Dreaming of creating a green home with low running costs, Simon and Jill Page replaced their 1920s bungalow with a thermallyefficient new build

WORDS REBECCA FOSTER PHOTOS ALISTAIR NICHOLLS

Simon Page and Jill Goodbun had lived in their 1920s bungalow for over two decades when they decided to take the plunge and self-build a bespoke new home in its place. Having recently retired, the couple wanted a thermally-efficient, future-proof abode they’d be able to enjoy for years to come. “The original property was coming close to the end of its useful life”, says Simon. “With single skin walls and very little insulation, it wasn’t a cheap house to run.”

When they purchased the bungalow for £120,000 in 1992, the couple were attracted to the large plot, as it provided plenty of space for Simon to build his own workshop to the rear of the property.

Moving the entire contents of this outbuilding to another location wasn’t something the pair wanted to do. “We also love living in St Albans”, says Jill. “It’s such a convenient location for travelling to other parts of the country for car races, which Simon loves.”

Going down the demolish and rebuild route wasn’t a choice Simon took lightly.

“When you’ve lived somewhere for a long time and you’re thinking about knocking it down, it’s a big decision”, he says. “It was quite an agonising process – there’s a raft of choices involved and it costs a lot of money. But we watch the house design shows on television, and we ultimately thought that if we really wanted a home to suit our lifestyle, self-build was the way to go.”