18 custom build plots French Fields, WA9 4SE

Transcription

1 18 custom build plots French Fields, WA9 4SE Custom designs limited only by your imagination A rare opportunity to own and design a home tailored to your aspirations in a remarkable location. The only limit is your imagination.

2 Contents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 to 19 Page 20 About the site location Site plans, plots and guide prices Local property prices How the custom build process works Designing and customising your home Financing your custom build The French Fields site partners The French Fields site partners Timeline for French Fields What happens next? Q&A s Potton case studies

3 About the Site Location French Fields is the perfect setting for a Custom Build Home. This exclusive development of 18 plots is the opportunity to build a designer home in a remarkable Country Park location. Nestled in the Bold Forest Park, between the Cheshire village of Burtonwood and the St Helens village of Clockface, surrounded by Green fields and open space, there are few comparable opportunities for Self-Build. Whether your dream is for an elegant country house, a barn style home with country views or a state of the art contemporary retreat each of these plots offers a rare chance to build a house to your own exacting design, in a tranquil country park landscape. Many years ago the site was part of the French Fields Farm hence the name and still retains its own individual postcode WA9 4SE. (the farm is owned by the family of the Project Director). Commanding some of the highest property prices in the district, the Parkland of Gorsey Lane is a highly sought after location with beautiful landscaped woodland walks, shale pathways and cycle trails and spectacular scenery all potentially on your doorstep. The site is in the greenbelt, and is entirely surrounded by green fields and open landscape with no neighbours overlooking buildings the perfect opportunity for a self build dream home. Currently the site is occupied by buildings that will be professionally cleared before any development to leave a completely blank canvas. Greenbelt planning legislation requires the buildings to remain until details of the new individual custom build homes are presented. Historically, the Project Directors family ran an engineering business on the site for 40 years, manufacturing award winning conveyors and security cabinets. The safes can be found in the Tower of London, The House of Commons, The Imperial War Museum, and The BBC and as well as being used by the Metropolitan Police and a host of MP s and famous people (including Princess Diana s family ). Easily accessed, French Fields is around 4 minutes drive from Junction 8 of the M62 down a quality congestion free road. There is no noise from the motorway it s not close enough, and the amenities of both Warrington and St. Helens are both within a short drive. French Fields is a combination of perfect setting, perfect location, and a perfect self build solution. 1

4 Site plans, plots, guide prices The owners of French Fields will shortly be obtaining Outline Planning Permission for the development of 18 custom built homes on the site. French Fields has already gone through extensive consultation with the Planning Office, The Councillors, The Parish Council and the local residents. There is 100% support for this development, to the extent the local residents signed an overwhelming petition in favour of new homes being built on the site. Copyright 2014 Kingspan Timber Solutions Ltd We expect the average plot price to be 150,000. This will depend on the build size you want, and plot width you require for your build. The plot cost is not just for a piece of land. Each plot has provision for all utilities, drainage, access road, pavements, surround landscaping etc. Once outline planning has been granted, we will work with you to secure detailed planning approval for your home. As this is a custom build site - and to ensure full flexibility - we are currently able to adjust plot sizes to suit exactly what prospective buyers want. For example we have generously set a range of plot widths but if someone wants a larger or smaller plot we can still accommodate these changes. Typical Example Build 4 bed Detached Home from 150,000 to build plus plot 135,000 Total completion cost = 285,000 Typical plot sizes still available average 24m x 14m. This is a good sized plot for a well proportioned 5 bedroom house. There is still some flexibility to change plot sizes, wider or narrower to suit your target budget and what you want to build. The footprint of the homes shown are a guide only and do not limit or restrict the build size to that shape or size, or for that matter design or style. All plots are freehold. 2

5 Local property prices The properties around Gorsey Lane are in demand and command some of the highest prices in the area, having maintained this level for some years because of the amazing Country Park location and the accessibility of the site for commuting to both Manchester and Liverpool. 3

