WELLBANK PARK’s custom build partner Hugr Homes are experienced specialists in their field. Working hand-in-hand with our plot owners, the Hugr team support them through the full process of creating their dream home.
In this blog, we speak with Hugr Homes’ Owner and Director Joe Higginson for our readers to learn more about his involvement with WELLBANK and his thoughts on why custom build is the way to go.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
Joe Higginson MRICS,
Director, Hugr Homes
I have worked in the property industry for over 30 years, originally working in development and investment in commercial property across the UK and Ireland.
I am a Chartered Surveyor and commercial projects include the development of industrial, office and retail property.
TELL US ABOUT HUGR HOMES
I set up Hugr Homes in 2018. I saw that there was an opportunity to offer serviced plots of land to people who wanted to “build their own home” but were unable to find a single plot. The idea was therefore to take larger sites, put in the necessary infrastructure, roads utilities etc. and then offer single plots.
There was a growing push from central government to encourage Self Build and Custom Build and so I knew that there was already a demand for serviced plots. In addition, measures were also coming from central government that would encourage this further.
The business is now delivering plots at WELLBANK and is also acting for landowners on other sites where we are assisting in promoting sites through the planning process. If planning is successful, those sites will be brought to market in the future on a similar serviced plot basis.
THE CUSTOM BUILD APPROACH
Our customers are typically anyone who would be looking to buy a new house but doesn’t want the traditional new house on offer from the mass market house builders. Many of our buyers have already realised that the mass market new build does not suit them. This may be related to the layout, the specification or the quality of the build, and they have realised that the best way to get the home they want is to Custom Build.
OUR INVOLVEMENT AT WELLBANK
Our involvement at WELLBANK goes back to the very earliest days of the company. We were introduced to the site owners and over a period of time they saw that a custom build approach could be the best way to deliver the project.
However, the design and layout of the development at that time did not suit a custom build approach. We assembled a professional team of architects, landscape designers and project managed the re-design of the scheme to suit a Custom Build approach.
We then moved onto the delivery aspect and worked alongside the owners to open the site for development, installing infrastructure and utilities to allow the sale of the plots.
Our role is now focussed on the sale of the plots and working with the plot buyers to deliver their new home. It has presented a number of challenges, but nothing that we havent faced before and that’s where my background in large commercial development gives an advantage in dealing with issues, and finding cost effective solutions.
WHY SHOULD I BUY A PLOT AT WELLBANK?
Quite simply, because it allows you to have the home you want, designed to fit your needs and your budget. Most European countries have a thriving Custom Build industry, for example in Austria 70 % of homes are built this way and in France and Germany it’s approximately 50%. The UK is the exception where we rely on mass market house builders and for some reason buyers just seem to accept that they should be happy with a house that someone else has designed and specified.
For enquiries contact David Nuttall
Tel: 07768 761470 or Email: enquiries@wellbankpark.co.uk