So, you are thinking about building your own home?  What a fantastic opportunity to get everything exactly as you want it.

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Many dream of undertaking their own self-build project, whereas Chris and Elaine Batt have made it a reality! Following an unbelievable 12 years of extensive planning, they are now in the process of building the Happibatt Cottage in Happisburgh, on the East Coast.

Since the project began the couple have been turning to our self-build team for help along the way. Chris Batt said:

“Jewson has been very supportive in every aspect of the build, from regular site visits from Glen Fusco, the Jewson sales executive for Norwich, who advised us on which products would achieve the effect that we wanted, to the day to day assistance we’ve had from the knowledgeable staff at our local Jewson branch. Furthermore, all the Jewson drivers have been prompt, very helpful and have had a smile on their faces. It makes such a huge difference to what is, at the end of the day, a really stressful process.”

Elaine and Chris worked with Norwich branch manager Matt Reeves and his team and have been delighted with all the products supplied. Chris added:

“Happibatt Cottage has been built by Jewson products or products recommended by Jewson and so far – it’s looking great.”

If you’re thinking about undertaking a self build project or simply want to find out more about our self build service then visit www.jewson.co.uk/selfbuild

Stewart Orr, a local joiner, and his wife Heather started a

Aspen is an excellent build to demonstrate the wide range of products that Jewson, along with its sister companies can provide, many of these companies were involved  with this project ;  Pasquill Roof trusses provided the Glulam beams and Pozi-Joists for the floor, Siberian larch cladding and balu decking along with all structural timber from International Timber, Floor and wall tiles from C.T.D., German Kitchen through Jewson Orkney and Bathroom products through Ideal Bathrooms.

When Claire Whitehorn picked up her June edition of the Countryside magazine, she didn’t think she would be picking up a £1000 prize to spend on building materials at her local Jewson branch. However, upon seeing ‘The Jewson challenge’ a competition for the most innovative self build projects, she decided to respond with a 300 word explanation of the ambitious project she was working on. “I couldn’t believe it when the Jewson self build team contacted me and gave me the news, this is going to help me so much with my project!”

Claire is now on her second self build, upon completing a successful renovation of a bungalow, Claire was ready for an even more ambitious project. When most people saw this 160 year old property they ran, Claire however saw the potential, and knew this was where she wanted to raise her family. Claire has now been living in a mobile home on site for 4 months, but the property is really starting to take shape and she quotes “It has been an experience living like this for 4 months, but as I see the property develop, I know that ultimately in the end it will all be worthwhile”.

See below for Claire’s winning entry;

Last July we bought our dream home in the New Forest – to many they would run a mile but to us it was perfect! A one acre plot with a 4 bedroom semi detached farm workers cottage (dated 1851) situated in the beautiful hamlet of Bank just outside Lyndhurst in the New Forest. The property had issues and the garden was completely overgrown, my son called it the ‘jungle house’

You literally didn’t know it was there – in fact many people looked in astonishment as we started to open the property up and delicately clear it rather than getting the site completely cleared!

The main aim was to keep the character of the garden with its many, many species of beautiful trees which to our delight we uncovered! – Acers, a Handkerchief tree, Indian bean trees and many more.

We immediately submitted plans to make the house into our dream home – it had a wonderful feel in the original part of the cottage but a 50 yr old extension was an ugly addition… which did the house no justice.

After several plans and negotiations with the National Park we have finally received permission to start the alterations.

We have totally demolished the ugly extension and have pretty much gutted the house. Our plan is to have a 4 bedroom home keeping the character of the new forest – reinstalling the sash windows which sadly had been replaced with PVC double glazing. Restoring the floor boards and bringing the house back to its former glory.

We are currently living on site in a mobile home and ground works have begun. If we could win this competition the £1000 would be a fantastic help!!!

Visit the Jewson Self Build website for more information on our products and services.

Self Build is a very important market for Jewson, as such we were invited to talk at the Grand Designs show in London at the Excel Centre. Paul Daynes interviewed Paul Edwards for 30 minutes covering a variety of topics from Sustainability to the free expert advice on offer at Jewson. The seminar was delivered on Saturday 7th and Sunday the 8th in their busy Grand Build Theatre and feedback from the audience was very positive.