Just Imagine Brochure

Transcription

Just Imagine Brochure
Just
imagine...
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
use...
This isn©t a ho
s
i
l
o
p
o
r
t
e
M
it©s a
!
k
c
a
t
t
a
r
e
und
It’s not a house. It’s a
palace, golf course,
day spa, space station...
It’s a b e a u t i f u l l y
Potton home.
ta i lo r e d
Contents
CreatING
a HoMe
WHy
buIld?
WHy buIld
WItH Wood?
total
fleXIbIlIty
leVel of
INVolVeMeNt
5
6
7
8
9
PottoN
PeoPle
It all StartS
WItH laNd
PerfeCtly
PlaNNed
deSIGN
Gallery
10
12
14
16
WHat do I
do NoW?
SHoW
CeNtre
fINd
uS
fINaNCING
your buIld
36
39
40
41
about
uS
our
HIStory
Meet tHe
teaM
42
43
44
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
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2
Creating a home
This isn’t our
lounge... it’s the
great outdoors...
Imagine creating a home that is exactly what you
want it to be… It might be an elegant town house,
a rural retreat, a safe haven or peaceful space that’s
been tailored just for you.
At Potton, we
specialise in
creating dream
homes; making
your imagination
our guide and
our expertise
your assurance.
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
an open-plan kitchen complete with
utility room and walk-in larder? No problem.
Master bedroom with his and hers dressing
rooms and bathrooms? How about en-suites
for the kids as well? Study? library? Home
cinema? Spa bathroom? Games room?
Galleried dining room? If you want it,
you can have it. anything is possible.
We have over 40 years experience in creating
homes for people who want the place they live
to be as unique and individual as they are. and
with a reputation that is second to none, our
design expertise, technical know-how and high
standards of craftsmanship can help you bring
your dreams to life.
you can build a swimming pool in your
basement, a recording studio in your roof,
a library in your hallway – you name it, our
designers will work with you throughout
your build to ensure your dream home is
everything you imagined it to be.
5
Why build?
14,000
every year over
people
choose to build their dream home.
Why? Because starting with
a blank canvas offers limitless
possibilities in terms of design,
a choice over layout, luxuries and
energy saving technologies AND
substantial cost savings of up to
30% on the finished home.
6
Whether you dream
of minimalist design,
open plan barn-style
living, Georgian
symmetry and
elegance, or a picture
book country cottage
home that suits your
individual tastes and
budget.
Why build with wood?
Careful thought
at the design stage
about your family’s
needs now and in
years to come will
help future proof
your home as well.
you might want
to think about
a bathroom
downstairs, for
example, or a ground
floor room that
could be converted
into a bedroom at
some point?
Naturally Gorgeous
Wood is a natural, sustainable product and looks beautiful too. All
of our timber comes from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
forests in Europe and North America. The frames are then manufactured
and tailored to your specification at our factory in Bedfordshire to the
highest quality controls and with minimal wastage.
Self build homes
are normally valued
higher than the
cost to build. that’s
why some of our
customers choose
to build two or
three times and
are now almost
mortgage free.
Fast and Efficient
Timber frame construction offers real advantages in terms of speed of
build compared to brick and mortar. Following delivery to site, we can
build the structure of your home in 10 – 14 days, which means it can be
made weather-tight in just four weeks. This ensures that as soon as the
foundations have been completed, your home could be finished in as
little as 12 weeks.
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
Sustainability
Using construction’s most eco-friendly product is just the start of our
approach to sustainability. Our “fabric first” philosophy focuses on
making your home as airtight and highly insulated as possible, which
will reduce the long term running costs of your home. By adding a
range of technologies such as solar panels, rainwater harvesters and
ground source heat pumps you can reduce your carbon footprint still
further. Potton is a pioneer in low carbon homes, having built the
Lighthouse, the UK’s first zero carbon show home, which cost just
£31 a year to run.
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
total
flexibility
level of involvement:
on the journey towards your dream home you can enlist our
help as much or as little as you want, that’s why we say each
Potton home is beautifully tailored.
When it comes to building with Potton, not only
can you tailor your design but also the way you build.
Depending on the time
and experience you have,
you can do as much or as
little as you want. Simply
pick one of three routes
to getting your home
Beautifully Tailored
for you:
1 2 3
Route 1
Project manage yourself
and save up to 30%
Our award-winning project
management handbook provides
a useful step by step guide. It
includes templates to help you
tender for materials, a 12 week
build schedule illustrating which
trades and materials need to be
onsite at each stage of the build,
as well as tips to save time and
hassle along the way.