6 How the custom build process works At French Fields, with professional assistance, and comprehensive support from beginning to end - self build will be as easy as it gets. Everyone will be guided through a well defined professional process that will result in a designer home where every detail is one of choice - from internal room layouts to exterior features, to the direction of the staircase and the position of electrical sockets. With custom build you can pick and choose your level of involvement and create a home reflecting your own specific lifestyle needs and aspirations see your options below. Once you ve gone through a simple (and FREE) financial consultation with a BuildStore consultant, you ll then be able to choose a plot these are on a first come, first served basis and secure it with a Reservation Fee. We will then take your reserved plot off the market for an agreed time whilst the detailed design stage progresses. You re now committed to build, so the next stage is to pull together your ideas, however vague they may be at this point. We will help you to do this and start to point you in the right direction for your build. You do not need to know anything about self build at this stage. If you already have lots of ideas about what you would like to build, then we ll simply help you form these ideas into plans. Alternatively if you haven t really got any ideas as to what you want to create, a Potton designer will help draw them out. They re highly experienced in bringing together your vision - and not imposing someone else s. Now that half the plots are already reserved, site clearance and the installation of the access road and services will commence Spring See the expected timeline on page 9 for further details. 4

7 Designing & customising your home All 18 plots have to be master planned to create a remarkable overall development in an exclusive location. This is on top of each individual unique plot design. With a reputation that is second to none, Potton s design expertise, technical know-how and high standards of craftsmanship can help you bring your dreams to life. Their designers will work with you throughout your build to ensure your dream home is everything you imagined it to be. Design a home that s truly yours Start with a blank page and create something unique. Look to the latest design trends to fire your imagination or draw inspiration from classic architectural styles for your vision. Think how you ll use your house; how it will reflect the way you want to live. Work from home? Add an office? Love the outdoors What about a boot room? The possibilities are endless and Potton can bring them to life. Potton have created Beautifully Tailored homes for thousands of families; suiting individual tastes and budgets. Potton will design your home to match your lifestyle and carefully position it on your French Fields plot. The Potton designers can take over to bring your ideas to life. And it doesn t stop there, as experts in sustainability; Potton will ensure your design is as energy efficient as possible, future proofing your home against rising fuel costs. Potton s Custom Build Philosophy Total Choice and Flexibility Over many years of working with customers to develop self build homes, Potton have learned that flexibility and choice are key to success and therefore they have become fundamental principles of their service. Potton work with customers to tailor the design of their homes, the service they receive and the way that their homes are built. Take inspiration Potton are one of the few companies that have the capabilities for unique design and build techniques giving a self builder true design freedom. It is a fact that of the thousands of designs Potton have created, no two are the same. Browse through Potton s extensive online Galleries. From traditional to contemporary designs, Potton can Beautifully Tailor a home to suit you...visit the Potton website for images of Beautifully Tailored Potton homes, Potton.co.uk/Galleries 5

8 Financing your custom build BuildStore is the UK s leading provider of homebuilding finance in the UK and works with a panel of lenders to provide exclusive stage payment mortgages including the awardwinning Accelerator Scheme with advance stage payments or traditional mortgages with higher lending percentages to improve cashflow. Over the years, BuildStore has helped almost 25,000 customers to build or renovate their own homes the equivalent of a medium sized town. That s a lot of dreams come true! A mortgage for a custom build differs from a mortgage you would use to buy a house because the money is released in stages, as the build progresses, rather than as a single amount. Interest is only paid on the amount you have drawn down. All lenders have different criteria which is why it s important to speak to an expert who can look at your project individually and find the right finance, both for your project and your personal circumstances. Can you afford to purchase your plot outright? Will you need money to purchase the plot? Do you need to sell your current home first to release equity? What percentage of deposit is available to you? This is important to establish as some lenders don t lend on land, whereas others will but with varying amounts from say 50% to 85%. But, not everyone has the cash required to get to the first build stage or is able to release equity from their existing property to buy or put down a deposit on land. The unique Accelerator mortgage from BuildStore releases funds at the beginning of each stage rather than at the end. The improved cashflow offered by this type of mortgage also makes it possible for you to remain in your current home while building your new home. It is particularly useful when it comes to borrowing for timber frame construction because this type of build is more expensive in the early stages because you have to pay for the whole system up front. Stage payments There are two types of self build mortgage: those that pay in advance of each stage of work being complete, and those that pay in arrears. For arrears stage-payment mortgages, the first payout during the build usually comes after the foundations have been completed (some products will only release after wind & watertight stage), which means that the self builder will have to find the money to get up to this point in the build (land purchase, materials and labour). Because of the significant upfront costs of getting to the first build stage and release of funds, arrears stage payment mortgages are best for those with enough cash to buy a plot and get building started. 6

