Pound Lane information webinar
For those who were not able to attend our live webinar on 12 May, we have provided a summary of what was discussed at the webinar below. If there are any questions that you have which have not been covered below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
How did Pound Lane come about?
Gus Zogolovitch, MD Unboxed Homes
The site on Pound Lane in the suburbs of Basildon was being sold by Homes England. It stood out because it was next to lots of natural space, had interesting topographical features, but most importantly there is so much land, a lot more than in a normal development.
A standard new build development would probably get about 30 homes on this site and we’re building 12, so that illustrates the size of the plot that each home will have.
It’s a fantastic opportunity. I have been trying to help grow self and custom build in the UK for 10-12 years, which is why I created Unboxed Homes, a custom build developer. Steenvlinder, one of the development partners, is similar to us but from Holland where they are more advanced than us in terms of self and custom build, and building your own home is very common.
We partnered with three multi award winning practices for the house designs (Pitman Tozer Architects and Mae Architects are also develpment partners) to give the customers as much choice as we can. You have a choice in the design, the plot, and choice in the size of the house (L and XL) or whether you want to do it yourself or get it finished by us (DIY or a la carte).
We believe in choice and value for the customer, and being great for the environment. We think that what we’re building here you just can’t get anywhere else on the market.
About the houses
Laura Baron (architect from Pitman Tozer Architects)
Pound Lane is in an area that feels rural and isolated but is still well connected. Laindon has good links to London as well as the coast, Southend on sea, Canvey Island etc. Being adjacent to St Nicholas Church, an iconic and historic building in the area, contributes to the unique feel of the development.
It is in an area with woodland that has local wildlife designated for conservation with native birds and reptiles. A public footpath leads to the church through the woodland area, and the plot is in a very unique and fabulous location.
Pound Lane is very accessible to transport links, and is only 5 minute bike ride to Laindon or Basildon station, and it is quick by car to get onto the A127 east to the coast or west to London.
The site is separated into 12 plots, where 1 and 2 are separated from the rest by the public footpath. The other 10 plots are situated around a communal green space and a road that goes around the site.
The development has been designed to be deliberately low density to conserve the natural green environment that was already existing.
A buffer zone around the edge of the site with existing ecology and vegetation between the church and houses will add to the feeling that the plots are within the secluded woodland.
There are 3 different house types (the colours on the map correlate to the different house types).
All plots have 2 parking spaces, front and rear gardens, space for a garage or car port, and dedicated bin and meter stores. Landscaping will be a combination of existing mature vegetation and new planting.
Plot 3 is adjacent to Pound Lane, LittleBig House by AOC, with only 1 immediate neighbour, and a slightly smaller garden than the other 2 plots.
Plot 4 is one of the larger plots, MyHouse, by Mae Architects.
Plot 6 is also a generous plot, S6 House by Pitman Tozer Architects.
All house types come in 2 sizes, L or XL.
This house has a distinctive character, with generous large picture windows, and windows that wrap around the corner in kitchen and garden facing living room.
The L option has a flat roof, and the ground floor has the option for open plan or cellular living spaces, and multiple kitchen arrangements possible. The upstairs can have either 2 or 3 bedrooms, with the option for an ensuite.
The XL has attic space which would add a pitched roof to the house and a room that could be used as bedroom, home office, or living space, has the option for an en suite as well and opens onto a terrace.
This house has a striking profile with pitched roof design.
The L option has a ground floor that has a separate kitchen and dining room at the front, and the living room opens out to the garden at the rear. The upstairs can have either 2 or 3 bedrooms
The XL adds another floor within the pitch of the roof and adds another 2 bedrooms plus an extra bathroom.
Split over 2 storeys, the S6 house features generous living spaces to maximise views over the garden to the rear. The ground floor can either be an open living space or separated into smaller rooms. Upstairs includes 3 good sized double bedrooms with the option for en suite or a larger family bathroom.
The XL adds a rear extension on the garden side so you have an even more generous kitchen dining area which can be subdivided, and extra room on the front of the house which could be a study or additional living space.
All of the houses have the garage shown as an option as part of the external shell options.
All the house types are very different from each other, and designed as a set for this specific development so that they share common palettes that tie them together. Options for each house are chosen specifically so there is a common language between the designs.
You will have a choice of:
- Cladding material (brick, timber boarding)
- Colour for window frames and front door (from specific colour palette to fit in with development but to add uniqueness to your own house)
- Option to add/remove skylights depending on specific design
- Additional garage or carport
- All houses have opening patio doors that go out onto back gardens, with the option for french, single, or sliding doors.
The a la carte route gives you some options, with less flexibility than with the DIY route.
All houses have a choice of:
- multiple kitchen layouts
- 2 different kitchen finishings
- 2 finishings for bathrooms
- family or ensuite bathrooms
- built in wardrobes
- floor and stair finishings
Plans are subject to minor changes due to the engineering process we are currently undergoing.
The houses will be constructed off site in a factory, and will be timber framed. Because of this process it will be a slightly shorter construction period than traditionally built homes.
