NSBRC - Dan Stewart

Could you tell us any interesting facts or remarkable features about your project?

From the outset of the project, our aim was to create a highly insulated, low energy, sustainable home, and we wanted to adhere to both ‘Passivhaus’ and ‘AECB CarbonLite’ standards. Passivhaus and AECB CarbonLite standards ensure a comfortable and healthy home, in both winter and summer, and ensures energy usage is kept at a minimum, reducing long term energy costs. In December 2024 Birdsong was successfully Certified to the AECB CarbonLite New Build Standard.

We were passionate about using UK suppliers and local labour where possible. Our contractor lives on the same road and had also fortunately previously built to the Passivhaus standard. External timber cladding, and internal panelling was also sourced from local sawmills, using timber from British woodlands.

"Passivhaus and AECB CarbonLite standards ensure a comfortable and healthy home, in both winter and summer, and ensures energy usage is kept at a minimum, reducing long term energy costs."

Dan’s Experience at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre

How many times have you visited The National Self Build and Renovation Centre before?

Twice.

What would you say is the most helpful feature or resource at the NSBRC?

I particularly like the full-scale model / exhibits of buildings with ‘cut out sections’. I now recommend all students of architecture and engineering courses visit as it gives them great insight into practical aspects of construction. As an architect, the individual supplier stands were also really good for ideas for other projects (not just my own self build).

Did you use any exhibitors at the NSBRC? If so, who?

We used Norrsken for our windows & doors, and Bradfords (used by our builder for all the general building materials).

What did you enjoy most about your visit to the NSBRC?

The range of information available, and shared enthusiasm for self build.

Would you recommend the NSBRC to a friend, and if so, what aspects of the Centre would you recommend and why?

I’ve recommended the NSBRC to students, and also to clients and other self builders who have visited Birdsong – for the exhibitions, suppliers, and in particular for clients – for the informative courses and talks.

Dan can also arrange visits to Birdsong for self builders to share tips & his experience. Please enquire through the practice website.

The 'Before' Photos:

Floorplans & Elevations:

Professional Interior Photos

Credit to Peter Curno Photography

Exterior Photos

Click here to view Dan's Practice website
Find Dan's YouTube Channel here (video logs of the construction phase)
Find Dan's Instagram Profile here (read more about the self build journey & ongoing decorating / landscaping updates)

Dan’s Self Build Experience:

What first inspired you to undertake project – what did you hope to achieve?

We had been looking for a plot to build a forever home for a few years. We also wanted to move to the village of Wembury but house prices meant any property we could have bought would have then required a lot of subsequent work, and therefore be outside of total budget, to bring it to a same standard of energy efficiency and comfort. The self build route provided an opportunity for us to build a comfortable, healthy, home with low running costs - that we could afford in a community we love.

What was the cost & size of the land?

790m².

How did you find the land? Do you have any tips for others currently searching for a plot?

We went for a long summer walk around the coast path, and on the way back through the village we noticed an overgrown bit of land between two houses and thought it might be a potential plot. We then did a background planning search and also searches with the local utilities providers (to check there weren’t cables or pipes running through it). We then used the Land Registry online map search to identify the current owners and wrote to them offering to buy the land subject to achieving planning permission. Importantly, at that stage we entered into a legal agreement with them called a ‘property option’ which fixed the sale price of the land once planning was granted, and that they must give us first option to buy the land (which meant they couldn’t put the plot on the open market for the best price).

Did you have any issues getting your planning permission granted or with building control?

The first time we got planning we the had the project costed and it was over budget. We then had to redesign the house and resubmit planning for a smaller design that was also ‘phase able’, meaning the part that forms a garage could be built at a later date.

Why did you choose your method of construction?

We originally wanted to use timber frame, but at the time due to world issues (Ukraine, energy crisis, etc.), the cost of timber and other materials had increased dramatically. As a result, we chose to use ICF that is manufactured in the UK for the main super structure. We are glad we did so as it was extremely fast to erect, and inherently airtight which made details a lot simpler. We also find living in the house to be very stable due to the thermal mass.

Did you use a project manager, or did you choose to self-project manage?

We used a Main Contractor who managed the project, and as the Architect, I worked collaboratively with him as the project progressed.

What was your budget and were you able to stick to it?

Undisclosed budget, but yes, we stuck to it.

Did you reclaim the VAT?

It was zero rated as new build.

What aspects of the process did you find stressful – and do you have any tips on how to avoid the pitfalls you encountered?

The main build itself was ok, however as we were responsible for doing the internal decorations and finishes, in addition to choosing, storing and assembling a house worth of furniture, the final few months were very stressful trying to balance time doing this with full time jobs and a primary school age child.

What did you find most enjoyable about working on your project?

I enjoyed working directly with the contractor and tradesperson on site to develop details and features. For example, with the plant room size we needed some pipes to move into the entrance lobby. We worked together to develop a way to conceal these pipes behind an accessible panel to a built-in coat rack. We also had a collaborative approach to the kitchen layout, bathroom fittings and alcoves, and integrated lighting.

What is one of your favourite features about your project?

How comfortable and stable the internal temperature is throughout the year. A few times over the winter we actually left for work only to have to turn around and find a warmer jumper to put on based on outside temperature! The air quality provided by the ventilation system is fantastic and we find we recover from colds a lot faster than any other home we have lived in.

The house is also incredibly cost effective to run, we benefit from a larger solar PV array paired with a battery and air source heat pump. This keeps our running costs to a minimum, and it is projected that we will we have negative energy bills this year.

How did you tailor your home to suit your lifestyle?

Living in a rural area next to the beach, we chose the ground floor finish (a hard-wearing commercial screed typically used in warehouses) to allow us to not worry too much about mud or sand on shoes (within reason!). We are keen gardeners and used to have an allotment. We also worked closely with the landscape designer and ecologist at planning stage to develop the plan for the garden to incorporate ecological enhancements, in excess of policy requirements. This includes 3 bird roosts and 4 bat roosts integrated into the external cladding – as we want to encourage both species.

Is there a possibility you would ever undertake another project in the future?

Hopefully not! We’ve designed and built our home to be adaptable and expandable and hope to stay here for good.

What would your top tip be for other NSBRC Visitors about to embark on their first self build or home improvement journey?

I would strongly encourage people to visit other self builds in person and speak to self builders. Nothing is better than first hand experience. We actually held a couple of ‘open days’ during the build and have since invited other potential self builders to have a look at the finished house, to explain choices we made, and help them to better understand and make choices – and to avoid mistakes.

Dan Stewart