The shop on the ground floor of our Blagg’s Court development in the heart of Tarporley is now open.
Meanwhile, construction work is continuing apace on the two apartments over the shop and the two houses behind, causing much interest from many passers-by.
The shop on the ground floor of our Blagg’s Court development in the heart of Tarporley is now open. Trading as a coffee shop and florist on Tarporley High Street, named Reva Green, it’s already proving extremely popular with locals and visitors to the village. Meanwhile, construction work is continuing apace on the two apartments over the shop and the two houses behind, causing much interest and enquiry from many passers-by.
Rooms with a view onto Tarporley’s historic high street
The main front door leading to the two apartments is next to the door into Reva Green. It leads into a stairwell, which is now awaiting plastering. A beautiful new staircase, which will be painted shortly, leads up to the first apartment and then onto the second, located on the floor above.
Stunning new kitchens and bathrooms have been installed in both of these residences. The kitchens feature pale green units with chrome handles and worktops with a wooden finish.
Ovens, hobs and fridge freezers have been built in and the new homeowners will find everything they need to enjoy cooking and entertaining in the very stylish space.
Once the decoration throughout both apartments has been completed and the flooring has been installed, the new homes on Tarporley High Street will be ready for viewing.
Design for living: renovating existing buildings on Tarporley High Street
Behind the listed building fronting Tarporley High Street, which contains Reva Green and the two apartments, the separate former outbuildings are being renovated as two houses.
The site team is currently working on the ground floor of the houses, creating openings for new windows and doorways and bricking up any that are not going to be required. While the majority of the former structure is being kept, the roof has been completely taken off the Plot 2 building and the gable end wall has also been removed.
Every effort is being made to ensure that the renovated dwellings will blend seamlessly with the listed buildings surrounding them. All the old bricks will be re-used as much as possible in the development; a local builder’s merchant has already made numerous trips to the site to bring a variety of different bricks to find the best one to match the old ones where additional bricks are needed.
The next step for the two houses will be for the joinery team to arrive and start building stud walls to be sure that plenty of air can circulate between the external and internal walls. Next, the plumbers and electricians will arrive to install all the wiring and pipework required before the walls are plastered.
Rather than being one of our new-build developments, Blagg’s Court is a remodelling and renovation of a number of buildings within a listed building setting, in a busy village environment. This means it has been at times quite a challenge for the teams working on the site, as space is restricted and careful management has been required to ensure deliveries have been made and building work has carried on without a hitch.
To find out more about Blagg’s Court, Tarporley High Street, our latest development, contact our head office.
When you move into your new build home, there is so much to take in. From the décor and spaces that you can fill with your own items and tastes, to the working elements of your new home, there is much to get to know. It is important from the outset that you ‘test drive’ your home and check that everything is in full working order.
Moving into your new build home
When you move into your new build home, there is so much to take in. From the décor and spaces that you can fill with your own items and tastes, to the working elements of your new home, there is much to get to know. It is important from the outset that you ‘test drive’ your home and check that everything is in full working order.
Integrated appliances
There will be a certain number of integrated appliances in your new home, as items such as cookers, toilets and showers will be part of the structure of the building, with plumbed-in, hidden pipework, electrics and wall fixings. It is very important that you make sure that these appliances are in full working order from the outset, as replacing them could be an issue that requires considerable remedial work. It might mean tiles being removed, for example, to access pipework or a power supply, or floorboards or carpeting lifted up.
From our turnkey self build projects, to exclusive new build developments, we offer a variety of specifications on bathroom suites, cookers, hobs, sinks, fridges, freezers and dishwashers. As they are brand-new, these appliances will be covered by guarantees and warranties, so in the event of any problem, they should be able to be easily replaced. You will find details of these guarantees and warranties in your homeowner pack.
Heating and water appliances
It’s important too that you check the heating system works to its optimum performance. These days, heating systems are designed to be hyper-efficient and also environmentally friendly. But any mechanism can develop minor or major faults, irrespective of their type. If a joint on a run of pipework hasn’t been adequately sealed, then it’s going to leak, regardless of how well the rest of the heating system is installed. The whole system – the water supply and the central heating system – is only as strong as its weakest point. This could mean that a leak on a radiator could require the system being drained, which is a bigger job than a simple repair.
