CLIENT: PRIVATE
CONTRACT VALUE: £873,000
ARCHITECT: HARRINGTON DESIGN
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL
EXPERTISE: EXTENSIONS, INTERIOR RENOVATION
Building on an established client relationship, Vale Southern Construction extended and modernised a large, art-deco family home.
The Brief
The owner of this impressive residential property was an existing client of Vale Southern Construction. As the director of JCL Group, which comprises a property development business, the client had appointed Vale Southern for several projects, including the construction of student accommodation and an apartment scheme.
Following the success of this new build work, Vale Southern was entrusted to help transform the client’s family home.
The aim was to extend and renovate the property to better meet the needs of the family. Located in Langstone, a village near Havant, Hampshire, the house required modernisation and extra space that would enable its residents to benefit from new facilities as well as flexible living.
Opening up
The property’s footprint was increased thanks to three extensions. The first was constructed at the top of the property creating a third floor. Spanning 60 sq m, the space allowed a new bedroom to be incorporated into the home complete with walk-in wardrobe, a bathroom and large balcony area with views of the garden.
The second extension saw the team create new space between the house and an existing garage, which was then transformed into a home office. The kitchen area was also extended to accommodate a new gym.
Standing out
The entire interior was renovated to a high specification, including new design features. A spiral staircase was installed at the heart of the house requiring a supporting pole that extends from the top of the property down to the ground floor. A specialist manufacturer was sourced by Vale Southern to deliver this unique feature which is the focal point of the home.
The kitchen was upgraded with handmade cabinetry delivered by a specialist local joinery company. This area also benefits from new electric roof lights to assist with ventilation and natural light, and which were also installed in the new gym.
Overcoming hurdles
Several logistical and design challenges were seamlessly tackled to ensure the project’s success.
The family remained in the home throughout the works requiring Vale Southern to deliver stringent site management and health and safety practices. This included carefully phasing the construction programme to help minimise any disruption.
Due to existing roof coverings on the second floor, there was no fixing point to install the balcony. This meant Vale Southern had to design a self-supporting, bespoke balcony structure using steel, which was completed with composite decking.
A trusted construction partner
Despite these challenges, the 23-week project was completed within budget and on time.
Speaking about the project’s success, the homeowner said:
“Vale Southern did everything how it should be done. As we were still living in the house while the work took place, we were unable to use around 70-80 percent of the property. The team sectioned it very well and demonstrated very strong site management skills. We had regular site meetings with various engineers and specialists and were brought into conversations around the sourcing of bespoke materials, so kept informed throughout.
“Vale Southern carried out the work during the summer, ensuring everything was completed on time. This was really important to us given we were still living in the house.
“Having used Vale Southern for various other projects, their ability to deliver on time and honesty throughout each construction programme is a key strength. We trust the team and its subcontractors, and that’s why we continue to use Vale Southern and would recommend them to others.”