Timber Frame and SIPs Self Build on the Coast

Overcoming Planning Permission Obstacles

Gaining planning consent for the project turned out to be a long and obstacle-laden journey from start to finish. However, the tenacious pair took everything in their stride, and never wavered in their ambitions, even though it took a mammoth three years to obtain planning permission.

“Initially the architect recommended we submit designs for five different properties on our land,” says Trudy, “so we did this, but the council ruled that none of them were sustainable enough and that they were outside of the village envelope.”

Read More: Planning Applications: What Do Council Planners Want?

The large dining hall has a striking vaulted ceiling that adds elegance and character to the home

So, with plenty of determination they tried again, this time with just one design that was more sustainable and fitted with the village aesthetic, yet planning permission was still refused. “Our next step was to submit the plans once again, this time with more efficient features, as requested by the planning department, but these were still rejected,” says Trudy. “And the Parish council also objected because it was outside the village envelope boundary.”

However, around the same time, another property that was 400m further outside the village envelope boundary had planning permission granted. With this information in hand, the couple were able to successfully challenge the rejection and were finally granted consent for their dream efficient self build project. “We believe this other property definitely helped our case,” says Trudy.

Planning a sustainable self build? Take a look at these 20 Sustainable Eco Homes to Inspire Your Project

Self Build Contract Conundrums

Trudy and Rupert took a relatively hands off approach to the build, leaving most of the work to the professionals. “We had site meetings every six weeks and were kept up-to-date on the schedule,” says Trudy. “We chose certain things ourselves, such as the bathroom and kitchen, as we wanted to use local firms.”

On the whole, things ran smoothly, but there was one memorable dispute around some aspects of the build that Trudy and Rupert had thought had been agreed, but were missed out of the contract. They only realised this when the building work was in progress and these elements were notably absent from site.

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When the garage roof was fitted, the couple spotted that it was all tiled; it was supposed to have flush solar panels fitted among the tiles. As a compromise, the builders offered to put solar panels on top, but Trudy and Rupert wanted what had originally been specified. After a few stressful discussions, the builders took the tiles off and fitted the flush solar panels as per the contract.

“The tender document was over 500 pages long and was very detailed in terms of what was required with costings,” says Trudy. “It was only during the build process that the main contractor realised they had not priced up some of the goods in the tender. We ended up having an awkward meeting with the whole team, but with the help of the architect, and with us standing our ground, the main contractor finished all works with no added costs to ourselves.”

Despite the contract issues, Trudy and Rupert were very impressed with the builders. The work itself started on 1st September and the proposed completion date was the end of April. The house ended up being ready to move into by the second week of June, but only because a delay with the delivery of the windows delivery held things up.

Adding the Personal Features & Finishes

The timber frame house also incorporates SIPs panels, surrounding brickwork and Accoya wood and zinc cladding.

Numerous eco-friendly features have been fitted, too, such as large windows to let in more sunlight and a Kensa ground source heat pump. This piece of kit was applicable for the government’s Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which provides guaranteed payments for seven years to offset the outlay cost.

On the garage, there are solar roof panels and an electric car charging point to the side. “We were having a gym fitted above the garage and the planning department said we needed to install a Velux roof window and fire escape for safety reasons, so that triggered higher costs,” says Trudy.

The Avis’ chose an open-plan design for their kitchen-diner as they love to entertain family and friends

“We also needed extra piping put in a ditch at the front of the house, and there was a problem with the angle of the main staircase, so that had to be changed, too.”

There were some aesthetic tweaks that also added extra costs. For example, the couple decided to select high-spec lighting on the ground floor and changed the front door from a wood product to an aluminium model.

The self build budget was initially £645,000, but the couple had to dip into a contingency fund when some things didn’t go to plan, so it ended up costing them £671,000, with £57,000 for the architect – meaning the total project came in at £728,000.

The Final Steps to Creating a New Home

The two-storey home has six rooms on the ground floor: a study/fourth bedroom, shower room, utility room, lounge, a large dining hall with a vaulted ceiling and an open-plan kitchen-diner-living space.

Upstairs hosts a luxurious master bedroom with a dressing room, a balcony with enviable views of the Suffolk countryside and a spacious ensuite bathroom. Also on the floor are two more bedrooms and a family shower and bathroom.

Trudy and Rupert planned all of the interior decoration works themselves, with the help of an artist friend of Trudy’s, and were even able to incorporate a lot of the furniture from their old house.

Much of the interior decoration was transferred from the Avis’ old house to the new home

The couple carried on living in their old home on the plot throughout the build, so towards the end of the project they had the added stress of trying to sell the existing house to pay off the costs.

The original property had land totalling 9.5 acres, and when the Avis’ plotted what to keep and what to sell, they retained over 8 acres, and would sell their previous property with just under an acre.

Around two months before the new timber frame build was finished, they put the original house on the market. They had a number of interested parties, and one buyer in particular that was all set to purchase the abode.

However, she pulled out just two weeks before completion. With a stroke of luck and a little serendipity, the people who were going to purchase her home ended up buying the Avis’ old property instead.

Once the transaction completed, Trudy and Rupert paid off the debts for their self build, leaving them mortgage free and very excited to move in and start enjoying their dream home.

“When we got the keys, we hadn’t seen the house for a few weeks beforehand. It looked so sparkling and new when we walked in,” says Trudy.

The house is set within eight acres of beautiful Suffolk countryside and has been designed to allow Trudy and Rupert to enjoy the views. The building was constructed with timber frame and SIPs, surrounding brickwork and Accoya wood and zinc cladding

“It’s such a social hub in comparison to our old place. We have more space for family and friends to visit and stay, and it’s easier for my mum to visit in her wheelchair – she couldn’t get into our old house,” she says.

“It has improved our quality of life; we eat outside much more than we used to, as the bifold doors open up, and we feel happier and healthier from all the light it lets in, plus it’s a lot warmer than the previous property. Building our perfect home has definitely brought our whole family closer together.”

More Inspiration: 20 of the Best Timber Frame Houses in the UK