If your new build property features solar panels for its power generation, make sure that they are working efficiently and as they should. If you have a boiler for hot water and heating, make sure it’s functioning. Familiarise yourself with its operation – how to set the boiler for various timings, how to override the settings – ask a member of our team at the point of handover, or use the manual, or have a plumber explain it to you when he visits to service your boiler.
Servicing is important and in order to validate any warranties, regular checks should be carried out on the central heating system and boiler. A common fault is leaking radiator valves. These can be difficult to spot, particularly if they are behind furniture. They are harder to notice on carpeted floors, while on tile, vinyl or wooden floors, any leakage from a radiator – or indeed a water pipe – will become obvious quite quickly. If the leak is upstairs, water will also appear on the ceilings of rooms below.
Get to know your property
Regarding your heating and water system, one thing you should always check is where your stop tap is situated. This is essential in an emergency, as if you have to cut the water supply off due to a leak, this is the quickest way to do it. In an emergency, if you can’t locate the stop tap, you may be able to shut the water off in the road or drive outside your property, where the water meter is often situated under a metal plate that can be lifted on a hinge. This is a last resort however and you should try to locate the stop tap inside the house or garage.
It’s vital that you make sure that you are happy with all aspects of your new home and you address any issues early on. It’s important both for your own peace of mind, but also for the practicalities of getting anything amiss rectified as quickly as possible. Be aware of any warranties that apply to appliances and material, so you can address any problems and have them repaired, while they are covered, at no extra cost.
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.
Blagg’s Court, our Tarporley High Street development is not a new build, but a re-modelling and renovation of existing buildings.
We briefed our architect, Russell Baker, to renovate the ground floor shop that fronts onto the high street, change the flat above the shop into two flats and convert the outbuildings behind into two spacious mews house properties.
Creating a contemporary feel in a listed building setting
We briefed our architect, Russell Baker, to renovate the ground floor shop that fronts onto the high street, change the flat above the shop into two flats and convert the outbuildings behind into two spacious mews house properties.
The first step for Russell was to work out what floor areas would be possible to achieve within the fairly restricted and challenging shaped space available.
Access all areas?
Access from the high street
The two flats need to have access from the high street, rather than through the back as had been the case with the old single flat. This is to avoid having access through the outdoor space that will belong to the new houses. A new hallway and staircase rising to both flats was also needed.
The flat above the shop is being converted
The flats each needed to be a compact design with everything needed for one or two people to live comfortably. Each flat has a double bedroom, a well-appointed kitchen, a sitting area and an ensuite bathroom.
Architect Russell has created more by taking the existing, overly large staircase out of the flats, which took up a lot of space, and replacing it with narrower stairs. This enabled the new kitchens to be designed to be considerably larger. Although the two flats do not have their own dedicated parking spaces, the newly created large entrance hallway at ground level has been designed to have plenty of space for bike storage.
The challenge of updating a listed building
We worked closely with the Cheshire West and Chester conservation officer to come up with a satisfactory design for the shop front that would not only maintain the character of the building’s historic past but would also enhance its appearance.
The primary concern for the design, with it being a Grade Two listed building, was the shop front but even the separate outbuildings at the back need to be very sensitively renovated as houses too, as they are still within the curtilage of the listed building.
Designing the houses
For our architect, it was so important not to try to jam multiple rooms into the two properties at the rear of the development. Rather than creating lots of rooms, he just wanted beautiful, large, open plan spaces.
The outbuildings behind are being converted into two spacious mews houses
When it came to the outbuildings at the back, it was important to approach the design as we would one of our barn conversions, retaining the original feel while enhancing any nearby existing buildings too. We have created a contemporary feel in a listed building setting.
The rear walls of both Plots 1 and 2 back onto the brick boundary walls to the neighbour’s garden and the next door pharmacy so it is not possible to have lots of glass on that side so the design needed to find other ways of bringing in as much light as possible.
