When Gillian Watson and her husband David decided to relocate from Grimsby, where they had lived and worked for more than 30 years, to the Lake District, they found their new home at Wellbank.
Gillian, who is originally from Seascale, had long wanted to return to her home county and having taken early retirement after working as a performance manager at a local authority, it was an opportune time to look for their next home.
David, who works in finance for a leisure provider, had harboured a desire to self build and undertook a thorough search of available plots in Cumbria. But when he found the Wellbank development in the village of Bootle, run by Hugr homes, the couple decided the benefits of a sustainable custom-build home would be ideal.
After previously losing their deposit at a self-build site in Cumbria, Gillian and David were assured by the minimal risk of a custom-build home, the professionalism and support offered by the expert Hugr Homes team, as well as the wider vision of Wellbank being a community.
Of course, its spectacular location, on the edge of the village of Bootle in the Lake District National Park, was a vote winner.
“The description of the community that Wellbank would have and the village feel was what we wanted,” says Gillian.
The plot
After an 18-month search, during which time they looked at existing homes and self-build plots, Gillian and David decided Wellbank was right for them, selecting a plot that was slightly elevated, affording them beautiful views of the countryside.
Working with Hugr Homes means that you can opt for as much or as little support as you need.
For Gillian and David, they worked with Hugr’s timber frame partner Fleming Homes to design and specify the property that would work for them.
They chose a one-and-a-half storey, four-bedroom home and reconfigured the interior to suit their lifestyle and their needs.
They have also opted for a range of energy-efficient installations, including air source pump, triple glazing and under-floor heating.
“It was important to us that our new home should be as energy efficient as possible,” says Gillian.
The couple have ordered the timber frame and are in regular touch with their project manager to follow the progress being made.
As part of the support offered, Hugr has also introduced them to a number of recommended local companies that can advise on kitchen design and bathrooms.
The build
Once building starts, the couple hope to be enjoying their new home in just five months.
“This is such a great opportunity to own the type of home we have long wanted,” says Gillian. “Now we have committed to Wellbank, with buying the plot and tweaking the design, we’re ready to begin the process of the build, we’re excited about what’s to come.
“Joe Higginson and the team at Hugr and Fleming have been brilliant with their advice and we’re comfortable in the knowledge that we’ll finish with the beautiful, well-built house we can enjoy many years in.”
Why custom-build your home?
Custom build is designed to take away the fears, so even if DIY fills you with dread, it’s still a fantastic option.
The plots are already serviced with utilities laid to the boundary, so you simply select the house type that suits you best, and tailor your design from there.
Because it’s custom build, you can customise the internal layout to suit your needs. Although we have a design guide and an outline planning permission that we have to work to, there is plenty of scope for you to put your own stamp on your sustainable dream home.
We recommend our approved contractors as they can keep an updated cost budget, enabling you to plan accordingly as you consider alternative designs, layouts and specifications.
Ready for the custom-build route? Want to find out more?
Find out how Hugr Homes can get you on the custom-build ladder, from selecting your plot to mortgage advice, and contact our friendly, professional team today. Your dream home could be just a phone call away.