Route 2
Take away the day-to-day
running of your build and
employ a project manager
Route 3
Sit back, relax and employ
a building firm to take care
of everything
We have a register of approved
project managers who can direct
the build for you. Their fees
depend upon the size and
complexity of the project but
to Potton customers with little
time to spare, they’re worth
their weight in gold.
Pick a building firm to manage
the project for you and you
can focus on the pleasures
of choosing your kitchens,
bathrooms, energy saving
technologies and luxuries.
Land
Finance
Design
Energy
efficiency plan
Planning
support
Frame delivered
and erected
Pick a builder/
project manager
Kit
manufactured
Potton
build agreed
Submit planning
and Building
Regulation
applications
Delivery of:
Kitchen and
bathrooms
installed
Finished house
House is
weather-tight
Doors
Stairs
Skirting
Landscaping
DRY-LINING - PLUMBING - FIX JOINERY - ELECTRICS - DECORATE
8
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
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Potton people...
When you build with Potton you’ll
be teaming up with the right people
to see you through the process.
You’ll start with one of our Self
Build Experts and finish with the
help of one of our Contracts
Managers, ensuring that every
step of the way, you can tap into
their encyclopedic knowledge of
self build whenever you need to.
10
They are not just
architects or technical
experts... they are
also dream makers
Our people select only the best quality
timber, which then becomes the framework
for your new home.
It takes people to make a house a home.
That’s certainly true of Potton. Our architects,
designers, technical experts and craftspeople
work together to make sure your new home
is everything you want it to be.
Creating a Beautifully Tailored Potton home
is a team effort. It starts with your imagination,
builds with our designers’ flair, is future
proofed with the expertise of our technical
team and finished by our craftspeople with
the attention to quality and detail we’re
famous for.
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b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
It all starts
with land
the first step is to find a plot of land...
At Potton we not only point you
in the right direction but also work
with you to ensure you get the
maximum benefit from your plot in
terms of footprint, orientation, best
use of light, parking and access.
Knock on doors where you see sites with
overgrown gardens or run-down properties.
Go online and visit www.plotsearch.co.uk,
www.plotbrowser.com and www.plotfinder.net
which feature thousands of land listings.
Custom Build by Potton is a unique
service offering sites with plots that
have outline planning permission. The
plans, specification and finishes can all
be customised to meet your individual
requirements and by bringing sites to
you we have simplified the process of
finding land.
Visit estate & land agents in your area
and register your interest with them.
Speak to professionals such as
surveyors, architects and builders as
they’ll be in the know.
Go to land and property auctions
– they’re often good places to find plots
or derelict houses. Well known auction
houses include www.allsop.co.uk and
www.savills.co.uk.
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
Infill plots or disused land may look
narrow or uninviting but can often provide
surprising opportunities for building your
dream property in towns or cities.
Every site is unique and the designs
can be tailored to make the home
truly yours.
13
Perfectly planned
once your design is perfected, our team of
regional architects, designers and planning
specialists can take over.
We will ensure your design is as energy
efficient as possible, future proofing
your home against rising fuel costs.
We offer a cost effective design and
planning package that not only brings
your designs to life, but will make sure
they are approved for building.
14
This package takes away the stresses
and strains involved in navigating the
complex and ever changing system
of local authority planning, codes
and standards needed to gain
building approval.
These include the technical calculations
needed to pass building control,
sustainability measures currently
required by some local authorities,
and energy performance assessments
if necessary.
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
X marks
the spot...
design gallery:
beautifully
tailored...
each and every one of us has a different
idea of what makes a house a home.
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? Fitness fanatic?
How big do you want your gym? The
possibilities are endless and we can bring
them to life.
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Our design service is second to none; we have
created Beautifully Tailored Potton homes for
thousands of families to suit their individual
tastes and budgets. With sensitivity and
thought, we will create a home to match your
lifestyle and carefully position it on your plot
to ensure every living space is filled with
natural light, giving a sense of space and
warmth throughout.