Open plan design
Russell decided that an open plan design would be ideal for these two homes. This is very popular with homeowners but also makes the best use of the space. It means no room is sealed off but each one has plenty of openings, glazing and partial walls to let the light and space flow. For example, if you stand at one end of Plot 2, The Bailey, you will be able to see from one end to the other. A generous kitchen leads into a large diner, which links to a spacious lounge. A double sided contemporary glass fireplace with a solid brick surround supplies heat to the lounge and the dining room but can be seen even from the kitchen. It makes a beautiful centrepiece to the house.
The lounge is in the single storey part of the building, so a stunning skylight set in the roof makes a beautiful design feature as well as providing an additional source of light.
Plot 1, The Motte, is a three bedroom house. Initially, we had hoped to have a two storey glazed window where the current entrance to the building is. This was considered to be too much of radical change by the planning officer, so the design had to be dialled back to be the same size as the existing entrance. Luckily, this is still large enough to allow plenty of natural light in, creating an entrance hall filled with daylight.
Natural light
Again, to allow more light into the first floor rooms, we have pushed the dressing room and ensuite of the master bedroom as far back as possible and designed a glazed screen for the second bedroom rather than a solid wall to borrow light from the landing, which has abundant daylight.
On the ground floor, as much light as possible has been gained by providing a galleried landing and a double height stairwell. Again, rather than solid walls, we have designed a partial timber screen between the ‘media retreat room’ and the hallway, allowing plenty of light to enter from the front of the building.
The main contemporary feature of this house is a horizontal modern fireplace with TV above it against the back wall. This is visible from the front entrance through the timber screen, creating a wonderful feeling of spaciousness.
Maximising outdoor space
The other challenges for the design included how to maximise the outdoor space for the houses and also how to mitigate the fact that this area could potentially be somewhat overlooked by the neighbouring properties.
It’s important to make the indoor spaces feel connected to the outdoor spaces so no one feels hemmed in, which is often the case in town centre developments. Russell’s clever design allows for sufficient outside space to create beautiful smart and contained courtyard-style spaces, with plenty of room for outdoor living.
Privacy will be provided by timber panelling and canopies over a decking area, providing total privacy.
Overall, our architect has managed to mitigate all of the design challenges to create four truly stunning homes.
Find out more about the beautiful apartments and houses for sale here.
We are currently working on a very exciting development in the heart of the village of Tarporley. This combined residential and retail development is very different from the usual CB Homes project but is very local to us, being only a two minute drive from our headquarters.
We are currently working on a very exciting development in the heart of the village of Tarporley. This combined residential and retail development is very different from the usual CB Homes project but is very local to us, being only a two minute drive from our headquarters.
High Street development in Tarporley
The Blagg’s Court development is located on Tarporley’s beautiful high street. It is just over the road from the Swan pub, and within the village’s conservation area. For CB Homes, this was a very rare opportunity to acquire a site with development potential in this highly sought after village.
Blagg’s Court renovation and conversion
Blagg’s Court consists of a renovation of a ground floor retail unit, the conversion of the two storey flat above it into two flats and the re-development of outbuildings behind the shop into two houses. The building that fronts the high street and contains the shop and the flats is Grade Two listed. The outbuildings to the rear that have served the shop and back onto neighbouring properties were constructed in the 1970s.
The property had been in the same family ownership since 1941. Firstly as a family home and sweetshop, followed by the family electrical business of Blagg Bros and then, from the early 1980’s until late 2020, J.Blagg & Sons. When the vendor began looking at selling options, CB Homes was recommended to them by a friend.
Planning application for mixed use Tarporley development
After in-depth discussions with the vendor to assess the site’s potential, our team submitted a planning application, with the agreement that we would buy the site if planning could be granted.
For the design, which we knew would throw up some intricate challenges, we instructed Russell Baker, an architect who has designed multiple building projects for us.
Listed building in conservation area
The listed building has a long heritage within the Tarporley community so it was important for us to engage actively, such as meeting with the Parish Council and provide detailed drawings to show our vision for the proposed development.
The retail unit had to be kept in order to meet planning requirements for the busy high street. We were very keen to ensure that the retail unit would be let to a shop that the community really wanted so, after carrying out a survey among local people, it was decided that a small café and florist would be a very positive contribution.
A design challenge
Getting planning permission for a scheme like this is a massive challenge, owing to the building fronting the high street being listed, and the whole development being in Tarporley’s conservation area.
