.

    Rather than the usual design approach of designing something and then looking for what you’re going to use to build it, in normal situations they would look at the resource available and respond to that, buying the timber directly from the sawmill.

    They use a lean process

    Lean process improvement is largely used in manufacturing to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

    Neil’s interpretation is that it’s about people; what motivates them to do things carefully, and with a lot of attention to detail, getting things right the first time and really enjoying what they’re doing.

    “It’s when you go about making things, when you connect the theory and practice of things together, you get a third thing that comes out which is a kind of tangible, pragmatic capability which is not held up as important as it is, in actual fact.”

    And Neil believes it is the people who are making things who are the best people to ask about how to improve the process.

    An ecological approach to engaging with the world

    MAKAR use the term ‘meaningful work’ to explain their working methods. It’s about their work being respectful to everyone involved, and respectful to things beyond themselves.

    “Every time we build a house, we know that it’s going to impact on people’s lives in a very profound manner. MAKAR exists because we believe that great buildings and places change people’s lives.”

    The aim is for quality, not speed

    The main constraint that MAKAR have with building the houses is the transportation. Their standard panel size is around three metres wide so that it can be transported by road relatively easily.

    Such off-site construction methods may be more expensive than other alternatives, but they will be better and more consistently made and speed and cost reductions will come about over time.

    The pieces of the house are made in sequence: first the floor, wall and roof panels, then the post and beam elements and finally the modular elements which are the parts of the house that have the plumbing, ventilation and electrics in them.

    They try and do as much of the servicing within the modules at their workshop as possible as they believe this to have the best outcomes.

    “But the future is about having less and less equipment, more and more fabric first, more and more simplicity around buildings really. But use the word optimisations. So, what equipment you do have you have to make sure it is working well and it’s optimised.“

    Find out more

    Visit the website of MAKAR

    Follow MAKAR on Twitter

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Neil Sutherland.

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  • HPH226 : 10 things I’m looking forward to about my new home – with Ben Adam-Smith

    HPH226 : 10 things I’m looking forward to about my new home – with Ben Adam-Smith

    With a matter of weeks until he moves into his new home, Ben Adam-Smith shares a list of ten things that he’s excited about. And it’s not necessarily what you might expect!

    Copyright Georgina Edwards Photography

    10 things I’m looking forward to about my new home

     

    1. Living in the comfort of a house built to Passivhaus standard

    In my mind this is the major advance in housing. When you experience what a comfortable house is, you won’t ever want to look back. Enjoying that comfort through the winter is one thing, but I’m hoping this is all year round. With an overheating risk of 0, I am excited to see what this means going through another hot spell.

    2. The ability to have family and friends to stay

    I have thoroughly enjoyed living in small houses, but one definite down side is that you can’t accommodate guests easily. Either they have to sleep on the floor or stay at a nearby hotel.

    A dedicated guest room will change all of that. And although we only have one, we have a number of flexible spaces which can do double duty (e.g. the office can transform into another guest room).

     

    3. Having a quick way to dry clothes and towels

    Sometimes in life it is the little things! In our last two houses we have had to dry clothes inside the house in winter. It goes without saying that this is not too healthy. It introduces lots of moisture into the house, which can lead to mould, etc. And it can take forever!

    So the ability of remove moisture from our wet rooms is a huge plus. It will also mean dry towels.

    4. Not having a loft

    I have spent way too much of my life climbing up and down a ladder into the loft. And most of the time I was carrying a heavy box or awkward shaped item!

    The new house has everything from a storage room to storage nooks and crannies… all inside the thermal envelope.

    I refuse to accept we need any more space beyond this.

     

    5. Sharing my self build experience with others

    In my mind, one of the best things about the self build community is how generous self-builders are with their time.

    I have seen countless eco homes, and the owners are always happy to take me on a tour and reveal what they’ve learnt going through the process. Moving into my new house is an opportunity to give back. And I’m really looking forward that.

     

    6. A fresh smelling house

    Imagine you’ve been out for a while, you get back to the house, open the front door… and are greeted by a musty smell. Consequently you have to open all the windows to flush out the aroma and light a few scented candles!