9 The French Fields site partners Potton manufacture superior timber frame house structures for self builders. The company has been established more than 50 years. Now owned by the Kingspan Group (famous for insulation) with business operations all over the world, Potton is the market leader in self build. Employing more than 60 craftsmen and 10 full time self build designers, their factory (which is open to visitors) boasts 4 complete fully furnished show homes. Potton have helped thousands of people build their own home. Add to that the service of our guaranteed experienced self builder support service - from start to finish - and you can see why Potton are a priority choice... not just an ordinary self build company. A way of ensuring total success and enjoyment in the self build experience. Potton are one of the few structural companies with the experience and capability to offer a facility of any design type such as contemporary or traditional, but without imposing a particular direction (for example every Huf Haus follows a format that must be adhered to, and every oak frame build must have the same skeleton structure). Potton however, have manufacturing facilities for any style or build type, be it an exposed beam frame, to a continental Bauhaus, to a State of the Art SIPS structure (SIP s = structural insulated panels). Using Potton we are able to guarantee every plot will be a superior build, to a customers personal design vision and then guarantee planning (right through to detailed planning - which comes as a free package with the plot for early involvement). Potton is a part of the Kingspan Group (famous for insulation) but with worldwide operations manufacturing high tech building products for everything from rainwater recovery systems to structural wall panels. This adds to the assurance that the building fabric is highly advanced and superior both in quality and design, with real financial and technical stability. 7

10 The French Fields site partners BuildStore was founded in 1998 and sits at the forefront of the self build market as the UK s leading provider of specially tailored solutions and products for self builders and renovators. Its custombuildhomes.co.uk division has been set up specifically to support the custom build sector. BuildStore brings together all of the services you need for a successful project. BuildStore has been actively involved in the custom build sector since 2008 when it identified custom build as an opportunity following the credit crunch to address housing shortage. We work closely with landowners including local authorities and central government agencies to bring land to market as serviced plots; with developers, building professionals and suppliers to deliver quality, customised homes. For our custom builders, BuildStore offers unrivalled expertise as the leading provider of specialist self build mortgages and insurances. If you do require a self build mortgage, BuildStore provides the end to end service: we re a whole of market adviser, as well as offering a range of exclusive mortgages including the award-winning Accelerator Mortgage (see more on pg 8). The custom build model prevalent in the rest of Europe, Australia and the USA is becoming increasingly popular in the UK: Land owners get a fair price for their land, and typically a faster sale (no landbanking by the big developers) Enabling Developers (who create the site infrastructure) outlay less capital than they would to fully develop the site; receive a fair profit for developing the serviced plots, and typically a quicker construction process Homeowners get a high-quality, customised, designer house, built to their specification; because, in effect, the selfbuilder is the developer Commissioning the build of their own home profits are retained. So, everyone wins with custom build! Through BuildStore s Project Support Services, you can also organise full or partial project management services to suit your circumstances; and source and supply building products and materials. For those with a more acute interest in the technical aspects of home building, why not visit the 67,000 sq ft National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon, founded by BuildStore the UKs only permanent venue offering independent homebuilding advice and support. 8

11 Timeline for French Fields Everyone wants to know how long it will take to get building or when they can be expected to complete their self build. What is probably surprising is that a lot of time is spent in preparation and planning which is based on decisions and choices that you will personally make for your unique design. These decisions are to be enjoyed as an integral part of the self build experience, and once you have committed to a plot, our team of experts will help to prepare you at a pace that suits you. As a general guide, following outline planning approval, it will be 26 weeks of design, preparation and planning followed by 26 weeks of building work for a well managed project. There is no doubt that both build times and design times can be reduced. However, Potton have more than 50 years experience in self build. This brings a lot of knowledge on where you as a customer will want to spend your time making the decisions that will build up into your dream home. Self Build is a straightforward process which is comprised of a series of well defined stages. These stages or steps that have been refined over many years and correspond perfectly with mortgage payments. Each step involves a number of decisions and these choices will be made by you with our expert guidance. Advanced frame construction offers real advantages in terms of speed and build (not to mention quality), and Potton s experience in advanced building techniques using skilled installation teams means the actual structure of your home can be built on site in as little as 2 weeks. Foundations can be completed in less than 4 weeks. Roofing can be completed in 2-3 weeks. So you can have a weather tight shell in around 8 weeks after starting work on site. Turning a house into a home, takes preparation and planning and each individual stage is important. 9