The conservation officer initially did not want any changes made to the large bay window and entrance at the front of the shop. We wanted to create two entrances from the high street so that the access to the flats above the shop would be separate to the access to the shop itself.
After searching through the archives and old photographs supplied by the vendor, we discovered that there in the past, some time in the 60s or 70s, there had actually been two entrances. This meant that our new design, with two far more attractive, separate entrances, could be passed as satisfactory by the conservation officer, as it would match a previous incarnation.
It took nine months to get planning permission for the two flats, two houses and the shop. The planning officer really liked our final design and did not want us to make any significant changes, apart from slight adjustments regarding the windows design.
Keep an eye on our blog and social media for further updates to this exciting mixed use development.
Find out more about the beautiful apartments and houses for sale here.
When your new home is completed, this isn’t quite the end of the story. In some instances, there may be some snagging work required.
Actually, a customer can raise a query or complaint regarding a snag at any point in the construction process.
When new homes are completed, this isn’t quite the end of the story. In some instances, there may be some new home snagging work required. This occurs when the workmanship on the new build fails to meet expectations and standards. Actually, a customer can raise a query or complaint regarding a snag at any point in the construction process. If you are unsure about the quality of workmanship, you can also engage an industry expert, who can advise you on whether you have a case or not, regarding snags and rectifying them. The main thing is – if something is not to your satisfaction, ask the question, so you can then independently verify if it meets industry standards.
Keeping track
Some snags in new homes are obvious and will not be difficult to spot. Missing components, such as coping stones on walls or the wrong type of material used, will be easily verifiable by referring to the agreement and contract that was signed – and checking the design specification. If you are carrying out regular site visits to keep up-to-date on progress, make a note of anything that you think may qualify as a snag. You don’t have to wait until the contract is completed to address the issue with the contractor. You should always mention something you are not sure about as soon as you can. But it is usual to prepare snagging lists at the end of a contract, when the new-build is complete and you can take a proper, close-up look at the property. It’s important to keep track of anything that you think may constitute a snag.
The New Homes Quality Code (NHQC) has introduced the chance for customers to carry out a pre-completion inspection – either by themselves, or by an accredited professional – after notice has been given that the property is completed, but within the five calendar days prior to settlement. The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) advises how to make complaints about workmanship. If you are unhappy with the quality of your new home or the service provided, then you should contact your developer. Details of how to do this can usually be found on their website, or in any information provided for you when you moved in.
Code of conduct for construction of new homes
If you are dissatisfied with how your complaint is dealt with, you can check whether you are protected by the New Homes Quality Code. If your developer is on the Register of Developers and you reserved your home after their registration date, then you are covered by the New Homes Quality Code and can ask the New Homes Ombudsman to investigate your complaint. The easiest way is via their website at www.nhos.org.uk or by calling 0330 808 4286. If your developer is not registered, or you reserved your home before their registration date, then you aren’t covered by the New Homes Quality Code. You may however be protected by an alternative scheme, which can be confirmed by your developer.
As a new homeowner, you should make a full inspection of the property, both internally and externally. The average new-build can have a range of defects or snags, that may require remedial work. Snagging issues aren’t unusual, but need to be addressed early, before they cause bigger problems.
Questions to ask when you are looking for defects in new homes
Windows – are there scratches on the frames or the glazing? Do they operate how you’d expect, and open and close easily on their catches and latches?
Doors and doorframes – do the doors open and shut properly? Also check that the door furniture works well, so locks and handles work. Remember that if you have added a thick carpet you may need to get the bottom of doors trimmed to fit.
Walls and ceilings – is the plasterwork smooth and are there any obvious blemishes, such as screw or nail pops? Are the walls and ceilings straight and are there cracks appearing that are not covered by decoration? Is the decoration carried out satisfactorily, with no drips or runs?
Floors – if they are concrete, are they level and free from cracks and if they are timber, are they level and do they creak?
Lighting – do all the light switches and fittings work properly? If there are faders fitted, do they work and do the right switches operate the correct lights?
Central heating and plumbing – do the boiler and radiators work properly and efficiently, and is the pipework free from leaks? Also, do the taps work and not drip or leak, and the toilets operate as they should?
