Replacement lightweight timber framed dwelling on cliff side location in Lyme Regis providing 150sqm of internal floor area. Due to the limited access it was decided early on to construct the property on site rather than using SIPs panels.
This is the third house constructed on this site in the last fifty years. Due to very unstable ground conditions and subsidence the previous two houses had been demolished. After the demolition of the previous property on the site we installed a piled foundation with ground beams. The design then called for a steel grillage which forms the basis of an innovative design allowing re-leveling following anticipated land movement.
The property is clad with larch, including all the walls and roof, giving a very contemporary look. A number of irregular angles have been incorporated into the design to enhance aesthetic.
What our client had to say
"I was given the name of Joe Mew from a local ‘’born and bred’’ Lyme Regis resident and that is always a good way to start. First impressions also count and from our first meeting I felt that Joe was down to earth, honest and thoughtful and I knew that our house required a builder with all of these characteristics. The Crows Nest was built following significant landslip and subsidence which required the previously existing house to be demolished. The site itself brought plenty of sensitivities and complexities being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a Unesco World Heritage Site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. To add to the difficulties we wanted to build a contemporary house with complex foundations that allowed the house to be re-levelled with a series of hydraulic jacks in the event that we had further subsidence. It was also a very bespoke and intricate design that required a builder that was both considered and diligent. The end result has exceeded all our expectations and is a truly fantastic house. Working with Joe and Grenville of Mew Developments has also made it a fun and exciting project to work on. Too often building a house can be both stressful and full of financial shocks but this was never the case with Mews. We worked on a relatively open book basis and I always felt that I could trust them both on quality and price. Exactly what you want from your builder!"