HAL was approached by a local client in 2016 to design a replacement dwelling on a large plot in Oaklands. Planning permission was granted in 2018 for an ambitious four-level detached home. The drop in level at the front of the site provided the opportunity for a partial basement, while additional living space is incorporated within the roof.

The house combines traditional construction with steel framing, finished with stained timber boarding above a brick plinth. Feature oak framing highlights the entrance and runs through the building, creating views across the landscape to the rear. The roof is clad in a Sahtas restoration clay tile mix, complementing the surrounding greenery and matching the recently built adjacent garage.

The client was keen to retain the mature trees on the plot rather than overdevelop the land. Several bat boxes were installed to satisfy ecological planning conditions. The build also incorporates sustainable technologies, including mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and an air source heat pump. Construction is now nearing completion, and the house is looking exceptional.