If in doubt on these issues and many more, it’s always worth asking your developer in the first instance.
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.
CB Homes has recently started work on a new self-build project, just over the border of Cheshire, in the neighbouring county of Staffordshire. The design for the attractive two storey, three bedroom cottage was drawn up to provide the most cost effective solution for our clients to make the best use possible of their self-build budget.
Is building a house cheaper than buying an existing house? A comprehensive cost analysis.
Are you considering the idea of building a house but wondering if it’s cheaper than buying a pre-existing house? You’re not alone. Many people wrestle with the decision of whether to build or buy, weighing the costs and benefits of each option. In this comprehensive cost analysis, we delve into the numbers to help you make an informed decision.
Building your own house from scratch offers the advantage of having a bespoke design and allows you to create your dream home exactly to your specifications.
Can self-building be an affordable option?
CB Homes has recently started work on a new self-build project, just over the border of Cheshire, in the neighbouring county of Staffordshire. The design for the attractive two storey, three bedroom cottage was drawn up to provide the most cost effective solution for our clients to make the best use possible of their self-build budget. Find out whether self-build is cheaper than buying with this client story.
Our clients, Ben, who is a manager at a nearby joinery firm, and his partner Leanne, who works as an administrator, had been keen for a long time to buy their own home. They liked the idea of living in a new build three-bedroom house but could not find one of the size they wanted at a price they could afford. They began to toy with the prospect of building their own home. Like many other people, they had always assumed self-building would be too expensive. It was not until lockdown that they started investigating it more seriously.
Building a replacement dwelling
The couple’s family owns a former working farm, which now runs some livery stables. The couple looked at converting a stable block but every option they investigated for this turned out to be too expensive, so demolishing it and building a replacement dwelling seemed to be a sensible and affordable way forward.
Ben came across our CB Homes website online and sent through an enquiry email to set up a consultation with Nathan, one of our directors. Ben also had a good look through the self-build resources on our website, which he found very useful.
Our brochure, which showcases several of the self-build projects we have undertaken, really appealed to him, as the houses, despite the variety of designs, all seem to share the ‘warm’ feel that he and Leanne were after. They loved the idea of designing a very individual affordable home that really epitomised authentic country living. They also did not want to end up with a house that looked just the same as dozens of others.
Ben and Leanne had already consulted with an architect to see if they could design a home to be built on a plot on the family’s land. They were keen to make sure that any design would fit in with the existing adjacent old farmhouse and two new build cottages.
The stables, which were to be demolished, date back more than a century, so it was important to the couple that their house design would somewhat replicate the shape of these original old buildings.
Future proofing for a growing family
Ben says,
“Originally, we had an architect friend, who followed our instructions to design a five bedroom house so we took that design to CB Homes to see if they would build it for us.
“In our consultation meeting with CB Homes, Nathan was very helpful by being very direct. He suggested various improvements and variations to the original design and was not afraid to push back so that we were making the absolute most of our budget. For example, he said that we would end up with rather small, boxy bedrooms if we insisted on sticking with our existing five-bed design.
“Following his advice, we re-designed it with the help of CB Homes to have just three bedrooms. There’s one master bedroom with an ensuite and a dressing room and two rooms for my two girls.
“To begin with we were a bit downcast at the thought of having fewer bedrooms than we had envisioned. The main reason we wanted five bedrooms was that as the two girls grow we want them to be able to have more of their own space. Brilliantly, Nathan suggested that in years to come, once our house is built, we could apply for planning permission to add two more bedrooms above, which could have a ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom. So that’s been allowed for in the design, with things like joists being located now to enable a staircase to be put in later. We would never have thought of future proofing like that, so we are very happy.”
What does your dream house look like?
Leanne says,
“Our inspiration for our house design, simply put, is what you get if you ask a child to draw a picture of a beautiful house, as that’s what it looks like! It’s very simple, as we didn’t have the budget for an enormous footballer style house – and we didn’t want that either! But it has absolutely everything that we want.
“Downstairs, we will have an open plan kitchen and dining area leading into a big living room with French doors opening out. The CB Homes team was so good at visualising what we wanted. Once we had worked out our budget and how much everything was going to cost and made sure it was affordable for us, it was all very straightforward.”
