Tony and Jo Hogg’s new oak frame home in Somerset is packed with vibrant and playful details that bring wow factor and personality

WORDS RICHARD WEBBER

First steps

Upstairs, the living area benefits from more glazed doors and a spacious balcony

PHOTOS COLIN POOLE

When their rear garden was deemed suitable for development via the council’s local housing need assessment, Tony and Jo Hogg had a choice to make: sell up, or build on it themselves. The couple, who live in the small Somerset town of Axbridge, chose the latter – attracted by the opportunity to design and construct a home that would meet their tastes and requirements. Although they were new to self building, Tony is a structural engineer, so he had invaluable skills to bring to the project. While the land had been earmarked for future development, it took the Hoggs two years to get the final go-ahead from the council. “The pre-application advice in September 2018 stated that we wouldn’t gain consent,” says Tony. “So, we decided to go for outline planning for a self build to test out the principle. But we had to get bat surveys completed first, as the project would necessitate demolition of some outbuildings to provide space for the drive.”

The Hoggs submitted their outline planning application in March 2020 and, despite a few challenges along the way, eventually gained consent. With outline approval in place, there were no further issues when they submitted a reserved matters application to finalise the design. “Planning authorities tend to be cautious and need convincing: they would rather say no than yes,” says Tony. “Our advice to would-be self builders is to appoint a local planning consultant to work alongside your architect. This professional can research and prepare the application for you, as well as assist throughout the process. It’s important to get your local councillors on board, too. There will be setbacks – but don’t give up!”

The downstairs bedrooms lead out through glazed doors onto a covered patio area

The one-and-ahalf-storey part of the property includes the front door, entrance hallway and staircase. This works as a link between the garage and house

The open-plan upstairs benefits from exposed oak trusses, which take centre stage in the beautiful interior