For further information please see our
Ideas Book.
b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
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No matter what your
dream home may be,
Potton will Beautifully
Tailor it
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b e a u t I f u l ly ta I l o r e d
WE’RE CERTAINLY NOT AVERSE TO
THE IDEA OF BUILDING AGAIN, IF
WE DID DO IT AGAIN, IT WOULD
DEFINITELY BE ANOTHER POTTON
HOME. WE’VE BECOME LIKE OLD
FRIENDS OVER ALL THIS TIME.
ROGER BAILEY
HAMPSHIRE
Case studies
CASE STUDY 1
CASE STUDY 2
CASE STUDY 3
enchanted
castle
paradise
P24
P26
P28
P30
BARRY AND GILL
DEEKS
JOHN AND JACQUELINE
BARKER
CLIFF AND SHENA
COOPER
RICHARD AND LEAH
ALLEN
Hollywood
22
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
CASE STUDY 4
race
track
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
CASE STUDY 5
CASE STUDY 6
photsotgurdaiophy head line gig
P32
P34
ROGER AND JANE
BAILEY
MARK AND LIZ
WARD
23
The Deeks’ story
The house
Meet Gill and Barry Deeks,
a semi-retired couple from
Barnet in north London.
Gill’s love of
Georgian-style
architecture
came from
growing up in
Oxfordshire.
Inspired by
films like Pride
and Prejudice,
she put pen to
paper, and drew
her dream home.
“We had seen the site and really liked it,
but it had already been bought,” says Barry.
“A local guy acquired the plot and then put
it back on the market as a development
opportunity. When we heard this we were
curious about his plans for the garden, so
popped a letter through his door expressing
our interest in this part of the plot.”
CASE STUDY 1
sing
s
e
r
d
a
t
’
n
s
i
s
i
h
T
room i t’s my
The Deeks made an offer and 10 days later
they had a deal. Once the land was secured
they could plan the build. “We’ve always
loved Georgian architecture and Potton’s
Rectory designs reflected everything we
wanted,” says Gill. “We liked two of their
designs and worked with the Potton team
to tailor our plans, cherry picking our
favourite features.”
.
.
.
d
o
o
w
y
l
l
o
H
Gill and Barry had to ensure that the
property was built to level 3 of the Code
for Sustainable Homes, which is enforced
by some planning authorities across the
UK. The Deeks got support from Potton’s
technical experts to help them understand
the Code and the best way of meeting its
requirements. “Potton guided us through
the process and helped us specify what
would work” says Barry.
The Deeks selected a team of Pottonapproved tradesmen, the bulk was done
in just 17 weeks. “The kit was delivered
on a beautifully sunny day so I sat back in a
director’s chair, watching the ground floor of
our house take shape. It was like being on a
film set with the buzz and excitement of the
build of my new home playing out around
me,” says Gill.
“Now it’s finished we couldn’t be happier.
We love every aspect of our house, from the
grand hallway to the relaxing study. There
were no compromises, and we tailored the
house to suit us, we were staggered when it
was valued at just under a million,” says Gill.
According to property surveyors Savills, its
value lies in the fact it is a traditional period
style home and has been built to high
standards in terms of energy efficiency and
sustainability standards, it’s also extremely
economical to run.
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
25
Barnet and
We wanted to live in
around London
finding land in and
inquisitive and
isn’t easy. By being ged to find
na
asking around we ma an old pub
be
to
land which used
site that became
garden. It was this
new en er gy
th e canvas for ou r
yle hom e.
efficient Georgian-st
The kit was delivered on a beautifully
sunny day so I sat back in a director’s
chair, watching the ground floor of our
house take shape. It was like being on
a film set with the buzz and excitement
of the build of my new home playing
out around me.
BARNET, LONDON
BARRY AND GILL
DEEK
Build Costs:
£250k
The Barkers’ story
The house
Meet John and Jacqueline Barker.
John works as a sales support engineer,
Jacqueline is a laboratory manager
and the couple have a daughter,
Charlotte (11).
When the Potton
kit arrived on site
it was erected by
the company’s
recommended
team. “The frame
was delivered
on time and the
erection service
was second to
none,” says John.
“It was completed
in a matter of
days, despite
some torrential
rain.”
“It was a lifelong ambition to build our own
home, so when we inherited a large village
plot we decided to build not once, but twice.
The first house was our practice run, and the
second build would be our dream home,”
says John.
Valuation:
£950k
CASE STUDY 2
This isn©t a y
bedroom it©s m
enchanted
castle...