The finalisation of the design of the house with your chosen options is estimated to be 3 months. The construction is estimated to be completed 6-9 months after exchange of contracts, depending on your chosen finish level.
A la carte
For those who want to move in right away and not have to go through the finishing process. You will have a limited set of fixed options to choose from, constructed and finished by us. We will build your house up to a move in ready state.
DIY
This route is more exciting and for those who want to build out the interior themselves to accommodate your bespoke wishes and budget. You will have some shell options, which you will select from a fixed menu, but you will have maximum freedom to finish the interior of your house to your own bespoke needs and wishes, the only constraints are from the construction of the house, for instance the load bearing walls and stairwells. The structural warranty of the design will be arranged by us.
The difference between Pound Lane Custom Build and other self-build projects is that planning permission is already in place, the shells are ready to be built, and all you have to decide and build is the interior layout plus some exterior options.
Costs on website are baseline costs (will vary if you add on carports etc).
DIY budgets you need to budget for the fit out, but you can save money by doing some things yourself.
We will build:
- Foundations
- Load bearing walls
- Floors
- Building is wind and water tight
- Roof facade, roof
- Windows
- Exterior doors
- Services are connected to be connected throughout the house
- Stairwells and SVPs installed
You will need to do:
- Insulation
- Heating, ventilation
- Electricity and plumbing
- No gas boilers (air source heat pumps)
- Underfloor heating
- Stairs
- Internal walls and doors
- Bathroom, kitchen
- Utility fixtures
- Wall finishings and ceiling finishings
Questions from attendees
1) Register your interest on our website, and the chance to reserve is first come first served.
2) We will have a chat with you to see which options fit you best. We will also introduce you to a specialist mortgage provider who will work with you and your budget to get your mortgage in principle which is needed for the next step in the process.
3) When you have made your baseline choices and have your MIP in place you are able to enter the Reservation Period, to extend your reservation for another 12 weeks until exchange of contracts. Upon entrance of the reservation period you will deposit £3000. During the reservation period you can finalise your options and secure your mortgage.
You will receive the drafts of all relevant legal documentation to sort out with your solicitor, so make sure you appoint your solicitor in time.
We’re aiming for the development to be electrical only as in a few year’s time no building will be allowed gas, as gas boilers has been banned for all new builds by 2025. So we are making sure these homes are future proof.
This is not absolutely definitive so we are still discussing if there is enough electricity in the system for everything to be electric only, but this is what we’re working towards. Adding in gas would also be expensive to add in as it is an extra infrastructure cost. If having no gas is a deal breaker then please let us know.
We are targeting the future homes standard, the latest guidance from the government targeting decarbonisation of all new builds by 2025. We will be using a combination of different techniques, high thermally efficient fabric (what we are aiming for), renewable energy sources (air source heat pumps, our standard). We do not have the final EPC ratings, but the baseline will be B+ if not an A.
The rating would generally be B if gas is installed and A for an air source heat pump and PV panels.
If you have an air source heat pump your house will work in much the same way as with a gas boiler, eg. you could have underfloor heating downstairs and radiators upstairs. It is more efficient to have underfloor heating everywhere with an air source heat pump.
For the finished option there would be underfloor heating downstairs and radiators upstairs as a minimum, with the option to upgrade to underfloor heating everywhere.
We are going through a process with the architects on selecting the options, and there will be a catalogue presenting the different options for buyer purchases, which we will be sharing soon.
The houses will be constructed with a timber frame which will not be able to be changed to brick and block, but there is some option to change external cladding.
The main issue about Grenfell is the height of the building, and the that cladding issue not applicable to 2 storey houses. Lots of work has been done around timber frame construction so that they are completely safe, and the risk level is much different from what it was many years ago.
We are currently looking at cladding material. The type which is banned is ACM, and is not the kind of cladding we will be using. The project will comply with current building regulation standards, which have been enhanced on fire safety since Grenfell.
This depends on house type, the primary insulation is mineral wool which is non combustible, and PIR insulation will be used as well as a secondary insulation material on the outside of the construction.
The cost of the land only plus the price for the different house sizes and purchase options are on the website.
Yes, we will be doing viewings on site, please get in touch here. If you are local you are welcome to head to the site and get a sense of it from the outside at a time that suits you.
When you buy the land, you will be buying the land from Pound Lane Custom Build Limited (PLCB), paying stamp duty on the land only, giving you a significant stamp duty saving, if you pay stamp duty on the whole house you are paying tax for the entire cost of the house.
The custom build mortgage will be provided when you build the house or when we build the house for you on the land. So it’s a custom build mortgage rather than a traditional one because you are buying the land and saving on stamp duty and then paying us for the construction of the home.
So there will be two contracts, one with PLCB to buy the land, then a separate one with another company, Pound Lane Builders Ltd to build you the house, and you are not liable for stamp duty for end value, only on the land.
How to finance your Pound Lane Custom Build project
Mary Riley is a Finance Expert who is on the board of NaCSBA and is the veteran finance expert on Grand Designs. Watch the video below to find out how to finance your build project, borrowing limits, rates of interest, supporting documentation required, VAT, insurance, and other top tips and advice.
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