    This is certainly the case with the property we’ve been renting, but even in the Victorian house we used to own it was an issue.

    With a ventilation system in the new house and I’m looking forward to a constant supply of fresh air. Hopefully stale smells are a thing of the past.

     

    7. Developing the garden over time

    The garden is a blank canvas. Although we have a plan it will have to be implemented in stages.

    As someone who enjoys gardening I’m excited to witness this slower journey and see things mature.

    I’ll also be able to grow some veggies.

     

    8. The ability to retreat to the far end of the house

    One of the challenges of having young children is that they seem determined to keep you up for as much of the night as possible!

    This means a good night’s sleep is often a distant memory.

    Having a big house comes with the benefit of being able to retreat to the far end (away from noise).

    If you’re playing tag team as a parent, this should ensure at least a few hours of solid sleep.

     

    9. Having a dishwasher

    Much as it pains me to share this one, it is true.

    I’ve been cooking in such a small kitchen that you do one job and you have to wash up. I would be fascinated to know how much time I have spent at the kitchen sink this past year!

    Anyway, First World problems. The new house has a dishwasher.

    10. Seeing the house my ancestors built

    One of the quirks of where I ended up building was that one of my ancestors had built his house close by.

    We can’t see many houses from the new house, but that is definitely one.

    I will always be grateful for that.

     

     

    My new house is in the countryside. That means leaving behind the town where I’ve been for the last 14 years.

    5 things I’m going to miss (about my previous homes)

     

    1. Compact living

    We always stress how important scale is if you want to build an eco home. Well, I am moving to a house that is nearly four times the size of the house we used to own.

    Even though the new house is built to Passivhaus standard there is no two ways about it, my old life was more ecologically sound.

    We probably were due to upsize when we started a family but we perhaps didn’t need to go this far. The plot we bought naturally required a bigger house (unless you were prepared to make a loss financially).

     

    2. Being able to walk to the centre of town

    The location of our Victorian house was pretty sweet.

    So much so, that I even made a video about it.


    I am going to miss having access to supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops and the park. I barely had to drive anywhere.

    Although our new home is in a village with a couple of pubs, a school and one shop, for everything else we’ll have to jump in the car.

     

    3. Completing the gardening in no time!

    As you might expect, town houses have smaller gardens than houses in the countryside.

    So, spending half an hour in the garden every week is enough to have a well kept garden. I am under no illusion that gardening half an acre will be so easy.

     

    4. High speed internet

    A lot of what I do is over the internet and as such I’m always happy to pay more for faster internet speeds.

    In the countryside, even a stone’s throw from the town where we’ve been, internet speeds are much more hit and miss.

    What is worse is the service providers won’t actually tell you whether a fibre connection is possible.

    They will put you on a standard package and then investigate the possibility of getting a faster connection.

     

    5. Old things

    When you build a new house, there are lots of new things that go into it. More so with us where we’re actually moving to a bigger space… and thus we need more things to fill it.

    With all this comes the risk of getting precious over your new items. We’ve already had talks that we’re going to be operating a strict ‘shoes off’ policy (so bring your slippers!).

    That was certainly never the case in our houses to date because everything was pretty beaten up already. Kids and new stuff is a worry.

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  • HPH200 : 20 Self build tips (learned from 200 podcasts) – with Ben Adam-Smith

    HPH200 : 20 Self build tips (learned from 200 podcasts) – with Ben Adam-Smith

    Ben Adam-Smith shares 20 insights about self-building that he has learned while making 200 podcasts and also tackling his own project.

    1. There’s always something you can do to move your project forwards

    The road to building a house is a long one. There are also times when it can feel like it is never going to happen.

    Key challenges include finding land, securing finance, gaining planning consent and hiring a team.

    Just remember, where there’s a will there is a way. You can use your time to increase your knowledge or supplement funds, etc!

     

    2. Visit as many self build homes as possible

    There are many forms of research but by far the most effective is getting out and about, and visiting real eco homes.

    Get inspiration. Chat to self-builders who have made it through the process and discover what they’d do differently next time.

