'Find Me a Plot Near Andover'

ABOVE: ©Britainonview (britainonview.co.uk) / Martin Brent.

Phil Nettleton first approached HB&R at the Somerset Homebuilding & Renovating Show, held at the back end of 2010. He’s sold his home and is currently living in rented accommodation with his wife and two children — and his intention is to find the ideal site upon which to build a contemporary-style house.

“I really don’t like much of the architecture in this country,” Phil explains, “and my problem is always going to be that what I want to build doesn’t really find favour with the planners. That is with the exception, it seems, of those planners dealing with the coastal areas, where most of the really great contemporary buildings that are featured in the magazine happen to be,” Phil continues. “The trouble is, I need to be close to Andover at the moment.”

Hampshire, away from the coastal strip, has never been a great place for plots. However, if you spill over into neighbouring Wiltshire – which is within Phil’s geographical limits – there’s the possibility of more. In fact, this was borne out by the fact that of the six plots which the Plotfinder.net team and I had lined up to see on the day, only two were in Hampshire. Furthermore, neither are reported upon here. This is because the first of the two, in Clatford, was perhaps the grottiest plot I have ever seen, while the second was in the dreariest town, Luggershall, I’ve ever been to. And so, we turned our attention to other plots within a 30-mile radius of Andover.

Our Plotfinder

Phil Nettleton is an ex-Navy helicopter pilot who’s had some dealings with self-build: he built a large extension to his previous home and he also sold off a plot in Kent. Now in rented accommodation, he’s looking for the ideal plot on which to build his dream home, which will be of contemporary style with impeccable eco credentials.

Plot One

Littleton Pannell, Devizes, Wiltshire, £250,000.

“I’d Be in a Straight Jacket Design-Wise”

David's View: We came to this having just seen the two dreary sites in Hampshire. So turning into this development of plots left me with a feeling of relief.

This is a good plot. It’s more or less rectangular with a slight slope from right to left (ABOVE, BOTTOM). It has a width of around 18m and a depth of approx 25m and it’s the last plot on a development of about ten properties – most of which are self-builds – on the site of an old farmyard. The style of the other homes that have been built is quite distinctive in that they are all rather slab shaped with areas of silvered feather-edged boarding. The planners have obviously tried to retain the agricultural feel of the architecture, which may have looked good on paper but when actually applied fails to convince in any great measure.

Most of the houses are at least 250m² in size. The majority also have their garages on plot, but we were told by a neighbour that this particular plot was to share part of a cart shed – that was being renovated at the bottom of the communal yard – as its garaging. All mains services are available and the sewers are apparently connected into this plot, which has, up to now, been used mainly for storage. £250,000 for the plot plus £200,000 build costs and a share in the costs of the communal areas and roadway of perhaps £5,000, comes to £455,000. The end value would be circa £525,000.

The Plotfinder's View: I don’t like the fact that I’d be in a straight jacket design-wise. I don’t like the divorced garage. I don’t want to live in a community. I don’t like the fact that all of the houses have small windows with no solar gain. I like the rural aspects to the rear, but I’m not keen on the geese next door and whilst we were there the sound of gunfire from the nearby range was excessive!

Plot Two

Teffont Magna, Salisbury, Wiltshire, £175,000.

“This is a Truly Chocolate Box Village”

David's View: I could understand Phil’s point of view as we left the Littleton Pannell plot. His dream is to build a contemporary home and he’s quite scathing about the very pedestrian design that’s often imposed by planners seeking to maintain the local vernacular. I share his feelings and it was, therefore, with some trepidation that I showed him the details of this plot as we drove towards it. For on the front of the details was an illustration of a traditional cottage-style home with symmetrical windows and a central pitched-roof porch.

We talked about design and I told him how the last three bungalows I’d built had to conform to strict guidelines and forms, but how I’d managed to individualise them internally and introduce the cathedral windows that he also admires.

As we drove into the village I realised that there would be next to no scope for any changes in design. This is a truly chocolate box village with practically every house built in stone or rendered, under thatched or local tile roofs. A clear running stream passes through the village alongside the road on the opposite side to the plot. The local church is just up the road. In fact, the only blot on this otherwise picturepostcard scene is a pair of 1970s semi-detached cottages to the immediate right of the plot. How on earth did anyone ever think that they belonged in this environment? Having said that they looked neatly kept and the gardens were well maintained.

