With a plot adjacent to his home that had previously been used for stables and storage buildings, the owner decided to redevelop the land.
Situated along a rural lane just outside Reigate, the site offered the opportunity to create three detached homes within a highly desirable countryside setting.
The vision for the site was to develop a bespoke bungalow for the owners’ parents alongside two additional detached properties. An architect was appointed to prepare the initial designs; however, the site’s location within the Green Belt made the planning process particularly sensitive and complex.
Overcoming Planning Challenges
From the outset, the planning application faced strong objections from the local planning authority. There were in-depth discussions regarding the size and scale of the new buildings and their visual impact on the landscape. Careful consideration had to be given to the architectural style and choice of materials to ensure the rural surroundings were respected.
Working closely with the council’s conservation officer, the designs were refined to create homes that felt appropriate for the agricultural setting. High-quality materials were selected, including clay roof tiles, traditional-style bricks, and black timber cladding inspired by local barns, and the ridge heights were kept low to minimise impact on the rural location.
After more than a year of negotiations and revisions, planning permission was finally granted for the demolition of the redundant agricultural buildings and the construction of three new timber frame homes sympathetically designed to blend naturally into the surrounding countryside.
Working with Approved Plans
Scandia-Hus used the approved architectural plans to produce the full technical and working drawings required for construction. The team ensured that the homes would meet both the client’s aspirations and the practical requirements of the site, while maintaining compliance with planning and building regulations.
Managing Difficult Site Conditions
Before the build could begin, the team were required to investigate and remediate any potential contamination from the site’s previous agricultural and industrial use. This work formed part of the conditions of planning permission and ensured the land was suitable for residential development.
When work started on the foundations, the project team faced further challenges. The combination of heavy clay soil and periods of high rainfall made groundworks and drainage particularly demanding.
To overcome this, the Scandia-Hus technical team designed a bespoke drainage solution tailored specifically to the site conditions. This sustainable system ensured the ground would drain effectively despite the clay soil.
From Stable to Sustainable
Like all Scandia-Hus homes, these properties were designed with sustainability, energy efficiency, and long-term performance in mind.
The timber frames were manufactured at our factory in West Sussex using high-quality TR26 engineered timber sourced from PEFC-certified sustainable forests, and the factory itself is powered by renewable energy, generated by 236 solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the building.
We enhance our airtight timber frames with high levels of insulation and triple glazing. These particular properties also benefit from air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems, helping the homes exceed current building regulation standards for thermal performance and energy efficiency.
Award Winning Housing
To simplify the process for the client, Scandia-Hus delivered a complete turnkey service, managing the project from technical design through to construction and final handover. The result was a high-quality new bungalow tailored to the owners’ lifestyle, completed without the time pressures and stress often associated with managing a self-build project.
The two additional homes developed by Scandia-Hus have since been successfully sold and are now happily lived in.
The finished project has received industry recognition, winning the regional LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025 for Best Small New Housing Development in the South East.
Location: Surrey
Completed: April 2024
Size: 217.4 sq. m. / 2,340 sq. ft. Gross External Area (188 sq. m. Gross Internal Area)
Build Cost: Approximate cost to build similar sized homes:
– Self Project Management cost from £240 per sq. ft. = £561,600
– Main Contractor cost from £260 per sq. ft. = £608,400
See our self build price guide page for more details on how much it costs to build your own home.
