Room with a view: replacement dwelling project with balcony

Eight years ago, our clients, Dharmista and Jayme, purchased a bungalow in Timperley, with a plan to extend it to create a much bigger home. It soon became clear that there were significant problems, not only with the roof but also with damp throughout the property. The previous owner had tried various remedial works to try and solve the damp problems but without success. Our clients decided that the best option for them would be to demolish the existing property and embark on a self build replacement dwelling project with balcony.

Our client Dharmista had a clear idea of the type of house she wanted to build. She wanted to create a very relaxed, warm and welcoming family home, making the most of natural light wherever possible.

The planned house is a 1.5 storey four-bedroom home, with a stunning balcony on the first floor, leading out from the master bedroom, with fabulous views across the garden. This design feature contributed to the somewhat lengthy planning process, with plans going back and forth between the architect and the planning office, with some minor adjustments needing to be made before permission could be granted.

Impact of pandemic on building schedule

Unfortunately, just as planning permission was secured, Covid-19 brought construction, including this self build, to an abrupt halt. Our clients were self-employed, running their own dental practice, so a major issue for them was concern over how to finance their project, with lockdowns in place and looking likely to continue. Dharmista says,

“As it was for many people, the financial impact for us was huge. Even when we could start working again, we could not open to full capacity; there was a lot of uncertainty, and then the planning permission ran out, so we had to apply all over again. It was very stressful.”

Fortunately, this time round, the planning application was processed rapidly. Dharmista approached CB Homes, along with a couple of other builders, to see if we could carry out the construction for her. Dharmista says,

“CB Homes has just been brilliant and so easy to deal with. I liked the look of CB Homes’ houses from their brochure but had assumed the company would be much too expensive. In fact, their quote was very reasonable and I just liked their whole approach. They were very patient and also very supportive and helpful when we had a few issues to sort out with our self build mortgage.”

Living alongside a replacement dwelling project

Our clients had initially planned to live in a static caravan on-site but after discussions with the CB Homes site manager, it was agreed that this was not a practical option as there is not enough space at the site to be able to do this safely. The family is renting a house close by, which means they can easily drop by and see how their replacement dwelling project is progressing.

Renewable energy options for a replacement dwelling project

CB Homes recommended a renewable energy expert, who talked through all the practical options for the new house with our clients. The new house will have solar panels on the roof and an air source heat pump. A ground source heat pump was not a feasible option for this property as very deep boreholes would have been required, which would have been prohibitively expensive.

We’ve been designing and building award-winning homes since 1981. From prestigious turnkey self build projects, to distinctive developments and exclusive barn conversions, each bespoke home is built to the same exacting standards.

CB Homes is an A1+ member of the National House Building Council (NHBC), registered builder with the Local Authority Building Control (LABC), as well as a member of the Federation of Master Builders.

Each of our homes is backed by our unique and dedicated personalised approach to customer service. This ensures every CB Homes development delivers ultimate peace of mind to its new owner, long after we’ve handed you the keys.

If you have always dreamed of building your own home, talk to us. Find out how we can help you design it, secure planning approval and carry out the whole build with our complete turnkey self build package. Contact us to find out more.