Blog
19/10/2012 - Self-build in Balmoral? The Queen lends a hand to the housing crisis...
Oliver Wainwright in this week's Guardian Architecture and Design Blog explains the new plan by the Prince's Foundation that should see locals building their own houses on the Balmoral Estate. We are delighted by this innovative and exciting development.The self-build revolution is here! DIY house-building fever is sweeping the nation, with a plethora of self-build conferences, workshops, building groups and now even pots of governmental money for it – all fuelled by our insatiable appetite for Grand Designs' dramatic journeys of doom, gloom and eventual domestic triumph.
But move over Kevin McCloud. Innovation in the field is now coming from unexpected quarters: the Queen.
It was announced this week that plans are afoot for a new self-build community within the grounds of the sprawling Balmoral estate in Scotland. The move follows a long history of queens building model villages. Marie Antoinette had a miniature hamlet, le hameau de la reine, built in the gardens of Versailles in 1783. It was a rustic retreat of hobbity houses, where she could escape the pomp of the palace and play at being a peasant. Not to be outdone, Catherine the Great ordered an entire Chinese village to be constructed in her palace grounds at Tsarskoye Selo, when Chinoiserie was all the rage. She died before it could be completed.
But our own modest queen is opting for something altogether different. The group of 12-16 houses, to be built on a field near Ballater in Aberdeenshire's Cairngorms national park, will provide affordable dwellings for the local community.
"There is particular pressure on housing here," says Hank Dittmar, chief executive of the Prince's Foundation, which is spearheading the project. "It is a very desirable place for second homes, and it's also where people from Aberdeen's oil industry come to retire – both of which have pushed house prices up."
The housing, planned for an area of the estate already home to some cottages, will be developed by architects from the Prince's Foundation in close consultation with the future residents, who are currently all in shared or social housing nearby. The Foundation has been in talks with Grampian Housing Association, and plans to work with a contractor to build the shells, before handing the buildings over for the residents to fit out.
So can we expect a Highland Poundbury, all turrets and towers in the Scottish baronial style?
"No," says Dittmar. "The Scottish vernacular is pretty simple and austere, plain stone or rendered houses with dormer windows, but not much exterior detail."
"The idea is really to support the residents in figuring out what they want. We always start by asking people what their favourite buildings are in the towns they live in, and what places they particularly admire. But this project is more about testing a new model of delivery than the style of architecture."
Ted Stevens, chairman of the National Self Build Association, welcomes the news.
"It is setting a terrific precedent, which will hopefully inspire other major philanthropic landowners," he says. "Twice as many building societies are now lending to self-builders than a year ago, but the biggest hurdle is still getting the land."
"If you look back in history, there are some fantastic examples of big companies making land available for model villages, such as at Bournville and Port Sunlight," says Stevens. "It would be great to see companies follow this example today, using land in a way that can benefit the local community, such as through community land trusts."
The news follows Tuesday's announcement that the first applications for a slice of the Department for Communities and Local Government's £30m self-build investment fund have been earmarked for approval, for sites in north-east Derbyshire and Peterborough.
Plans have yet to be revealed, but we will be following the progress of the new wave of self-build communities – from royal highland hamlets to high-density urban abodes – closely on this site.
08/10/2012 - Big Green Home Show - don’t miss it!
We’re getting ready for the first show of the autumn season: The Big Green Home Show, on 26th -28th October. Held at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon, we are delighted to welcome visitors to come and see us in what we consider our ‘second home’ ADM Systems has a permanent stand there and are always on hand to help customers with anything they need to know about ventilation, heat recovery systems, ground to air heat exchangers or central vacuum systems.
The Big Green Home Show is a great event for all self builders and renovators alike. With over a hundred and fifty exhibitors under one roof, expert advice and superb seminars and demonstrations, it provides the perfect opportunity to gather information and make great contacts.
Don’t miss our very own moment of glory – we will be presenting in The Greener Living Theatre on both days on the subject ‘Heat Recovery – could it work for you?’
See us
Saturday 27th October at 14.15
Sunday 28th October at 11.00
Our expert engineers, Tom and Matt will be there to tell you all about the options, benefits and pitfalls of heat recovery ventilation systems, and how you could use this eco-technology in both new build or retrofit situations.
We have free tickets to give away, see our flyer here to get you, and here are directions to the show.
We look forward to seeing you there later this month!