The Barkers had read about Potton in
magazines. “Potton’s website is excellent
and we gained lots of valuable information
from it,” explains Jacqueline. They were
impressed with the company’s level of
service and support throughout the build
which, as first-time self builders, they knew
would be invaluable.
Eleven months after they’d finished work
on the first house, work began on the second
house. “We had such a head of steam with
the first build that we didn’t want to lose
momentum,” says John. “What kept us
going throughout the whole process was
the support of family, friends, neighbours
and the builders.”
It took the family slightly longer to build
the second house, which is 33% larger in
floor area than the first. John likens the day
the scaffolding came down to unwrapping
a particularly exciting present.
“We have two beautiful houses which fit
perfectly with the local vernacular. In fact
they are so well designed and built that
they are now used as reference sites for
new planning applications in, what is still,
a conservation area.”
“Potton’s planning and design expertise was
essential,” John continues. “We were building
in a conservation area, so worked with their
in-house design and planning experts to
come up with a design that was sympathetic
to the village but also tailored to our needs.
We had to jump through so many hoops to
get approval from the conservation officer
and without Potton’s experience I doubt we
would ever have been able to get the project
off the ground.”
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
27
Getting planning permission was
a challenge, but with Potton’s help
we managed to build not one,
but two new houses and in a
conservation area.
OXFORDSHIRE
JOHN AND JACQUELINE
BARKER
1
Land Costs:
£0 (Inherited plot)
2
Land Costs:
£0 (Inherited plot)
Build Costs:
£268K
Build Costs:
£420K
Current Value:
£800K +
Current Value:
£1.2m +
The Coopers’ story
The house
Meet Cliff and Shena Cooper, who’ve
built an ultra modern eco home in
Northamptonshire. Cliff is a semiretired solicitor and Shena is the
CEO of the Secret Seed Society.
Before commissioning the design,
the couple researched renewable
heating systems and specified an air
source heat pump and a mechanical
ventilation system with heat-recovery,
plus solar thermal panels for hot water.
When Potton designed the property they
included structural insulated panels
(SIPs), providing a thermally efficient
building envelope, to prevent heat loss
and allow the low carbon systems to
work to the best of their ability.
When the couple set out to extend their
existing home, they had no idea they would
end up building from scratch on a new plot.
“We always thought we would build an
extension and upgrade the house in terms of
efficiency. However, after negative feedback
from numerous contractors we decided to
cast our net a bit wider,” says Cliff.
HOUSE 1
CASE STUDY 3
This isn't a
garden it's my
paradise
“We came across the plot when it was
advertised for sale in a local newspaper.
It had planning permission to build a chalet
bungalow, but I knew we could alter the
plans,” says Cliff. “We wanted something
very contemporary and eco-friendly.”
Despite talking to a number of companies,
Cliff and Shena settled with Potton who
said they could do anything they wanted.
“We had tons of requirements but after
being introduced to one of Potton’s
designers, they listened to our suggestions
and turned these ideas into something
perfect for the location.”
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
“It was very much a
collaborative effort
and is very much
our house as a result
of the input from
Potton and us,” says
Cliff. “There are so
many things that
Shena and I love
about it – not only
is it cheap to run,
it’s so light and airy
inside and thanks
to the amount
of glass we have
used throughout,
it provides a sense
of Mediterranean
living.”
“I love standing on
the balcony and
gazing outside.
Thanks to the high
levels of insulation
and low carbon
technologies, it’s
always warm and
cosy inside no
matter how cold it
becomes outside.”
29
CASE STUDY 4
We wanted our house to be contemporary
and eco-friendly, but we knew it also had
to meet the local planning requirements.
Thankfully, with Potton’s help, we were
able to get creative and build in a range
of eco-benefits to cut down the long term
running costs of our new home.
This isn’t a y
m
driveway it’s
NORTHANTS
CLIFF AND SHENA
COOPER
race track
Build Costs:
£380k
Valuation:
£600k
The Allens’ story
The house
Meet Leah and Richard Allen.
Leah is a management consultant and
Richard is MD of a flooring company. The
couple have two children, Joseph (7) and
Jemima (5).
With planning
permission in
place, the Allens
needed to line
up a builder.
They opted for a
Potton-approved
project manager,
who took charge
of the project
and took away
the day-today strains of
managing the
build. “They had
built their own
Potton house, so
knew exactly what
we were going
though,” says
Leah.