    Watch out for events like the International Passive House Open Days or Brighton Eco Open Houses, etc.

    Sometimes there will be opportunities to get onto construction sites too.

     

    3. Being flexible where you live should ensure you find land

    You might be lucky and have a garden plot to develop. Or perhaps you will buy the first piece of land you see!

    For most, though, this is one of the greatest challenges to overcome. And it goes without saying that urban plots can come with a hefty price tag, which is why relocating to where land is cheaper and more easy to come by is a smart move.

    Yes, it may mean leaving an area you love or moving further away from work, etc. If you are prepared to make this sacrifice then it may save a lot of time.

     

    4. Don’t dismiss custom build sites

    Custom build aims to make it simpler to build your own house. This video explains how it works (with an example in the Midlands).

    The benefits are that the land is much more affordable and, with initiatives like Right to Build, the local authority has a duty to make land available to potential self or custom builders.

    One of the downsides is that you are unlikely to get a plot in open countryside (which is perhaps what we all have in our minds!). The point here is to get over it! Even if you can only build on the edge of a developer site it is surely better than nothing? And quite often self or custom build streets have a great identity.

     

    5. Hire a good solicitor

    Buying land is much like buying a house: legally, there’s a lot to get your head around. Sometimes it can be even more complicated than buying a house!

    So, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. There’s a lot of money to be made in buying and selling land, and that means there are a few sharks out there. Hiring an experienced solicitor, whose daily business is land sales and acquisitions, should give you confidence going into this transaction.

     

    6. Don’t get too ambitious with your build route

    There are various procurement routes for building a house.

    At one end of the spectrum are package builds and hiring a main contractor, while at the other end is self-managing or even building with your own fair hands.

    If it’s your first time building a house, be careful not to take on too much (and perhaps underestimate what’s involved and how it will impact on your enjoyment of the project).

    Even just being the client can be a time-consuming and draining process.

     

    7. Embrace constraints

    Constraints are not always bad. Yes, you have to be careful of building on slopes and make sure you understand the extra cost that it will incur.

    In some projects, the constraints are not necessarily financial. For example, on my own project the majority of land is green belt and only a small section falls within the village boundary. That actually makes the decision of where to put the house quite simple!

    Constraints can also add character to a building.

    At Lime Tree Passivhaus the house had to arc around the root structure of a dominating lime tree (with a Tree Preservation Order on it). However, the constraints have led to a unique home, full of character.

     

    8. Design a house where you use all the space every day

    Architect Sarah Susanka taught me this one.

    It’s a great tip because it’s so easy to grasp.

    And it lets you have the things you want . . . so long as you use them!

     

    9. Try not to recreate old styles

    Building new is a huge opportunity to build for what’s best today.

    This includes making the most of light, energy efficiency, comfort, etc.

    While Victorian and Georgian housing stock is treasured in the UK, recreating these styles doesn’t make much sense. For example, fireplaces and chimneys are pretty much redundant when buildings can be airtight (and meet Passivhaus standard).

     

    10. Don’t be dissuaded from building a Passivhaus

    If you like the idea of building a house to Passivhaus standard, be wary of being dissuaded by those who haven’t done it or people who don’t sell products that can help achieve it.

    Take advice from people who have been there and done it. Once you’ve built a Passivhaus, very few people turn back.

     

    11. Like the people you’re hiring

    The process of building a house can take years, so when it comes to putting together your team it’s important they are people you can get on with. Yes, they need the skills but everything will feel a lot more enjoyable if there is harmony on all sides.

     

    12. Exercise restraint with your budget

    Unless you are experienced with managing budgets or you have a finite sum to play with, it is easy to spend more money than you planned!

    A few things run through your mind. You’re only doing this once and it’s your only opportunity to get the things you want. You can pay for it later!

    Of course nobody can stop you doing this, but it will have repercussions. If you’re struggling to find land it can be easy to assume more money will solve the problem. A splurge in one area will therefore mean reducing the budget in other areas or spending more overall. Fixtures and fittings is another area where people can get carried away.