24/09/2012 - Best of both Worlds
Self-build and Grand Designs are both terms given to building for oneself a home of one's own. It is perhaps a surprising statistic that 20 per cent of new homes in Britain are self-built. Many of these are not literally self-built, but built by house builders directly for their clients; or a blend of the two, with owners working on site and bringing in specialists for certain tasks.
It is also the case that many are not the realisation of complex aspirations, as seen on the television show Grand Designs, but designs that conform to a more regular style and layout familiar within any neighbourhood. In any case, the benefits are clear. The chance to choose design and layout, specification , fittings and finishes and often the chance to save something on the cost too.
Right now the Government is seeking to get more of us to build homes for ourselves. It is part of a response to the need for more housebuilding in a nation where the number of households is growing faster than our ability to house them. Housing markets in the UK are increasingly resembling those of continental Europe, where availability of finance for mortgages has traditionally been more constrained, resulting in less dynamic markets. Such markets encourage self-build by increased plot availability and development opportunities.
Self-build has several major advantages for those willing to take up the challenge and also perhaps fortunate enough to have a plot on which they can build. The great advantage to self-build is, of course, the chance to choose. However, a measure of personalisation of specification or design is always possible.
The tax system favours self-build, too. Buy a house for over £2 million today and you will pay £140,000 stamp duty land tax. Buy a plot for £1 million and have a house build on it for £1 million and the SDLT is just £40,000. Add to that the zero rated VAT on a new home and the taxman becomes your friend.
Here at ADM Systems we are experts in heat recovery ventilation systems and alternative forms of ventilation, ground to air heat exchangers and central vacuums. These are major features of modern eco-construction and contribute to achieving the much coveted Passivhaus accreditation or Code 6 BREEAM standards. We work alongside many self builders and renovators and understand the advantages of choice and financial benefit that makes self building the best of both worlds.
Come and see us at the upcoming Homebuilding and Renovating Shows in Harrogate and the South West in November or at The Big Green Home Show at the end of October at the Self Building Centre in Swindon. Meet other self builders, suppliers and experts all under one roof. Contact us for more information.
13/09/2012 - Get your free show tickets!
Here at ADM Systems we're gearing up for the 'show season' this autumn. We love to get out on the road and enjoy meeting so many inspiring and talented self builders, designers and other suppliers in our industry face to face. We're exhibiting at three shows between the end of October and the middle of November, so it's going to be a busy time. We have free tickets for you, so just follow the links on below, or on our events and news page to register.
First up is the Big Green Home Show, Friday 26th to Sunday 28th October. This is held at the National Selfbuilding and Renovating Centre in Swindon, where we have a permanent stand all year round. This is the UK's only eco show dedicated to self builders & renovators. This show is designed to support people with a wide range of situations, backgrounds and knowledge. With a host of demos and talks, and plenty of experts on hand, they promise to save you time - and money - every step of the way. Come and see us and talk through your plans and ideas for ventilation and heat recovery. Get your free tickets here...
The following weekend we're back on home turf in Yorkshire, with the Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show from 2nd - 4th November. Just 20 miles down the road from our HQ in Skipton, this show is held at the Harrogate International Conference Centre, and sees a gathering of over 250 exhibitors, professional experts and passionate selfbuilders. As the North of England's biggest and dedicated self-build & renovation event, no where else will you find free expert advice, the right products, and services at the right price and inspiration to enable your truly individual home to become a reality. There are seminars, masterclasses, and opportunities to 'ask the architect'. We'll be there on stand 206, so come along and say hello. We are delighted that our installation partners, HRI will be joining us at the show, so don't forget to go and see them too.
Then, with just a brief pause for breath and re-fuelling, we're off to Somerset. The South West Homebuilding and Renovating Show takes place on 17th - 18th November at The Bath and West Showground. Whether you're building your own home, renovating or carrying out home improvements or adding an extension, you’ll find all that you need, all under one roof! This year the show will be packed to the rafters with: 100s of specialist local and national companies - making sure you get the best products at the best price; 1000s of cutting edge and essential products - to ensure you find the right products for you and your home; Free impartial expert advice from ADM Systems and other great exhibitors; seminars to make sure you avoid the costly and common self-build mistakes; free Daily Masterclasses on a range of subjects. Our free tickets are coming soon, but contact us if you'd like to be put on the list.
We're always here to answer your questions, and of course, you can come and see us anytime. Everyone gets a warm welcome at ADM, whether in Skipton or at our stand in Selfbuilding and Renovating Centre in Swindon. Phone, email or write to us, or follow this link to request a call back.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
