FACT FILE

NAMES: Philip and Margaret Nierop
PROFESSIONS: Retired
AREA: Devon
HOUSE TYPE: Four bedroom single storey
HOUSE SIZE: 252 sq.m.
BUILD ROUTE: Self-managed subcontractors and DIY
FINANCE: Private
CONSTRUCTION: Timber frame with zinc roof
BUILD TIME: May ‘06 – April ‘08
LAND COST: £298,000
BUILD COST: £362,000
TOTAL COST: £660,000
VALUE ON COMPLETION: £800,000
COST/sq.m.: £1,436
COST SAVING: 17.5%

COST BREAKDOWN

Preliminaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£18,000
Professional services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£16,500
Groundworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£39,000
Externals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£12,800
Timber frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£49,500
Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£38,500
Windows, rooflights and external doors . . .£39,000
Electrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£13,100
Plumbing and sanitaryware . . . . . . . . . . . . .£30,600
Kitchen and utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .£13,600
Other – structural and internal . . . . . . . . . . .£90,600

Why it Won.

Philip and Margaret might be first-time self-builders, but their fresh outlook is an inspiration to anyone daunted by the process of ‘starting from scratch’. A mature angle to housebuilding – taking the best that the eco market has to offer and placing it hand-in-hand with a deeply analytical approach to specification – resulted in several innovative solutions, not least the remarkable glass downpipe. H&R loved the post and beam system too. Whilst being unashamedly dominant throughout the interior, it also retains a certain subtlety, and its floor-floating bottom is a clever design touch. This remarkable property, set on a magnificent site, isn’t just green for green’s sake either.
The house complements Philip and Margaret’s sustainable lifestyle perfectly — they have a growing veggie patch and spend lots of time outdoors. The couple are thrilled with their Kensa heat pump too, which is one of the cheapest we came across at £3,800.