Mike Dodson and Janey Grace are building their dream home with the help of a self-build mortgage from Newbury Building Society. We went to visit them at the site to hear about their unique project.
The couple found out about the land, located in a picturesque village in Berkshire, on the local equestrian circuit. The land had permission to convert old horse stables into a dwelling and came with plenty of space for their own horses and goats.
The next step was to find a mortgage lender who would be willing to lend to them to finance their self-build project. Mike explained that the process was proving tricky, until Newbury Building Society stepped in.
Mike and Janey quickly realised the original stables were completely unfit for renovation, meaning they had to reapply for planning permission to build an entirely new structure. After this came decisions about access, heating, water, power, and drainage, with the couple opting for environmentally friendly options, such as embedded solar panels and an air source heat pump.
Although the build has progressed well, the pair have had to be flexible to work around some unique conundrums, including an ancient tree from the 1800s, and the land adjacent to their plot, which is a conservation area. With a Civil Engineering degree and a background in sales, Mike was keen to be involved in the build from the start, tackling the role of Project Manager, which is often undertaken by a building firm, with gusto.
After a long wait, Mike and Janey are hoping to finish the build soon and have extremely exciting plans to host their wedding there in 2023.