LOW POINT The delays and


extensions to the build. It felt at one point like we were never going to get in. Originally, it was said it would take between six and eight to complete, then it took 14 months. There were various hold- ups; for example, as the builders were taking down some of the old structure they discovered a problem with the oor they didn’t expect; more piles had to go in. There were various construction-related issues that hadn’t been factored in at the start. – Sarah


house 15 miles down the road from their new home, in Uppermill, near Oldham in Lancashire, had an open-plan kitchen/living room/diner. The Lands had installed a through-oor lift from the ground oor to eidis bedroom where there were also ceiling track hoists from the bedroom to the bathroom. They stayed here during the build, from April 2021 to June 2022, selling it afterwards.


Now they live in a spacious 401.15 sqm,


four-bedroomed property. The only complete part of the existing bungalow left is the garage, with its dog shower, retained as the family own a cockerpoo named Betty, and half-mezzanine oor for storage. Stees one regret is that during the build he didn’t have the mezzanine etended to full-oor to proide further storage. Martin’s plans were bold. They dispensed with the existing conservatory at the back of the house, adding a full-width extension in its place. This is designed with two apex roofs – one over the kitchen, one over the living room – with sliding doors opening off each space, and a French door in the central connecting area. nderoor heating and a wood-burning stoe keep this open-plan space cosy. The front of the bungalow, between the garage and the front door was reconfigured to create a spacious hall with a gentle entry slope and ample space for Heidi and her wheelchair. The exterior combines cedar cladding, echoed in natural internal touches such as the living television’s wall cabinet, with white render and anthracite windows and door frames


mar/apr 2024


for a highly contemporary look. Even though the existing bungalow was being extended, it wasn’t increasing in height or affecting any of the neighbouring houses, so the planning permission process did not hit snags. Martin explains that a key priority was to


ensure that Heidi – and her waking carer, who looks after her four nights a week – had her own space and privacy. There is a sofa bed in the sensory room should a sleep-in carer be needed in future.


He has zoned the house so that Heidi’s


bedroom, fully wheelchair-accessible ensuite, sensory room – she’s a huge fan of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, so there’s a glitterball hanging from the ceiling where there’s also a hoist so she can explore and engage with the room safely – and a carer’s kitchenette where medication can be prepared and equipment cleaned, all sit together. As Heidi grows older, this area of the house will be established as her own, allowing as much feeling of independence as possible. Two bedrooms, including Sarah and Steve’s with its own ensuite, sit across the hall. The family’s communal living space is towards the back of the house, directly onto the rear garden. The communal living space comprises an open-plan kitchen, living room and dining area. There are also practical additions including a pantry and utility room off the kitchen, and a home office net to the garage The first-oor dormer bedroom was re-thought and made larger by incorporating loft storage space into the rooms oorplan. Storage has


www.sbhonline.co.uk 55


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