A local resident told me that the stream had last flooded in 1999, but as the plot’s elevated it wouldn’t be affected.

The Plotfinder's View: It’s absolutely not what I want to live in — I really don’t want to live in a history lesson. Yet, I can see the merits of this plot, which in all other circumstances is of a good size with a width of around 16m and depth of about 40m. I don’t like the shared driveway (ABOVE, RIGHT) with next door, but at least it’ll be gated to the plot. The land rises up quite considerably and there’s a large area to the rear; I wonder who owns that?

Plot Three

Shripple Lane, Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire, £160,000.

“Is it Really Worth the Asking Price?”

David's View: The Winterslows are a group of villages between Salisbury and Andover that are really popular — and smack in the middle of the area that Phil was looking in. He knew these villages because he had cycled around them with his family, and he pretty well knew where the plot was. The lane is unmade (ABOVE, BOTTOM RIGHT) and winds around the back of the village, with open land to the right-hand side back down to a pub. Along it various houses and bungalows have been built, none of which were at all impressive and all of which showed a lack of flair in design terms. Was this the kind of place that Phil could build his dream home? I began to think not.

In any event, the plot is tiny in width, being only around 11m with a depth of no more than 38m. During our visit someone was using it to park a Jeep, which detracted from one’s ability to appreciate the whole plot. I couldn’t tell if the plot had once been part of the bungalow next door or whether it was a parcel of land that had lain fallow for some time. It’s surrounded by low hedges that do allow a view of the surrounding countryside (ABOVE, TOP RIGHT). The neighbouring rectangular brick bungalow is, however, very close to the boundary and there would be some overlooking.

If one wanted to build a small house costing £100,000, then that would mean total costs of £260,000 for something that would struggle to be worth £250,000.

The Plotfinder's View: It’s just too small. I like the village, but I wouldn’t want to live on an unmade road, even though it’s only a short walk to the pub! How can this be worth £160,000 when plot two, which is far superior, is on the market for £175,000? It really doesn’t make sense. In any event, even if they took £100,000 for this plot, it wouldn’t interest me; I couldn’t build anything decent here.

The Choice

Plot Two: Teffont Magna, £175,000.

“I Could Increase My Equity Here”

Why I Chose it: On the day I think this was the best plot. David and I were talking over lunch and I explained that one thought in my head was that I could increase my equity here and then consider taking out a project abroad — probably in France. My children are the right age for a move of this sort.

But back to this plot. £175,000 for the plot plus £160,000 build costs comes to £335,000. And I think that the minimum you’d get for a house here would be £475,000. This is a different mindset and I haven’t fully got my head around it. I wouldn’t want to live here for long — we’d just be moving through.

David's Final Analysis: I think I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to find Phil the plot of his dreams on the day — although I still haven’t given up hope. When we talked later in the day he expanded on what he wanted to build and his design ideals. And at plot two (Teffont Magna) he became quite reflective and started to see things in another light. This plot, he felt, would never allow him to build what he wanted, but it would, nevertheless, be a plot where there was money to be made.

The plot is clean. The sewer is on the right side of the road. The design is largely worked up with full planning permission, which means that a start could be made almost immediately. The four bedrooms wouldn’t be that big but there are two bathrooms and downstairs there is a lounge, dining room, kitchen and utility room.

The slope of the plot is in its favour and the outlook would be pretty fair. If the land at the rear could be added that would be a bonus, but it’s not essential.

The Suggested Design

I don’t see the point of altering the design that has been granted full planning permission. This pretty, idyllic home by Border Oak (borderoak.com; 01568 708752) includes some of the key cottage-style features, such as a rendered façade, a traditional porch, dormer windows and a brick plinth, on the plans. The design also features a pantile roof.
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What Happened Next?

Phil’s still considering things as I write. However, we’ve discussed upping his plot budget to £400,000 to see if that produces any better results. So far nothing has come up, but I’ll keep looking and we’ll stay in touch.

Want to Take Part?

If you’re looking for a plot and would like our help, email us with ‘Plotfinder Challenge’ as the subject. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to all requests.