CUSTOM BUILD
Webbs Meadow leads the way in championing a new era of bespoke homes, fostering a vibrant neighbourly spirit along the way
HOMEOWNERS 13 new homeowners
LOCATION Lyonshall, Herefordshire
PROJECT Oak frame and encapsulation by Oakwrights
BUILD ROUTE Custom build
Kinsey Hern’s family had worked the land in Lyonshall, Herefordshire for generations. Little wonder the farmer-landowner felt a special connection with the area. When it came to diversifying his farm, Kinsey wanted to contribute to the long-term sustainability of his local village. So he earmarked a small amount of land for development to build an attractive group of 13 custom-build houses.
Lyonshall is what is known locally as a 'black and white' village. This is because many of its houses’ oak frames are painted black in contrast to their white rendering. Because of this, it made sense for Kinsey to continue this tradition by partnering with Oakwrights, which has been building oak frame homes for 25 years.
“Custom-built homes allow homeowners to design their house around their life, not the other way around,” says James Buchanan, head of custom build at Oakwrights, who were tasked with the design and construction of the development. “The Lyonshall site is a living embodiment of this philosophy, with plots tailored to the homeowners’ unique visions and lifestyles.”
A TRULY FLEXIBLE APPROACH
“Our experience and knowledge of trades in the area means we were able to put our clients in touch with local suppliers, for example,” James adds. “We worked in tandem with one main builder on the majority of the houses. Homes are futureproofed in different ways, such as having downstairs bedrooms or master suite bedrooms, so essentials are at hand, if ever needed.”
If a homeowner sought a handmade kitchen or simply wanted to be put in touch with a local kitchen provider, Oakwrights would accommodate that. Similarly, when one homeowner sought to design his dining room around a particularly large farmhouse table, the team were able to assist.
“Sometimes, this meant revising approved plans on behalf of homeowners,” explains James. “Financial institutions might question why changes are being made when the initial design is already approved. But our experience allows us to guide each homeowner through this tricky process and come out the other side with the property they envisage.”
This bespoke approach appealed to homeowners Karen and Simon Jones, who had met the Oakwrights team at the Homebuilding &Renovating Show at the NEC. “The plot we found really clinched the deal for us, along with having the flexibility to amend the existing design,” they say.
