A serviced custom build plot offered the perfect chance for the Jewells to self build a stylish and spacious new sustainable home

WORDS VICTORIA JENKINS 

PHOTOS LISA LODWIG

For more than 20 years, Micky Jewell and his family lived in a 1930s semi-detached house in the centre of Cambridge. The couple have five children of their own, in addition to fostering 10 others, so over time that three bedroom home expanded into a seven bedroom property. Eventually, the time came to move – but they couldn’t find the sort of open-plan property they wanted at a suitable size. Micky was keen on the idea of designing his own house and, with Sian enthusiastically agreeing, they decided to take the plunge. “Our family consists of many children and two Great Danes, so we decided to find a plot and build our own,” he says.

Micky runs a development company and used to work in the self build industry, designing timber frame houses – so it’s little wonder he was attracted to this route. “With its flexibility and highly efficient insulation properties, timber is my true love,” he says. Modern systems are much quicker to build with compared to masonry construction, while offering similar price point. “They’ve really come down in price over the past 30 years, as the market becomes more aware and competition increases. Many major developers opt for engineered timber frame solutions these days,” he adds.

Serviced plot

The couple hit upon their ideal opportunity in December 2016 – the same month they sold their 1930s semi – when architect Nick Gallier of Bauen Design guided them towards a 0.12-acre site. The land was part of a serviced custom build development that had been earmarked for 11 self build houses in total. “It was the perfect location for us, being rural but on the edge of Peterborough, with schooling, amenities and leisure facilities close by,” says Micky. “There’s an old stone barn at the entrance, and our house is a oneof-a-kind within a collection of private plots, sold on a parcel of land at the back of a larger estate of new builds.”