Against the odds

Having struggled to find a suitable plot in their ideal location, Sue and Fred Dow realised that the best solution was to purchase a house, knock it down and rebuild their dream home in its place

WORDS ALEXANDRA PRATT PHOTOS SIMON BURT PHOTOGRAPHY

The exterior larch cladding will develop an attractive silver patina over time

Finding the right plot at the right price and in the right place is the first major hurdle for most self builders, especially in attractive rural counties like Cornwall. As a result, many realise the benefits of buying an existing house in their ideal location in order to knock it down and build in its place. However, this route can bring various risks and challenges, as Fred and Sue Dow discovered on their journey to achieving their perfect property.

An opportunity

With their future retirement in mind, the couple decided to take the plunge and relocate from their home in Brighton to the Cornish countryside. Backed by the experience of several renovation projects, the pair’s plan was to build a bespoke dwelling designed around their priorities of low maintenance and low running costs. But the dream hit a hard landing when they realised prices in their desired area have sky rocketed in recent years; most land and buildings suitable for conversion came at a premium. Undeterred, Fred and Sue scoured the internet for something that fit their requirements.

Sue eventually found an unloved two-bedroom bungalow in a rural setting, around three miles from Truro. “I was entranced the first time I saw it,” she says. “The garden went on forever and I realised that this was exactly what I’d been looking for. Even though it was in a terrible state, I could envision myself living here. While I walked around thinking how great it was, Fred couldn’t wait to leave!”