CASE STUDY AN UPHILL BATTLE
Ian and Julie Perrin were unsure about buying the ‘difficult’ plot of land they ended up building on in Montgomery, mid-Wales, but they convinced themselves to take the plunge
TEXT ROSEANNE FIELD IMAGES NIKHILESH HAVAL A TOUGH SITE
The steep site slopes the height of three storeys from one end to the other
OPPOSITE
The couple liked the idea of an oak frame, thinking it would help the building sit well in the historic town
down in, with no real desire to stay in their then home village of Mortimer, near Reading. They came across the town of Montgomery in the Welsh Marches “by accident” when they were researching their family history. “My grandparents came from this part of the world,” explains Ian. “We were having long weekends away in various parts of the country, half looking at houses where we might like to retire.”
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It was while in Montgomery that they spotted a Georgian house for sale in the town centre, and having been “charmed” by the town and its people, they decided that this could be the place for them.
The house they’d seen had made them “re- assess what kind of house was best for us long term.” Originally their plan had been to live in a more remote, rural setting: “we were looking for a house in the country with a couple of acres and views, but the ones we’d see had always been a compromise,” Ian explains. They put an
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hen the time came for Ian and Julie Perrin to retire, they set about scouring the country for a place to settle
“We didn’t feel capable of taking it on, and rejected it at first”
offer in on the Georgian property, which fell through, but by this point they had their hearts set on living in the town.
The couple were aware of a building plot for sale in the area, but admit a self-build wasn’t something they had even considered. Despite having planning permission, they were also acutely aware that the plot had garnered little interest due to its tricky topography. “The plot had been up for sale for a long time, as it was a difficult site,” Julie says. “We didn’t feel capable of taking it on as a project and rejected it at first.”
Despite their reservations, when the house sale fell through they decided to give the plot
january 2020
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