    Remember, if possible, it’s better to build a slightly smaller house of higher quality than stretching to something bigger and then not being able to finish it properly.

     

    13. Focus on the big decisions

    Not all decisions carry the same weight. The land you buy, the build route you select and the team you assemble will have a major impact on your project.

    Yes, the devil is in the detail but making the right ‘big’ decisions will in turn make it easier to concentrate on the small stuff.

    Check out our podcast with Lloyd Alter from TreeHugger.

     

    14. Hiring consultants can be money well spent

    Nobody likes spending money when they don’t have to.

    However, consultants can add value (and even pay for themselves!).

    For example, on my own project I hired an interior designer. Some people might see this as an extravagance but she has helped us create a low cost kitchen that feels like something much more bespoke (and high end).

     

    15. Keep things simple

    It is all too easy to complicate our designs but the most ecological buildings tend to have something in common: simplicity.

    If the designs are simplified in the early part of the process they can often end up functioning much better.

    Check out our episodes with Nick Grant and Jonathan Hines.

     

    16. Engage in the planning process

    The UK system is often baffling. You will find huge variation in how it works, depending on where you are.

    One thing is for sure – it really helps if you engage with your local authority. Get feedback on initial designs and also, before any decision is made, check in with the planning officer to make sure everything is in order (from their perspective).

    Find out more about my own planning application.

     

    17. Install solar PV

    Assuming you have invested in the fabric of the building (and therefore have a high performance home), it makes sense to consider whether there is any potential for generating on your project.

    Often the most logical choice is to opt for solar PV because it’s not that expensive, will look better if installed on a new build home, and can pay back in a fairly short space of time.

     

    18. Being 100% ecological is virtually impossible

    Having a blank canvas is a huge opportunity to get as eco as possible.

    The problem is that there are always trade-offs. And sometimes with more money you just end up increasing the size of the building.

    So really this is about doing the best you can . . . and not beating yourself up. Remember, your house will be awesome!

     

    19. Don’t underestimate the time needed

    Building a house is a big project. Even if you’re choosing the main contractor or package route, don’t expect it to be a walk in the park!

    You will need time. A lot of time.

     

    20. Enjoy the journey

    For most people, building a home is a once-in-a-lifetime event!

    Of course the end product is important, but there is a lot to gain from the journey too.

    You will no doubt grow as a person. You’ll also learn a lot. And you’ll probably face your fair share of challenges.

    To get the most out of it, find an outlet for the highs as well as the lows. I’ve really enjoyed podcasting about my adventure. So, perhaps start a blog, keep a diary or just chat it out with friends.

     

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  • HPH180 : Where to live during your house build – with Ben Adam-Smith

    HPH180 : Where to live during your house build – with Ben Adam-Smith

    Ben Adam-Smith runs through the main options of where to live while your new home is under construction. While there’s potential to save a lot of money it should not impact significantly on your comfort, state of mind or key relationships.

     

    Money spent on temporary accommodation is not necessarily wasted

    A lot of this depends on your personal situation.

    With sufficient funds the decision becomes so much simpler, but if your self build is only going to happen with you living in a caravan on site then make sure you’re not romanticising what this will be like.

     

    Consider who is involved and how they might be effected

    Here are a few questions that might be useful to run through:

    Who will this impact?

    If it’s just you then you are likely to have a realistic sense of which route is right for you. With a family, there’s a lot more to balance . . . and a lot more at stake!

     

    What are your needs?

    Whenever you buy (or rent) a house the location, price and availability are at the heart of the decision.

    Consider proximity to work, schools and all importantly your building site.

    What is your mental attitude like?

    If you’re someone who needs luxuries and space just to survive then sleeping in a campervan may be easy to rule out. However, even if you go camping every weekend would living this way for a year be viable?

     

    How long will you be living in temporary accommodation?

    Even with the best intentions projects can overrun. So envisage yourself living in your chosen accommodation for double or triple the time you have in your head!

    And do you still feel good about it when it’s cold, raining, and it’s been a bad day on site?

