Oak Frame Barn-Style Home

After bringing their children up in a grade II listed Georgian house, Rupert and Lindsey Osborn decided to downsize and build their forever home in the gardens of their existing property. However, despite the plot forming part of their existing land, it was considered by the planners to be outside the village boundary and so began a long wait for planning permission.

Having found Oakwrights at a self-build show in 2007, they visited the company’s show home in Herefordshire, and were subsequently introduced to architectural designer Pete Tonks. Pete worked with them to design their oak-framed home as well as helping with planning permission.

Following seven years of negotiations with planners, the planning permission was finally approved thanks to a change in planning consent laws and Rupert and Lindsey had the go ahead to build their dream oak-framed home.

After such a long wait, the build itself was rapid. The oak frame was made by Oakwrights in Herefordshire from sustainable French green oak and as an oak frame can be built in all weather conditions, they take minimal time to construct; in this case just five days to erect once on site, with only four site crew and the frame designer.

The frame was held together by 1,100 giant oak pegs and then the house was wrapped in 350 mm thick wood panels that make up Oakwrights premium encapsulation system, WrightWall Natural, which insulated the frame and enabled work to start on the inside of the property, completely protected from the elements.

Read the full planning consent story.

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