12 What happens next? Thank you for your interest in creating your dream home at French Fields. This really is a rare opportunity to own and design a home tailored to your aspirations in a remarkable location. NEXT STEPS: PREPARATION STAGE all FREE and with no commitment BuildStore Financial Qualification FREE, no obligation Potton Initial Design Consultation FREE, no obligation Project Director Meeting (Plot / Budget Appraisal, Build Packages, Project Management) FREE, no obligation Optional: Free tour of the Potton factory and show centre Free access to Potton Self Build Academy course Free visit to the National Self Build & Renovation Centre CUSTOMER COMMITMENT STAGE Customer plot reservation a reservation fee of We will take your plot off the market for up to six months, whilst detailed planning permission is obtained. During this time, we will be pleased to work with you in creating detailed professional designs for your home and submit these for approval. The reservation fee will be taken off the plot price on plot purchase. Our commitment = No planning = customer money back Customer commitment = detailed planning received = Customer committed to build (please note that our expert designers will only submit planning applications that they believe will be successful) For those that reserve a plot early, primarily before the site is professionally cleared, there will be extra incentives to assist with your design and build. This includes all drawings and calculations, but customer will be paying their council planning fee. Building Regulation information is provided just prior to construction commencing not during the planning process. CUSTOMER DETAILED DESIGN STAGE From here, working with Potton and BuildStore, customers can progress with the detailed specification of their new homes tailoring the level of involvement you want to have during your new homes construction; sourcing materials and products; contractors and tradespeople with our support throughout. 10

13 French Fields, WA9 4SE Questions and Answers 11

14 Q&As Self Build or Custom Build generally begins with a lot of questions. It progresses to a lot of often enjoyable decisions and finally results in what can be one of the most satisfying experiences in a person s life. The route and preparation for everyone is as unique as their new designer home, and the questions are different for everyone. The process can also be different. Some people will never even pick up a paint brush, and just want to design and specify the features of their home and watch it being built. For others, getting involved will be key. Self Build can be daunting for the first time, but it can be a straightforward process, and the development at French Fields will include comprehensive support and guidance from experienced self builders plus the rare added advantage of a community of self builders building their homes at the same time. What s the difference between self build and custom build? Nothing really the terms are synonymous - and describe a spectrum of options whereby individuals or groups commission the building of homes for their own occupation. Custom build tends to be used to describe multi plot sites being delivered as serviced plots. For French Fields, a custom build home is built on a site which has been divided into individual serviced plots by an enabling developer. Plots are ready to build on with access and services in place. What s the difference between GreenBELT, GreenFIELD and Brownfield Land? Brownfield is actually previously developed land, which generally includes anything with a building on it. GreenFIELD is a term to describe land which has never been built on before. GreenBELT is a term that can cover (think of a massive blanket) both Brownfield land and GreenFIELD land. For example a village with houses, shops and a bakery would all be Brownfield Land, but could be in the middle of the Lake District and therefore also be GreenBELT. Building anything, housing in particular is virtually impossible on GreenFIELD land in GreenBELT. French Fields is brownfield land in GreenBELT and so has the very rare opportunity to build homes on. Don t people object to building in GreenBELT? In many cases there is opposition to building on GreenBELT land, but normally when it involves building on GreenFIELD land within GreenBELT. The French Fields site has gone through extensive consultation with the Planning Office, The Councillors, The Parish Council and the local residents. There is 100% support for this development, to the extent the local residents signed an overwhelming petition in favour of new homes being built on the site. By the time you complete your purchase of the land, you ll be buying a flat plot with detailed planning permission for your home and all services in place (water, drainage, electrics and gas) at the roadside. Access roads and surrounding landscape will be included in the package cost. 12