     

    1. Stay where you currently live

    With the funds available, by far the easiest option is to stay put in your existing property. This minimises disruption with just one move (from current house to completed self build). It’s also likely that this is a comfortable environment.

    Other than the cost implications, the only other down side is if your existing property is a long way from your plot.

    If you anticipate being on site every day then this reason alone may be cause to move.

    2. Move into a rental property

    Although this is likely to involve you moving twice – once from your existing home and then again into your new build home – it shouldn’t be too disruptive once you’re settled and in a level of comfort that suits your needs.

    You’ll also have the ability to get closer to your land.

    The downside here is that money is going out on a monthly basis and if your project is significantly delayed this will soon add up.

    It also might not feel as homely because the landlord may not be open to excessive personalisation (painting walls, adapting spaces, etc.).

     

    Don’t overspend on the rental property

    The cost of rental properties will vary hugely. It’s worth visiting a number of properties to get a grip on the market and what is good value for money.

    If you are selling your existing home, also be aware that you may not have much time to make this decision. We found that the choice of houses available in our price range was far more limited than we expected.

    3. Move in with family or friends

    Potentially this option could save you a lot of money. However, it really comes down to how strong that relationship is with the person you intend to impose upon.

    If the house is large enough then maybe there is room to have your own space. Even then, perhaps there will still be an element of being on your best behaviour!

     

    Other things to consider is the distance to your plot and the fact that if things do go wrong you are probably in danger of damaging a valuable relationship.

     

    4. Erect temporary accommodation on your site

    We’ve all seen it on Grand Designs . . . the family that thought it would be a good idea to stay in a beaten up caravan on their plot for the duration of the build! Hmmm.

    Well staying on your site doesn’t have to be primitive: you have a few options.

    There are considerable savings to be made by doing this but one other benefit is that you can keep an eye on the site as work progresses. This is of course a double-edged sword! You won’t have a retreat away from site and will have to endure the noise.

     

    If you have young kids it is entirely possible that they may have an accident somewhere. Yes, the site will be fenced off but kids have an uncanny ability of gravitating towards things/areas they shouldn’t!

     

    An outbuilding

    Where your project has permission to construct an outbuilding, such as an office or garage block, if it offers enough space this may be a good option for staying on site. You’ll also be confident with the specification of the building (during the depths of winter!).

     

    A caravan or static home

    Living this way does not mean it has to be damp and dingy. They come in all sizes and to all levels of comfort.

    The question is really whether to rent or buy.

    Buying could be cheaper . . . but only if you are confident you can sell it on afterwards.

     

    A mobile home or campervan

    Slightly different to the last option but again offering varying levels of comfort.

     

    Don’t forget about storage

    If you are building a new house then hopefully it’s got all the space you need.

    If your existing home is fairly modest too then just watch out for ‘downsizing’ during your project!

    Hopefully you’ll see it coming but it’s amazing how much stuff you can actually have.

    And even with the best intentions of sorting through what you need, you may discover – like I did – that time flies by and then you just have to pack up to clear the house.

     

    Secure storage units are usually easy to find, but they aren’t always cheap. So factor this in if you haven’t got storage space in your temporary accommodation.

     

    When should you move?

    In some respects you want to leave this to the last minute! Nobody wants to compromise their living environment until they have to. In reality it is a balance though. You don’t want the stress of needing to pay bills and not have the cash flow.

    As you won’t be paying for services upfront your money will go out gradually during the build.

    Just remember that selling your home may take longer than you think. For Mike Coe it took about a year!

     

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  • HPH162 : Briefing our architect for our house build

    HPH162 : Briefing our architect for our house build

    Ben and Kay Adam-Smith sit down with Chris Parsons from Parsons + Whittley to run through the brief for their self build project.

     

    Discussing our self build project brief

    This podcast is slightly different to normal because we’re eavesdropping on a meeting! And this is no ordinary meeting: it’s the initial briefing session with our Passivhaus architecture specialists, Parsons + Whittley. Chris and John sat down with us.

    So, we hear a few extracts from that meeting.