Jumping for joy
Having lived in a static caravan for nearly three years, Ben and Leanne can hardly wait to move into their new home. Ben is particularly looking forward to being able to invite friends round for socialising in their brand new kitchen. Leanne is looking forward to enjoying the view from the master bedroom, as well as having space to be able to do a star jump, which she certainly can’t do in the caravan!
Thinking of your own affordable self-build project?
Ben says,
“If you are thinking of building your own home, go for it, it’s well worth it. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to start spending money long before construction starts, as things like surveys have to be done first, so you have to allow for those costs. Find a company that you feel you can trust to be honest with you and really advise you, based on their years of experience.”
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.
When do problems qualify as ‘snags’ that should be rectified by the builder at no additional cost – and when are they deemed additional work that needs to be settled at the owner’s expense?
New build snagging
So, you’ve moved into your new home and you can finally take in your surroundings. Sometimes, when you eventually live in your new build property, you may begin to see things you might not have spotted from any number of site visits during construction. And sometimes, it’s only when you finally move in that you see the finished product first-hand. But when do problems and defects qualify as ‘snagging’ that should be rectified by the builder at no additional cost – and when are they deemed additional work that needs to be settled at the owner’s expense? Find out what new build snagging is (and what it isn’t) so you know how to rectify it.
Attention to detail
It is rather like when you buy a house that has been standing for years – you can’t spot everything in the time you are shown around by the owner or estate agent. A creaky floor, for example, will only reveal itself when you are actually walking on the floor any number of times. A light switch or light fitting that doesn’t work will only become apparent when you try and fail to switch it on at night.
Some aspects of a new build property will only become apparent over time. Cracking to the corners of rooms, or across ceilings may be a symptom of the plaster or paint drying out.
Quality guaranteed for new build homes
Anyone who has been involved in either side of the process of building or buying a new build home will have encountered the term ‘snagging’. It usually refers to minor remedial work which occurs as the project draws to a close. It is sometimes in the news, as developers are occasionally taken to task if they have carried out bad workmanship, or have delivered a poor response to customer concerns.
There’s a code of conduct and an authority to deal with the complaints process. The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) is an independent not-for-profit body. It was established in 2021 for the purpose of developing a new framework that will oversee reforms in the build quality of new homes and the quality of customer service provided by developers. The framework was introduced in 2022 and has already delivered a huge change in developer behaviour, ensured a consistently higher standard of new home quality and service, and strengthened the ability to rectify work that hasn’t been carried out to the expected standards.
The NHQB was formally constituted as a legal entity in January 2021 and the board members were appointed with representatives from various consumer bodies and stakeholders from the lending industry, Homes England, independent members, developers and new home warranty providers. Since then, it has also created a New Homes Ombudsman Service, to develop a new industry code of practice – the New Homes Quality Code (NHQC). This framework is ongoing however, with the opportunity for further amends made as new challenges arise. The board’s mantra is that it is ‘Championing quality new homes and better consumer outcomes’.
New build snagging: getting it right
Usefully, the NHQC has provided a standardised definition of what exactly constitutes a ‘snag’. Snags or snagging mean a minor imperfection or malfunction in the New Home which does not meet the expected tolerance or finish as set out in the Contract of Sale. Typically, something which is damaged, broken, not fitted properly or looks unfinished and can be categorised as either ‘omitted or incomplete work’, or ‘faulty or defective work’.
Snagging that is highlighted by the customer are not automatically considered a complaint. But if the developer has not responded to address and rectify the issue within 30 calendar days, then a formal complaint process can begin. A snagging checker such as a surveyor can be employed, if customers are unsure what exactly constitutes a snag and what quality of workmanship they should reasonably expect. For example, snagging doesn’t count if you choose an aspect of the design, or a finish, that you then don’t like. It’s not a matter of taste or choice, it’s an aspect of the work that is not carried out to the expected standards. Therefore, an extra cost would be incurred if the niggle is ‘self-inflicted’.
Another key point is the length of time after completion a customer can complain. The longer the period, the more likely the defect is down to poor maintenance. However, while most snags will be revealed reasonably quickly, others, such as settlement due to poor foundations, may take years to surface – so the timing argument is a valid one in certain cases. Some aspects of a new-build property will only become apparent over longer periods, for example, cracking in the plaster may be caused by the house settling as the construction materials cure.
