New Build Homes
A bespoke new build is the longest and most involved project a homeowner takes on. Twelve to eighteen months on site, often two years from first conversation to moving in. The design decisions made early, orientation, materials, layout, set the character of the house for its entire life.
We have built new homes across North Devon and Exmoor for over 25 years. Most are family homes; some are downsizing properties for clients in later life. All are designed against their specific plot, their specific brief, and the specific way the people commissioning them will live.
Self-builders, plot owners, or homeowners replacing an existing property who want a single bespoke home, not a developer's house, built to last.
Configurations and options
Contemporary Family Home
Modern detailing, larger glazing, open-plan principal spaces. Designed against the plot, not a pattern book.
- Open-plan kitchen-living-dining
- Floor-to-ceiling glazing on principal elevation
- Cantilevered or split-level forms where the site allows
Traditional Country Home
Pitched roofs, stone or brick, slate or tile, more formal layouts. Built to read as if it had always been there.
- Local stone or render with brick detailing
- Slate or natural clay tile roofs
- Separated kitchen, dining and snug spaces
Coastal Replacement Dwelling
Replacing existing chalets or post-war bungalows on coastal plots. Often constrained by AONB and footprint rules.
- Footprint and ridge height worked carefully through planning
- Salt-resistant cladding and detailing
- Orientation tuned for sea views without solar overheating
Downsizer / Forever Home
Single-level living, future-proofed for mobility, smaller footprint. The last house someone builds.
- Level thresholds throughout
- Wider doorways and corridors
- Principal bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor
What we use
Engineered Timber Frame
Closed-panel engineered timber frame as primary structure for most builds, fast on site, excellent thermal performance, well understood by Building Control.
SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels)
Where the architecture suits, large clear spans, vaulted ceilings, very high airtightness targets. We are happy in either system.
Oak Features
Pegged oak trusses, posts, or porches as feature elements within an otherwise modern build. The best of both worlds.
Cladding
Render, larch, cedar, brick, or local stone, specified to suit the site context and planning brief.
Roofing
Natural slate, clay tile, or standing-seam zinc on contemporary builds. Insulated to current Building Regs or beyond.
Typical pricing
From £350,000
Subject to specification and site conditions.
Currently quoting
Spring 2027
Lead times updated quarterly.
Examples of our new build homes
Genuine examples, all our own work.
What we don’t do
We do not project-manage your other trades. Every new build we deliver is built by our own team, plus the same sub-trades (electricians, plumbers, plasterers) we have worked with for years. If you want a builder who sub-contracts the whole job to people they have never worked with, we are not it.
Things people ask us
How does planning permission work for a new build?
A bespoke new build always needs full planning consent. We work with your architect (or one of ours) through pre-application advice with North Devon or Torridge councils, then full submission. Typical determination is 8-13 weeks; AONB or coastal sites can take longer.
Can you help me find a plot?
We do not act as plot finders, but we have worked locally long enough to know which agents handle good land and which planning officers are realistic. Once you have a plot under offer, we can advise on buildability before you exchange.
What does the build timeline look like?
Allow 12-18 months on site for a typical 250-400m² home. Groundworks 6-10 weeks, frame and weathertight shell 10-14 weeks, first fix services 6-8 weeks, second fix and finishes 12-16 weeks, plus snagging. The full programme from first conversation to moving in is usually closer to 24 months.
What warranty comes with the house?
Every new build we deliver is registered for a 10-year Premier Guarantee structural warranty. This is the standard required by most lenders and covers structural defects for a decade after completion.
What council approvals are needed beyond planning?
Building Control approval (full plans application), discharge of planning conditions before commencement, SUDS approval for drainage, and, depending on the plot, highways consent, ecological surveys, and tree work consents.
How does Building Control sign-off work?
We submit full plans before starting, and the Building Control Officer inspects at key stages, foundations, damp course, drainage, frame, insulation, fire stopping, completion. The completion certificate is part of what you receive at handover, alongside the warranty.
Can we use our own architect, or do you provide one?
Both. Most clients come with an architect already engaged, and we work alongside them from tender through completion. Where clients don't have one, we introduce a small number of local practices we trust and know are realistic about budget.
Can you build to Passivhaus or low-energy standards?
Yes. We have built to AECB and low-energy specifications. Full Passivhaus certification requires a Passivhaus designer and adds roughly 8-15% to build cost; we are happy to build to that spec where the client wants it.
Thinking about a project?
Tell us what you have in mind. We aim to respond within one working day.