     

    Items on the agenda

    • Our accommodation requirements
    • Budget
    • Stylistic preferences
    • Constraints (including planning history)

     

    There’s no such word as ‘no’ when compiling the brief

    As Kay reads through our list of accommodation requirements, she gets to the snug room.

    Kay says: “I’d really love a fireplace but I’m told I can’t have a fireplace!”

    Chris responds: “There’s no such thing as can’t. Everyone recognises the emotional attachment to a heat source. It can be done. We have done wood-burners, for example. You need a really good one because you need to control the air supply etcetera.”

    However, Chris goes on to explain that one of the underlying benefits of a Passivhaus is that they are ‘innately comfortable’. With the indoor environment so pleasant, you don’t come into the house and shiver . . . and so there’s no need to sit around a heat source.

     

    How could we build in flexibility?

    Where we currently live (with a floor area of 60 square metres) has been a squeeze as our family has grown. This has meant we can no longer have guests to stay unless they are prepared to brave the sofa.

    So in our new house we’d love some flexibility of how we might accommodate more guests at Christmas, for example, without building five guest rooms!

    We are keen to use all the space every day (or get as close to this mantra as we possibly can); and let rooms do double duty when we have people to stay.

     

    Creating ample storage space

    With an attic brimming with ‘stuff’ we highlight storage as being something that’s important in the new house.

    Accustomed to using our attic space, we ask Chris whether building a warm roof (also known as a Cathedral roof) is the best option.

    Chris replies: “I would rather keep everything within a simple thermal envelope because that just makes it easier to build, cheaper to build, more efficient, more effective. To disrupt that for storage . . . maybe there are better options.”

    Having all of our possessions within the house would also make them easier to access. Plus we might be more ruthless in accessing whether we really need everything (or can have a clear-out).

     

    Where is the balance between traditional and modern?

    While my aesthetic tastes have broadened since launching the podcast, Kay’s favourite buildings are period properties.

    That said, we both like modern interiors – open plan living, big windows that bring in lots of light, etc.

    So while the external appearance matters to me it is not as important as designing a house that all the family loves. So, how do we do this?

    Chris explains: “It’s about distilling what it is that you like about that [the buildings you love] and trying to make sure we deliver it. We might be a little bit subtle about how we make sure it’s still a modern home, in terms of the facilities, the way that you use it, the spaces that are available.”

    Chris continues: “So they do present conflicts, because the kind of stuff you like [old cottages etc.] is driven from an architectural vernacular which is quite limiting in terms of the spaces available. It was basically driven by how big a tree can you find. Because if you’re going to have a rafter or beam you’re limited by the size you can get.”

     

    Building with ‘natural’ materials will have a cost impact

    Kay and I are both drawn to materials like straw bales, lime render, clay plaster, thatched roofs, etc.

    Upon hearing our list Chris wanted to chip in: “There’s a sort of sliding scale of really super-duper, sustainable materials which is almost diametrically opposed to the costs.”

    “The most efficient material is probably not the nicest for the planet but will give us the best cost output. So somewhere on the spectrum I need to understand where you are sitting.”

    We decided that we were tending more towards the ‘ecological’ materials but probably not going to the extreme.

     

    Next steps

    After our meeting (which was probably closer to 2 hours rather than the 30-minute podcast), Chris and John went to look at the plot.

    Now they have all the information they need to create some sketches (either hand-drawn or in SketchUp).

     

    Find out more

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  • HPH159 : What it took to find my plot of land – with Ben Adam-Smith

    HPH159 : What it took to find my plot of land – with Ben Adam-Smith

    Ben Adam-Smith comes clean with his project progress! After two and a half years of looking, he has finally managed to buy a plot of land upon which to build his eco home. However, the process of buying the land was perhaps not the joyous occasion he would have liked. In this solo episode he shares what he’s learnt.

    Ben Adam-Smith’s plot-finding journey

    The idea of building an energy-efficient home came about in 2012. The first two years I devoted to learning in the hope that I would avoid any major pitfalls. Then the real work began. This was, of course, when I realised that finding a suitable plot in the South East of England was exactly what everyone was trying to do!