15 Q&As I m not sure I like the idea of building a new home on brownfield land. Are there any potential problems? Just the opposite. Despite what you might think, the vast majority of new homes are built on brownfield (previously developed land). And not just by self builders by every National Developer from Barratt to Redrow. Locally just under 90% of all new houses are built on brownfield land. Surprisingly it s also a safer option. The history of the site is well known, you know there are no flood risks, ground issues, or problems with water supply, or drains. Not many people know but the current Government also pays for land improvement and so it pays for a developer to do everything comprehensively, which is closely monitored by the Council. The site still has old buildings on, I would prefer to see what it s like before I buy a plot? The current buildings have had to remain in place until the outline planning permission gives official approval, and this has involved details of customer designs being submitted as part of the normal planning process. Why not clear the site first and then sell plots? This is Country Parkland in Greenbelt, and as such planning legislation is a bit different. So that you can decide exactly what size of home you want to build, we have to leave the buildings in place until self builders make decisions on what they want from plot width to house footprint. Otherwise you would be stuck with what we decide and you do not get a true self build opportunity. What exactly does a blank canvas site mean? This is a blank canvas site. You are not buying what is on it. You are buying the opportunity to put your vision on a flat professionally cleared site. You are building a home within the landscape and Parkland of the area. Before you start, the site will be empty as blank as the paper your home plans get drawn upon. What was the site last used for? For more than 40 years the site was the location of the Project Directors family engineering company. They manufactured conveyors for the food industry, steel security cabinets and safes. Because of the nature of this industry it s very unlikely that there will be any contamination to the land. Of course, in any event, all land will be made good by our professional developers as the site progresses. 13

16 Q&As What exactly am I buying? The site today still has the fire-damaged buildings on it. All the buildings will be removed, the ground levelled and cleared leaving an open flat site surrounded by greenfields and the Park. In fact the agricultural fields to the rear and side of the site are proposed as additional Parkland with pathways trees and landscaping, as part of the Council plan to expand the Country Park areas. So this is a rare opportunity to build a home in the countryside. When you purchase the land you will be buying a PLOT Package A flat level plot On a clear site With an access road With all utilities at the roadside Site perimeter landscaping Guaranteed Planning Permission for a detached home which you are committed to build Is the electrical substation staying next to plot 12? The electrical substation could potentially be an extra plot. We own the land it is on. However, all sites require electricity, and whilst you might not have noticed them before, substations are a part of every residential community, but are often hidden from immediate view by houses built around them. So in the beginning the substation is staying in place to provide electricity for the site and will be surrounded with timber fencing and landscaping until the electricity network can offer an alternative. Is the site in a flood risk area? No. And although when you look down Gorsey Lane it appears straight and level, the site is actually up to a metre higher than the road at either side. You can t see the change in level because the site is a few hundred metres long, but it s reassuring to know. What about Detailed Planning Permission is this Guaranteed? Anyone committing to a plot in the early stages - before the site is cleared - will receive a FREE fully Detailed Design Package which includes all drawings (for your unique design), all calculations required for Building Regulations, and Potton s expert designers will ensure that plans submitted for detailed planning approval meet the requirements under the outline planning terms. This is worth several thousand pounds. We are able to offer this because it helps us, plan the site to suit what you want to build. 14

17 Q&As Are there utilities like electric and particularly gas? There will be gas, electric, water, and foul drainage in the roadside (in both Gorsey Lane and the L- shaped access road. Telecom cables will also be in the roadside, so no need for telegraph poles. (And no need for septic tanks). What about surface water like rainwater from gutters? Surface water will need to go to a soak away (like aqua cells) which we can help design and install for you. Some people may also want to install rainwater recovery systems. Is timber frame as strong as brick? Timber frames are accurate, sustainable, structures, superior in just about every technical respect to a home built entirely from brick. In the Western world timber frame homes account for the vast majority of construction. A timber frame home does not mean you cannot have a brick exterior. Houses in the UK are built with cavity walls. This means there are two skins to every wall. The inner wall is the important structural wall, supporting everything from the roof to the windows, to the doors. This is the same regardless of whether the house is timber frame or built in brick. In a timber frame the skeleton structure is so strong, the inner wall alone requires no additional support, and the exterior wall (or skin) is entirely cosmetic. Many people choose to have a traditional brick exterior as the second skin and this ties to the timber frame with stainless steel fittings. A house where the inner structural wall is also brick, is heavily dependant on the exterior skin to provide strength and adequate wind resistance. Is it true that 1000 a square metre is a good guide to build costs? Yes, 1000 a sq. m is a handy general guide. (or 100 per square foot if you prefer imperial measurements). There ll be some variance to this depending on design and specification, but it s a good rule of thumb. A house might have a footprint of 10m wide by 7m deep (10 x 7=70sq.m), and an upstairs with the same floor area (so that would be 2 x 70=140sq.m). At 1000 per square metre this would indicate a build cost of 140,000 (140 x 1000). What does 1000 a sq. m include? Build Cost at 1000 per sq. m is a good approximate guide to materials and labour costs combined, and includes everything like roof, brickwork, electrics, doors, windows, and bathrooms etc. But it would not take into account exceptional things like gold plated taps, or antique crystal chandeliers. It is a good starting point for an initial budget. You will be guided through a far more detailed budget that is individual to your build. (But you will find that 1000 sq. m is a very good guide). 15

