Case Study: Sandpit Lane, St Albans
The Overview.
Paula and her family wanted to transform an ordinary two storey house into a striking three storey bespoke home. The project required extensive structural work, careful planning, and a builder willing to tackle complex challenges head on.
“Nothing was too much trouble,” says Paula.
Location
Project Type
Key Challenge
Build Duration
The Challenges & Solutions
The property sits on a tight roadside site with restricted access, leaving little margin for error. Raising the roof, introducing a third floor, and reworking the internal layout required careful sequencing, precise coordination, and a builder comfortable managing complexity.
A full height glass atrium at the front of the house became a defining architectural feature, setting the tone for the project and demanding absolute accuracy from design through to installation.
This was a fully bespoke build, with no off the shelf solutions. Key elements including the spiral staircase and atrium were designed and manufactured off site, then installed following detailed surveys and close coordination with designers and engineers. Everything had to fit first time.
Internally, the structure was reinforced to support a stone bath in the loft, while the existing ground floor was lowered and rebuilt with a new insulated concrete slab to allow underfloor heating throughout. A high performance Viessmann heating and hot water system was installed alongside solar panels, with a rainwater harvesting system supporting grey water use, balancing long term efficiency with luxury living.
Project Stages and Timeframes
Every home and brief is different, so timings can move depending on complexity, local authority response times, and contractor availability. Click each stage for a detailed breakdown of what is involved.
- High-level benchmarked cost assessment
- High-level programme overview
- Clear next-step roadmap
- Planning and policy review
- Site and technical assessment
- Bespoke Project Management Software activated
- Specification alignment
- Budget validation
- Feasibility conclusion and direction
- Planning application (if not yet approved)
- Full design coordination
- Building regulations completion
- Planning conditions discharge
- Refined cost plan and procurement validation
- Programme sequencing and risk mitigation
- Project team formalised
- Introduction to Project Coordinator
- Dedicated project leadership
- Dedicated build team assigned
- Live programme and cost control
- Variation management through the platform
- Quality inspections and consultant coordination
- Structured communication and reporting
- Professional snagging and handover
Considering a Luxury New Home?
If you’re planning a bespoke new build and want clarity before committing, our project appraisal process helps you understand viability, planning potential, costs, and risks at an early stage.