    A number of times I have updated you on my plot hunt, but each time I seemed to lose out. So much so, that I had very little to show when I reached my 40th birthday midway through 2016 (which was my original self-imposed deadline for completing the whole build!).

    2016 was also a ‘make or break’ year because my wife and I planned to expand our family, and so we’d need a bigger home one way or another. If we couldn’t find a suitable plot we would have been buying a new house, and at that stage not wanting to move again for awhile.

    Be careful with sliding budgets

    When I started this journey I genuinely thought that the equity in my current house would be enough to cover a large amount of the land and new home I wanted to build.

    However, there are few plots that come onto the market at the lower end and when they do, they are either snapped up or there is something so wrong with them that everyone avoids them like the plague!

    This led to us spending far more on land than we ever planned. Hopefully this is not something we’ll later regret.

     

    Buying land seems a lot more complex than buying a house!

    I have bought a number of houses over the years and don’t remember any great difficulties that have arisen during the process.

    On the other hand, the vast majority of the plots we looked at had all sorts of things going on behind the scenes. What’s more, there was little transparency in bringing these to the buyer’s attention. And of course you can’t leave this work to the solicitor because at that stage you are already going through the motions.

    Therefore you need to carry out your own investigation and assess any levels of risk.

    Only one part of the plot is within the village boundary

    Neighbours are a value source of information

    I have said it before and I’ll say it again – neighbours have an unrivalled grasp on the local area.

    A number of times – whether over flooding risks, private roads with no owners, etc. – I’ve had a gut feeling that there’s something the seller is not disclosing. While no single neighbour has the complete picture they can fill in parts of it. Even if there is a conflict of information, it gives you a focus.

    I think, without exception, everybody I have spoken to has been helpful.

    Assess the pros and cons of the site

    Compared to a number of other sites we’d looked at, this plot scored highly on many counts.

    It was central in a village and within walking distance of pubs, a shop and the local primary school.

    At half an acre, it was actually bigger than many of the plots we’d looked at and would allow for a garden. Part of the reason for this is that the majority of the plot is on green belt land, which would not be of interest to developers, and therefore we did not perhaps face as much competition as with previous sites.

    The site also benefits from having full planning permission for a sizeable dwelling.

    On the downside it was expensive and was definitely right on the edge of what we could afford.

    There is also a line of conifers to the south of the plot (which we do not own) and while good for privacy it blocks out a lot of the low winter sunshine.

    And as the building plot is close to existing buildings there are constraints with the ridge height for part of the roof, and overlooking issues.

    Expect a few sleepless nights

    I had a lot of issues with fear. I was spending more money than I’ve ever spent in my life. You obviously do your best but it’s so difficult to tell if there are still issues lurking somewhere!

    There was also the big shift in my financial situation. I would be reducing my assets and income, and creating a liability. The reality of moving from a comfortable position to less comfortable one was and is scary!

     A line of conifers cut out winter sunshine

    Self-builders invariably become attached to the land they’re bidding on

    This is a huge disadvantage because you may make different decisions compared to buying an investment asset, for example.

    If you can keep some distance in the process then you will be doing yourself a favour.

    The land equation exists for a reason. Operating outside it will leave you losing money when you come to sell.

    I’m not sure I did a great job on this point, particularly when I discovered that this plot was part of a farm one of my ancestors once owned.

    Make sure your solicitor does not delegate to a junior member

    We’d developed a relationship with our solicitor before we hired her, but what we didn’t realise is we wouldn’t be dealing with a different person! It was handed onto a junior member and this became apparent through the process.

    As the transaction was time bound – which is something you should try to avoid if at all possible – the senior solicitor had to take over towards the end of the process.

    Have cash available for exchange and completion

    Don’t use cheques! This was a lesson we learnt the hard way.

    We technically had the money, but didn’t have the money sitting and waiting in our account (as we’d previously been advised by people like Mark Brinkley!). So the process of transferring from one place to another would take 10 days to clear by cheque. Needless to say, this was too long. That meant having to cancel cheques and redirect funds via CHAPS, which is what we should have done in the first place.

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