HOMEOWNERS Gary and Sue Hilton
PROJECT Oak frame self-build
LOCATION Ormskirk, Lancashire
SIZE 245m²
BUILD ROUTE Project management and subcontractors
BUILD TIME 19 months
PLOT COST £250,000
BUILD COST £290,000
VALUE Circa £1.2m
Gary and Sue Hilton have always renovated houses, moving from one project to the next since they got married in the 1980s. Back in 2013, in the run-up to Gary retiring from the police force, a piece of land caught their eye — but they didn’t expect it to take eight years for the project to come to fruition.
“We instantly liked the unusual quarter-acre plot in Lancashire at the foot of a long drive leading to a factory,” says Gary. “Two derelict houses had been built there for workers in the 1960s, but you couldn’t see the industrial buildings, only lovely south-facing views across farmland.”
The couple put in an offer and were disappointed when they weren’t successful so they looked elsewhere. They were 18 months into building another house, 10 miles away, when the seller asked if they were still interested in the plot.
“I was just a month away from retiring by then, so I was lucky to be in a position to buy the land,” says Gary. “Sue and I worked out that we could finish the first house and live in it while we built the second one, then sell it to fund the rest of the build.”
NAVIGATING THE PLANNING SYSTEM
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Back to black
Dramatic black finishes and industrial touches add impact to Charlotte and Sam Tisdall's extended end-terrace home
Change for good
A last-minute decision to build a kitchen extension instead of a general update turned out to be a wise move for the owners of this detached period property
High praise
After converting a run-down gospel hall into a unique 1930s-inspired home-complete with geodesic dome - Alice Deuchar and Daniel Schamroth pronounced it a resounding succes
Lifetime achievement
Replacing a tired 1960s bungalow with a bespoke prefabricated contemporary house allowed retired architect Helen Heslop Brunt and her husband Martin to fulfil a long-held dream
Self-build for beginners PART 13 PRE-CONSTRUCTION GUIDE
Make sure that your insurance, health and safety, build and cost schedules and all documents are all in place before kick-off
ECO LANDSCAPING
Creating a garden with green credentials isn't without its challenges, but there are plenty of ways you can reduce its impact on the environment, once you know how
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PASSIVHAUS VENTILATION?
Heat and energy expert David Hilton explains the benefits, options and costs of this ultimate heating standard
HOW MUCH DOES EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION COST?
It's touted as an affordable home insulation method, but is external wall insulation worth the outlay and what are the lifetime costs? We look at the figures...
Open-plan kitchen DAVID HOCKNEY EXTENSIONS
From structural considerations and zoning to layout ideas and lighting, our practical guide to creating your new space has it covered
RENOVATING A GEORGIAN HOME
Known for their elegant architectural features, Georgian homes need to be restored sensitively to make them fit for modern life