When Leah persuaded Richard to build a new
house on the site of her grandparents’ former
home, she knew she needed to move quickly
just in case he changed his mind. “Richard
isn’t interested in building or DIY and was
rightly concerned about taking on a first
time self build.”
The Allens had been living in a town house,
but wanted more space after Joseph was
born. “I grew up in Exmouth, just a short
distance from my grandparents’ house,”
says Leah. “Their bungalow had a large
garden and backed onto fields.”
The bungalow was too small for the Allens’
needs, but the setting was perfect. Leah
spotted an advert for Potton and, spurred
on by the promise of a fast build schedule,
decided to employ them. They worked with
Potton’s in-house design team to create
a home that included large windows and
contemporary open-plan spaces. “Potton’s
architect was excellent – he gave us exactly
what we wanted and spent hours tweaking
the design and configuration for no extra cost.
30
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
Work progressed on site, and Potton sent a
two-man team to erect the frame, creating
a water-tight shell in just two weeks.
Family and friends rallied round to help
complete the interiors and the entire house
was spray-painted white in a weekend.
A built-in vacuum system, underfloor
heating and multi-room music system
have also been incorporated.
“Everyone comments on how bright and
open the house is, which is made possible
by the exposed structural posts and beams
of the Potton timber frame,” says Leah.
“Now when people come to dinner they
can perch on stools at the kitchen island
unit and enjoy a glass of wine while I’m
cooking. The utility room is larger than our
old kitchen. We even had space for Joseph
to make the house his own personal racing
track. It’s exactly how I’d imagined it to be
and the open plan layout really has changed
our whole way of life.”
31
I was pregnant throughout the project,
had a young baby and was working full
time; so employing a Potton-approved project
manager took away the day-to-day strain
of the project. He organised everything for
us and completed the whole build in less
than eight months, which was perfect.
DEVON
RICHARD AND LEAH
ALLEN
Land Costs:
£270K
Build Costs:
£260K
The Baileys’ story
The house
Meet Roger and Jane Bailey. Roger is a
professional photographer and Jane is
a sales manager. Roger has built three
Potton homes in the past 30 years –
and enjoys the self build process more
every time.
Roger had struggled to find a local
builder to undertake his first self build
back in 1984. Ten years later, Potton
had compiled a register of approved
tradesmen, and Roger and Jane
selected local builder, Barry Hobbs.
“Barry had emigrated to Portugal,
so it was a real shock when he came
knocking on our door 14 years later,”
says Roger. “He’d moved back to
England and had decided to pop in to
see us, so I suggested that he should
tender for the build and he agreed.”
“My first Potton house was based on a Tudorstyle design from Potton’s original Heritage
range, which I built in 1984,” says Roger.
“Ten years later, when I was married to Jane,
we built another Potton house – another
Tudor-style design, which was clad in brick.”
Valuation:
£800K
CASE STUDY 5
This isn tmay
study it s
photogrdaiophy
stu
32
After spotting a plot for sale, with a
dilapidated two-bedroom bungalow, the
couple were tempted to build again. Once
again they turned to Potton to design a
timber framed home that would replace an
existing property on the site. In return for
Roger’s continued loyalty, Potton gifted the
couple the plans for their new home.
The Baileys worked with Potton to create
a home tailored to suit their lifestyle and
plot. It’s three times larger than the original
bungalow but just the right size for two
people. “Our children have all grown up so
we didn’t need much extra space,” says Jane.
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
Potton erected
the timber frame
structure in just
13 days. Barry then
completed the build,
including roofing the
property in 13,000
handmade clay tiles.
The exterior has
feature boarding and
a brick plinth. Inside,
the Potton post and
beam structural
timbers are a
striking feature.
“We’re certainly not
averse to the idea of
building again,” says
Roger. “If we did do
it again, it would
definitely be another
Potton home. We’ve
become like old
friends over all
this time.”
33
This is the third time we have built and
although we have looked at other companies
and house designs we always return to
Potton. We’re certainly not averse to the idea
of building again. If we do it again, it
would definitely be another Potton home.
HAMPSHIRE
ROGER AND JANE
BAILEY
Land Costs:
£550k
Build Costs:
£300k
CASE STUDY 6
Valuation:
£1.2m
This isn’t a
bedr oom it’s my
head l ine gig
The Wards’ story
The house
Meet Mark and Liz Ward. Mark works as
a chartered surveyor and Liz is a sports
coach. The couple have two children,
Hannah (23) and Robbie (19).
