New Build in Aston Magna

This is a demo of a project write-up.

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Cedar House sits on a gently sloping, south-facing plot on the outskirts of Aston Magna. Conceived as a four-bedroom family home, the design borrows the mellow proportions of nearby Cotswold barns while hitting today’s tight energy targets. Planning consent arrived in February and we broke ground at the end of March; the build is now moving through week eight of a thirty-eight-week programme.

The oak-and-steel frame is fully in place, giving the village lane its first clear glimpse of the building’s long, low silhouette. Roof tiling with reclaimed Collyweston stone is booked to start next Monday, after which the shell will be officially watertight. As soon as the roofers sign off, first-fix plumbing and electrics will begin, running alongside installation of MVHR ductwork and under-floor heating manifolds, which are already stored in a lock-up on site. An interim air-tightness inspection has confirmed we are on track to meet the sub-three air-change target set by the SAP assessor.

Material deliveries continue to arrive in a tight sequence: limestone from the nearby quarry is coursed and stacked, ready for the masons; hand-dressed cedar boards are racked under cover for the gable elevations; triple-glazed timber windows are in final paint at the joiner’s yard, scheduled for mid-June fitting. The services package includes an air-source heat-pump feeding under-floor circuits on both storeys and a discreet six-kilowatt solar array that will sit on the hidden rear pitch.

Even with April’s heavy rain, the programme is currently four days ahead of its critical path, keeping practical completion on course for 14 December. The clients hope to celebrate Christmas morning in their new gallery-landing, looking across the Evenlode Valley—a milestone that feels increasingly within reach now that the frame stands tall. A fuller photo update will follow once the roof is tiled and the internal spaces begin to take shape.

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