18 Q&As Does build cost include land cost? No. There are two chief elements to selfbuild. Build costs and land cost. Build costs include labour and materials. Around the country, build costs are relatively consistent. There are variations in wages and contractor prices, but as an example, a central heating boiler or a delivery of roof tiles will cost approximately the same in Newcastle as it would in Kent. Land costs are the main variable around the country prices depend on supply and demand, location, size, nearby amenities etc. What is the price of the land at French Fields? We expect the average plot price to be 150,000. This will depend on the build size you want, and plot width you require for your build. The plot cost is not just a piece of land. Each plot has provision for all utilities, drainage, access road, pavements, surround landscaping etc. Plots have guaranteed planning permission. I would like some information on Plot sizes. For self builders that get involved early, plot sizes can be varied to suit what you want to build. This is the flexibility of a well planned self build. Can I have a double garage? Yes. Double garage, single, or none at all. Your home, your choice. If it is important to you, then it can be designed for you. What size is a four bedroom house? As a rule, Four bed detached homes range from 150 sq. m to 200 sq. m (which is relatively large). Five bed homes normally start from about 170 sq. m. All of the plots can cater for homes of these sizes. Can I get a mortgage on a plot? Mortgages are for buildings so you would be getting a mortgage that funds the construction of a self build home, not just a land plot. The size and style of the house generally dictates the amount you can borrow, plus of course your own financial circumstances. BuildStore will provide full advice on mortgages specifically designed for custom builders. As a general rule of thumb you can borrow up to 85% on the cost of your plot and then up to 85% on the construction stages with a maximum loan to value of 80%, subject to affordability. At the moment the layout shows average remaining plot sizes of 24m deep x 14m wide and 12m wide. All of these are good sized plots for a well proportioned 4 or 5 bedroom house. But there is still some flexibility to alter plot sizes larger or smaller to suit your budget and what you want to build. 16

19 Q&As Am I limited to a particular range of designs? The planning officer indicates a very broad range of styles and designs are achievable. We will help you through the process to get the perfect solution to your unique, designer home. I don t know anything about building, will this make it difficult? No-one is born a self builder any more than they are born an accountant. You are not expected to know anything. We can help prepare you from a position of zero knowledge. Can I see what a finished self build home looks like? That s easy. Potton and BuildStore have been responsible for thousands of self builds around the country. Potton have four fully furnished show homes at their show site near St Neots in Cambridgeshire, and another INSIDE the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon. The Project Director has not one, but two self builds of his own - so we can definitely show you what a self build home will be like..but the short answer is..a self build home will be better than all the others and yours will probably be the best you have ever dreamed possible. I am not very good at DIY. Will this make custom build harder? No. 95% of self builders do not even lift a paintbrush. Self build is about making decisions, not laying bricks and fitting doors (but if you want to, you can.) Can I just buy a plot of land and do what I want? No. We are responsible self build professionals. We have to make sure that you and the neighbouring plot has the means to properly complete their self build, discharge all planning conditions and meet the requirements of the Building Regulations, and we must master plan the site and design each home in relation to the others, so that the whole site looks amazing. The sale of a plot comes with expert guidance and assistance from start to finish. This is an exclusive development and each home will be professionally designed and built. The design and preparation stage is just as important as the build stage. It is important that the homes we help you build work both as individual properties and as a community once construction is complete. Have you got any information on house prices in the area? The properties surrounding the Parkland of Gorsey Lane command some of the highest prices in the area. In fact six of the top ten prices in the area over the last few years have all been within a few hundred metres of the site. In view of the site is a walled millionaire s mansion, and barn conversions for sale and sold at 650,000 and 599,000. Considering you can build a brand new state of the art Potton farmhouse for a fraction of these costs, you can start to see how Self Build can become the wiser decision on house buying. 17