Walk into Mark
and Liz Ward’s
conservatory
and you can’t
help but look
down. Beneath
your feet a glass
floor overlooks
the basement
level below,
dropping natural
light down into
this subterranean
space.
They wanted to build a traditional cottagestyle property using appropriate materials
such as red brick and knapped flint.
They worked with Potton’s designers and
based their ideas on Tudor-style architecture
but inside, their home is completely unique.
With open plan living spaces, a conservatory,
large basement with swimming pool and
games room, bedrooms with vaulted ceilings
and glass playing a vital role throughout, this
house blends tradition with glamour and a
sense of space and style.
The couple opted for Potton’s full planning
and building submission package which
meant Potton did everything. “This was a real
bonus as it meant we could concentrate on
other things,” says Liz.
Initially the couple sought planning
permission for a two storey home. When
consent was granted, another plan was
submitted that included the basement level.
A specialist basement company was
employed for the first phase of work. Next
on site was the Potton team, who took just
three weeks to erect the frame. The Wards
then employed a local building company to
build the house for them, which features an
external brick and flint skin and a roof tiled
with handmade clay tiles.
The basement houses a games room and
swimming pool, with space for a sauna
beside the separate shower and WC. The
pool is flanked by glass panels and a fish
tank has been inserted into the wall between
the pool and games room. “It’s quite surreal
swimming in the pool and looking out at the
fish,” says Liz. “There is also a glass ceiling
so we can look down on this area from our
bedroom and what’s even better is that it
is powered by a ground source heat pump,
which Potton recommended, that heats the
house and the pool all year round.”
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
35
Potton were able to offer a design service
which merged our ideas with elements taken
from previous houses they’d designed to
create something really unique.
BUCKS
MARK AND LIZ
WARD
Land Costs:
£500K
Build Costs:
£600K
Valuation:
£1.25m
What do
I do now?
T he start of a
big ad venture...
Getting started is easy. Join our free
Self Build Academy and let us guide you all
the way through the process of building your
own home. To get you started, we regularly
run two events: An Introduction to Self Build
and Making the Most of Your Plot. Plus an
opportunity to have one-to-one sessions with
a Self Build Expert.
Making the
Most of
Your Plot
Yes
Meet a Self
Build Expert
Do you
have land?
Visit our
Self Build
Show Centre
No
Introduction
to Self Build
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
37
Show Centre
Four of our stunning self build designs have been brought to life
at the Potton Self Build Show Centre in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
An Introduction
to Self Build
Making the
Most of Your Plot
Meet a Self
Build Expert
If you’re considering self build for the first
time or still searching for a plot, then this
event, held at our headquarters in Great
Gransden provides a useful introduction
to self build, covering key topics including:
Finding Land, Designing Your Home, Getting
Planning Permission and How to Build.
This event is ideal if you have identified a
building plot. You’ll meet a team of experts
who can advise on whether it is suitable to
build on, suggest how we can tailor designs
for the plot, ways to navigate the planning
process, together with advice on energy
efficient construction methods and details
on project costing.
To clarify your vision, answer specific
questions and distil your thoughts, a
one-to-one session with one of our Self
Build Experts will help identify the next
steps you need to take.
You’ll meet the Potton people who will
help bring your dreams to life and then
following a tour of the factory you will
be able to visit Self Build Show Centre
in nearby St Neots. There you’ll see our four
stunning show houses – examples of what
can be achieved when you build with Potton.
A factory tour and an opportunity to
visit our Self Build Show Centre in nearby
St Neots is also included.
These sessions are held by appointment at
our Self Build Show Centre, a great place for
you to not only see some beautiful houses but
also find out about some of the products and
services you can use to make your home run
more efficiently.
Gransden
Milchester
Caxton
Wickhambrook
The 2,360 sq ft Gransden
from the Heritage range is
a wonderfully spacious four
bedroomed family home that’s
full of character. It boasts all
the charm of yesteryear with
exposed posts and beams and
a huge inglenook fireplace.
The 3,000 sq ft Milchester
is a Rectory-style home
that provides all the formal
elegance, style and space
of Georgian architecture.
With each room packed with
character it features five
bedrooms, three bathrooms,
a drawing room, dining room,
conservatory and TV and
family room.