In general, if an independent assessor agrees that the workmanship fails to reach reasonable expectations and standards, then the case for the rectification of the snag can be made.
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.
Our client Amy’s replacement dwelling is progressing rapidly. The roofers are now at work on this self-build project. At ground floor level you can see the layout of this beautiful Cheshire cottage coming together and upstairs, you can really get a good idea of what the rooms are going to look like.
Choosing self-build design options for traditional self-build cottage near Knutsford
Our client Amy’s replacement dwelling is progressing rapidly. The roofers are now at work on this self-build project. At ground floor level you can see the layout of this beautiful Cheshire cottage coming together and upstairs, you can really get a good idea of what the rooms are going to look like.
There have been a few minor delays because of the wet weather but Amy says it actually feels as if the build has progressed very quickly, with local people commenting as such to her.
Which design detail of the house do you like most so far?
It may seem slightly strange to say this but actually it’s the colour of the bricks and mortar! This house is obviously a new-build but right from the start I said I didn’t want it to have that stark ‘in your face’ new-build look. We have also retained another, old building onsite, so I wanted the new house to look as similar as possible to this other building.
CB Homes was very helpful when it came to choosing the right bricks. Initially I wanted reclaimed bricks but they can be tricky as they don’t always meet building regulations standards and quite a lot apparently may be broken so it’s hard to find a batch of bricks big enough and it’s really important to get them all from the same batch for consistency. We needed a lot as I wanted enough for the house but also some for a garden wall too, so CB Homes worked it out and said we needed about 12,000 altogether.
Choosing bricks and mortar when you build your own home
The next thing to choose was the mortar – not just the colour of it but the style of the pointing too. The CB Homes bricklayer actually went to the extent of building us some mini sample walls to show me three different ways of finishing the pointing to give it different looks! That meant I could confidently make a really informed decision about the design detail. I am so happy with my choice as the house walls look great and tone really well with the older building that we have retained on the site.
CB Homes put me in touch with a brick merchant and I actually did a lot of driving around to find examples of what I wanted and I showed them lots of images. The one we have chosen is called a ‘reclamation style’ and it is more tumbled than a normal brick. I am so happy with this brick style as it sets the tone of the whole house.
What advice would you give someone embarking on a project to build their own home?
You may have to compromise on some things but if you do, try to embrace changes as a positive. One example of this for us was that due to planning, we were restricted on the ridge height of the roofs so our bedrooms will basically be in the roof. Initially, I was a little disappointed with that idea but now I don’t see it as a negative at all; we are going to have fabulous vaulted ceilings in our bedrooms and I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to bedrooms with vaulted ceilings! It will actually work really well with the cosy vibe that we want to create with the whole house.
Getting every design detail of your self-build house just as you want it
I called in to see the house recently and a trim had been fitted to the soffits and fascias. I was a bit worried as it was more intricately detailed than I thought it would be. After mentioning this to the site manager, he immediately said, “that’s not a problem, we’ll just take it off and change it to what you would like”. So, I’ve now had a meeting with the joiner and he’s going to change it to my choice instead.
This is just an example of how important it is to communicate with your build team at every stage and also of how great it is to be working with a company that really listens to its clients.
What’s next?
The scaffolding will be down soon and I can’t wait for the day it is removed – as I feel that will be the moment that the house is properly unveiled!
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 and planning every design detail, 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.
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 project.
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.
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.
Our client Amy is undertaking a replacement dwelling project to self-build a new family home in Cheshire. Now that building work has started on the project, we caught up with her to find out the back story to this self-build.
Our client Amy is undertaking a replacement dwelling project to self-build a new family home in Cheshire. Now that building work has started on the project, we caught up with her to find out the back story to this self-build.
Is this the first time you have built your own house?
We previously built a house ourselves about ten years ago and we were keen to have another go at it, having learned so much the first time round. We definitely were not so nervous this time but as it turns out, building your own houses is a bit like having children – the second is never exactly the same as the first!
Why did you choose to self-build again?