20 Q&As Why is a self build home usually less expensive? The simple answer is because you are removing the profit element of a developer. You are the developer, and so the profit element becomes yours. In addition to this self build homes normally command higher sale prices because they are visually unique, designer homes, and generally built to higher standards with better quality fittings and materials than a mass produced estate house. The same reasons a Bentley costs more than other cars. Self Build offers this exclusivity. And if you can build on a site where each and every home is exclusive and unique, and there are no neighbouring buildings, then you really have a recipe for the ultimate self build dream home. When can I actually buy a plot. The starting point is to go through the simple (and FREE) financial qualification process with a BuildStore consultant. You will then have an idea of what budget is available to your self build. Plot preference is on a first come, first served basis. Choose a plot and secure it by a deposit as soon as you are ready. Your deposit is guaranteed. This guarantee assures you that you will be allocated this plot with outline planning permission. By the same token you are committing to becoming a custom builder. Is French Fields close to the motorway? French Fields is a few minutes drive from junction 8 of the M62 down a quality congestion free road. (Approximately 4 minutes). There is no noise level from the motorway, as it s not that close. What is the postcode of French Fields? The site has its own postcode WA9 4SE. What does the Project Director do? The Project Director will organise the whole site. Arranging everything from utility connections to providing specific on site technical advice, the Project Director is a first point of call for assistance or advice. Build Packages from reputable contractors, or short term experienced staff for everything from bricklaying to plaster boarding can be arranged as and when you need. The Project Director will also offer individual Project Management Services or partial Project Management to suit your individual circumstances. Building materials can also be sourced and supplied with automatic credit facilities and VAT recovery. In addition to the support of BuildStore and Potton, The Project Director can offer straightforward guidance on every aspect of self-build and this is provided free of charge, at a local level (from a hands-on experienced self builder) as part of the Plot Package. 18

21 Q&As What is a Build Package? A Build Package is a combination of the materials and skilled contract labour that you might need for a specific stage of your project. For Example; A Foundation package would involve a digger with operator, a concrete supplier, membranes, reinforcing, accurate marking by a surveyor, inspections arranged by the building inspector etc. If you don t want to organise some of these things yourself, The Project Director will package together everything you need, and have it provided for a fixed price. This can help you get rapid progress. These packages will correspond nicely with mortgage stage payments to make your self build a smooth and efficient process. How long will it take to complete a build? Some of the stages are very fast, for example a timber frame home structure will be erected in around 10 days. But the overall process involves designing the home to your vision, getting planning permission, and then constructing it. As a general guide it will be 26 weeks of design, preparation and planning followed by 26 weeks of building work for a well managed project. The full design and planning process can be quicker depending on how rapidly you make decisions on your design (but this is best enjoyed at a pace that suits you). Likewise the build programme can be as rapid as weeks. How will the Self Build Process Work? It will begin by getting together your ideas however vague they may be at this stage. We will help you do this and start to point you in the right direction for your build. You do not need to know anything at this stage. Most self builders are simply very determined motivated people and have limited, if any technical building knowledge. The more you recognise the role of decision making and management guided by expert advice, the less daunting and more enjoyable your dream build will become. Can I be gazumped? Once you have committed to a plot with a deposit, your plot is secure. You can then go through the design process at a leisurely pace that suits you, safe in the knowledge that you can enjoy one of the most satisfying experiences you will ever do.this is the world of self build. If you come at this process already with a lot of ideas, then we will simply help you to form ideas into plans. If you approach self build with no design thoughts, a Potton designer will help draw them out. A self build designer is experienced in bringing together your vision, not imposing something else. 19

22 Case Studies All house photographs 2014 Kingspan Timber Solutions unless otherwise stated These particulars are prepared only for the guidance of prospective purchasers. They are intended to give a fair overall description of the Project envisaged but do not constiture the whole or any part of an offer or contract. Prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the contents of these particulars, and BuildStore Ltd will not be liable in negligence for any loss arising from the use of these particulars. 20