The 1,740 sq ft Caxton cottage,
with its inglenook fireplace,
sloping ceilings and posts
and beams is one of our most
popular designs and has just
been updated to provide a
more contemporary feel.
Our newest addition to the
centre is the Wickhambrook,
a 2,780 sq ft four bedroomed
property that combines
contemporary interiors with a
traditional barn-style exterior.
This beautiful home boasts
features such as bi-fold doors,
a magnificent kitchen with
vaulted ceiling and a galleried
entrance hall and landing.
It also incorporates some of
the latest renewable energy
technologies including solar
panels, an air source heat pump
and a rainwater harvesting plant.
Visit potton.co.uk/
self-build-education
to find out more
38
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
39
Find us
Financing
your build
Finance is key to the success of your project
and a good cash flow at each stage is essential.
HEAD OFFICE
ELTISLEY ROAD
GREAT GRANSDEN
SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE
SG19 3AR
Funding will be needed at key stages
to ensure the progress of the build.
Traditional mortgage packages tend
to release finance at the end of each
stage but we can put you in touch
with specialist providers offering
mortgages that release the required
monies at the start of each phase.
T: 01767 676400
SELF BUILD
SHOW CENTRE
MILL LANE
LITTLE PAXTON
ST NEOTS
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
PE19 1RG
T: 01480 403285
SOUTH WEST
REGIONAL OFFICE
CREDITON
EXETER
DEVON
This will not only provide you with a positive
cash flow throughout the build, but also the
security needed to get the project started
and finance the purchase of the land, your
timber frame structure and its construction.
T: 01363 881393
What’s more, a mortgage package like this
affords you the luxury of staying in your
current home whilst the build progresses
– it’s less hassle, gives you more time and a
greater convenience.
OPENING TIMES
TUESDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM - 5PM
SATURDAYS: 10AM - 4PM
40
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
41
Our history
42
PETER READ,
DORSET
MAXIM PORCARO AND
KEITH HUGHES, HERTFORDSHIRE
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
Potton’s portfolio
expanded to
include Georgianstyle Rectory
designs.
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
A new portfolio
of self build
barns launched,
providing savings
of up to 50% on
the costs normally
involved in
converting a barn.
A range of
contemporary
homes incorporating
yet more energy
saving technologies,
such as Logic, Logic+
and TEK premium
performance
insulation products.
2007
2013
2009
Potton Bespoke
launched, offering
a specialist
service for those
who require
a completely
one-off design.
Potton use
Kingspan
technologies to
build the first
net zero carbon
show home in the
UK, a milestone
for sustainable
construction.
Code Assessment
service launched
to help customers
navigate the
government’s
Code for
Sustainable
Homes.
Potton acquired
by Kingspan
Group Plc,
opening up
a whole new
range of high
performance
building fabric
and insulated
panel systems.
2006
2003
Potton support
customers with
finding funding
for their build,
offering an
introduction to
specialist self build
finance providers,
BuildStore.
1995
1992
Launch of cottagestyle homes
appealing to both
self builders and
developers. Full
architectural
service introduced
covering design,
planning
and building
regulations.
Potton
awarded the UK
Timber Frame
Association’s
own Q Mark
and introduce
‘Potton-approved’
project managers
and builders
to provide self
builders with yet
more confidence.
2010/11
Potton open
the UK’s first
Self Build Show
Centre and
free self build
seminars are
launched. The
three new show
homes offer
unprecedented
access to complete
builds, with guided
tours from our
experts.
2008
1970/60s
1964
1980s
50 YEARS
Potton introduce
their first self
build design – a
Tudor-style home
with exposed posts
and beams, and
inglenook fireplace,
still hugely popular
today.
1996
WE’D KNOWN ABOUT POTTON
FOR YEARS AND LIKED THE FACT
THAT THEY ARE ONE OF THE UK’S
LONGEST ESTABLISHED TIMBER FRAME
MANUFACTURERS. IT GIVES YOU A
SENSE OF SECURITY TO KNOW THEY’VE
BEEN GOING SO LONG...
1984
POTTON’S KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERTISE WAS INVALUABLE
AND MADE THIS WHOLE
INITIATIVE AS SMOOTH AS YOU
COULD HOPE FOR.
And our customer care teams, whose own
in-depth knowledge of self build makes
them a valuable resource throughout your
entire build process.