Our chief reason for wanting to build our own house again was we really wanted some land with it so we could keep our two ponies at home, rather than having to go to the time and expense of travelling to look after them every day. We looked at plots without much land, plots with too much land, renovation projects and replacement dwellings. You name it, we looked at it! We wanted to limit the size of the land we took on as our children are adult now and so we want to have a property that will suit the two of us, as well as still having enough space for visitors when required.
How did you find a plot of land for your self-build cottage?
While searching online, we came across a replacement dwelling plot in Cranage, near Knutsford. It was quite confusingly advertised as the seller had changed his mind a couple of times about how the space could be split into more than one plot. Anyway, we decided it was worth going to look at.
As soon as we arrived, we realized that the marketing photos on Right Move were really poor as they didn’t do the site justice at all. Visiting in person was definitely the right thing to do.
The only slight downside we could see was that the plot was quite near a fairly busy road but despite that, we thought it had potential. A big attraction was that there was another small building on the site which looked like it might be suitable for further development, as an ancillary property. There was also plenty of room for the ponies and their stable.
What was the process like for getting planning permission for a replacement dwelling?
The owner of the land had got outline planning permission already, but we wanted a much more interesting build for our own house. We had a really clear vision of what we wanted. We knew it needed to complement the site and the area and we wanted it to look like it had been there for a really long time, rather than being an obvious new build.
A local architect drew up our plans. With hindsight, we should have employed a planning consultant, who could have negotiated the absolute minefield of the planning office on our behalf. We gathered a lot of precedent evidence ourselves, including for a similar development in the same parish, but we could have done with some professional support. I think we thought that going with someone local was the best thing to do, but that’s not always the case.
The restrictions placed on a new house by the regulations surrounding replacement dwellings can put people off, but as long as you are realistic about the size of the house you want, it’s a great way actually to get planning permission for a new house. We had to slightly reduce the size of the house we wanted but we have retained our permitted development rights which is great. There’s no doubt that getting planning permission can be a frustrating and slow process but we got there after about nine months of to-ing and fro-ing.
We had our ecological and bat surveys done and we weren’t allowed to demolish the existing house until 1st September, for the sake of the local bird population. A local firm of builders carried out the demolition. It was extraordinary to see it come down in a day. It turned out that there were barely any foundations beneath the house, and a couple of telegraph poles had been acting as RSJs holding the whole thing up!
How did you find the initial process of finding a builder?
We had really specific ideas on the finishing of the house, which didn’t seem to be reflected in what we were seeing in the designs. The builders we had chosen, who worked with the architect, seemed in quite a rush to start work and I felt we were being pushed into paying over the odds for building regulations drawings and also to re-jig the design inside to make the most of the space as we wanted. This was annoying but it should have rung loud alarm bells too.
It’s vital to feel totally confident in a contractor and also to feel that they really understand what is important to you with the design. The costs started spiralling to ridiculous levels and then compromises on the design were suggested that clearly were just intended to make the house easier to build, rather than making it better or closer to what we wanted. The company was also very restrictive in the specifications for things like sanitaryware and flooring, so I felt like we weren’t getting our own choices at all.
At this point, our previous experience of building a house was really helpful because I knew that the prices they suggested were too high. The solution suggested to save costs was to cut down on features that we loved so we decided to call a halt and find a different builder. Having waited so long, we decided it was more important to do it right than to do it quickly.
Why did you turn to CB Homes to carry out the actual build for you?
I got in touch with Nathan at CB Homes again, having spoken to him previously. It was immediately apparent that this company was prepared to be really flexible in order to accommodate our choices. I went through our specification line by line and CB Homes either agreed straightaway or suggested ways to make things work. The team also spotted various things missing from our original drawings which they’ve had to find ways to work around.
It was such a relief to talk to people who wanted to make everything happen as we wanted it to. The CB Homes turnkey self-build option, which we’ve signed up to, where we deal just with the CB Homes team and they deal with everyone else, is just great.
After a shaky start to this project with our previous contractor, we’re really enjoying the process now. In the lead up to a self-build project you don’t actually see anything happening so when the build starts, that’s really exciting. The foundations are in now and the walls are beginning to go up. We really can’t wait to see our house start to take shape.
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 turn key self-build package. Contact us to find out more.
