A ground-breaking plan to create the first-ever ‘custom build’ housing development in the Lake District National Park has taken centre stage at a national awards ceremony. 

The Build It Awards are one of the most coveted accolades in the self-build industry and the new Wellbank housing development in West Cumbria was among the finalists which came under the spotlight at a glittering awards event in London’s South Bank.

The 12-acre former Ministry of Defence site near Bootle was in the running for the category of ‘Best Custom Build Model or Project’.

Although Wellbank didn’t claim the top spot, it is a significant achievement for the innovative new development by F N Solutions, in partnership with Hugr Homes.

Marketed by Lakes Estates, custom builds are already under way on phase one of the development and full planning permission is expected early in 2024 for 50 custom-build house plots.

Given its size, Wellbank is a significant step for custom build homes in the UK and will show how family housing can be created in a sensitive planning environment.

The detached houses and bungalows sit will alongside a community hub, giving residents access to a café, swimming pool, co-working space, meeting rooms and community exhibition space, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, gym, and sensory room.

They will be set alongside spacious landscaped cycleways, pathways and two small lakes, with eight holiday homes for people with disabilities also on site.

Husband and wide team Janet and David Nuttall bought the site with their business partner Mark Frost ten years ago, with a vision to attract new families to the area by creating a vibrant, mixed-use development centred around community and sustainability.

Janet said: “Around 13,000 houses are currently built in this way in the UK each year, but this will be the first-ever custom build development in the Lake District National Park. Being nominated for this year’s Build It Awards really underlines what an innovative project this is.

“As local residents ourselves, we genuinely want to offer people a unique lifestyle which enables them to live, work and thrive in a coastal location with excellent transport links.

"We are really passionate about rejuvenating this often-overlooked area of Cumbria for the benefit of local communities and the houses must all adhere to the Lake District’s design code, as well as being people’s primary residence – no second homes here!

“Affordability and energy efficiency are both top priorities for people right now and custom build homes can easily be designed with features like solar panels, great insulation and air source heat pumps.

"The flexibility involved means you have a say in what you want, and cost-conscious buyers can even do some of the work themselves.”

For the latest information on Wellbank Park, visit: www.hugrhomes.com