Potton expand
into the self
build market,
developing
designs to suit
modern day
lifestyles and
blend with
architectural
styles across
the country.
New BSI quality
control system
introduced to
guarantee high
standards.
Potton supply
tens of thousands
of timber frame
houses to local
government.
Potton Timber
Engineering
Company
founded.
1981
Over the years,
we’ve helped
thousands of
families build
their dream
homes. But
don’t just take
our word for it,
here’s what some
of our customers
have to say:
Our planning experts ensure your designs
are in line with local guidelines and will be
readily approved so your build can go ahead.
50 YEARS
Our team take real pride in their work – so
much so, they even sign every frame as it
leaves our head office. It’s that pride that
shines through in every area of our business.
Our design and technical teams take the
utmost care in translating your vision into
a Beautifully Tailored home that’s a joy
to live in.
OF BEAUTIFULLY TAILORED DESIGNS
Many of our people have been with us for
over thirty years and in some parts of the
company, two generations of the same
family work side by side, crafting sustainably
sourced timber into your home with an
attention to detail and quality that marks
Potton out as the UK’s market leaders.
OF OUTSTANDING INNOVATION
Potton started as a family run business in 1964 and was acquired by the Kingspan Group in
2006. Our traditional ethos, pride in our workmanship and the high quality standards and
customer care that started with the company remain at the heart of everything we do.
2003
About us
Barn portfolio
extended with a
range of modern
contemporary,
energy efficient
designs, one
of which is
available to view
at our Self Build
Show Centre in
St Neots.
Potton launch
the UK’s first Self
Build Academy,
a free service
that gives you
the know-how
to bring your
designs to life.
43
Meet the team
Technical and Design
Martin Waker
Kevin Hopton
Michelle Jones
At Potton, our people have decades of experience
creating Beautifully Tailored Homes. Here are just
some of the experts you will meet along the way.
Technical
Services Manager
Senior Designer
and Energy Assessor
Senior Architectural
Technician
Martin manages the design
department and brings
dreams to life. He has been
with us 30 years, is a self
builder himself and knows
just what it takes to create
a Beautifully Tailored Home.
With a wealth of
experience spanning 25
years, Kevin is our most
senior designer and will
make sure your dream
home is as well designed
and energy efficient as
possible.
Michelle has 12 years
experience with Potton
and thrives on solving the
trickier design challenges
to ensure that a project
moves quickly from an
idea to a reality.
Self Build Team
Operations and Construction Support
Julie Garvey
Neil Strong
Richard Hall
Paul Duffin
Adrian Bussetil
Justin Barker
Luke Knibbs
Greg Rumbles
Administrator
Regional Self
Build Expert
Regional Self
Build Expert
National Sales Manager
Planning Expert
Operations Manager
Production Manager
Richard’s helped hundreds
of customers through
design and planning. Before
joining Potton he extended
his house and says if he
knew then what he knows
now, he would have built
from scratch instead.
Adrian is a member of
the Royal Town Planning
Institute, and has over
20 years of experience
successfully navigating
the planning system. He’ll
ensure your application has
the best chance of approval
from your local authority.
Justin oversees all the
operational aspects
involved in getting your
design beautifully crafted
and manufactured to
the highest quality and
environmental standards.
Luke started in the factory
15 years ago and it is he
and his team of skilled
operatives that make the
timber frame kits that
Potton are famous for.
Customer
Construction Manager
Neil joined us as a
Contracts Manager in
1989 and these years of
experience give him the
practical and technical
know-how that customers
need to turn their ideas
into reality.
Paul first joined us in
1983 and rose to manage
the design department.
He now works with
small developers and
builders, providing the
support needed to create
high quality bespoke
developments.
Julie joined us in 1995 and
has been a vital part of the
team ever since, providing
support to our designers
and planners. She’s built
two Potton homes, her
latest, a bespoke design.
44
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D
Greg joined us 15 years ago
and has both the design
and practical construction
experience to ensure that
the build of your home runs
as smoothly as possible.
45
Design: pslondon.co.uk
...your
Beautifully Tailored
Potton home
© KINGSPAN TIMBER SOLUTIONS LIMITED.
ELTISLEY ROAD, GREAT GRANSDEN. BEDFORDSHIRE SG19 3AR
POTTON.CO.UK | 01767 676400 | SALES@POTTON.CO.UK
B E A U T I F U L LY TA I L O R E D