We’re building a new contemporary four-bedroom home on Locko Road in Spondon, a replacement dwelling for a private client with a contract value of £1,000,000.
The original traditional bungalow on the site has been demolished, and in its place will be a flat-roofed, two-storey residence. It combines traditional facing brick with modern black timber cladding and weathered metal detailing. Completion is expected in Spring 2027.
A modern timber floor
Rather than traditional timber joists, the first floor is built from large, prefabricated Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels, which were lifted into place by crane. The first floor timber frame was then constructed on top of this CLT floor.
Where we are now
Progress is moving on well. The first floor timber frame is complete, and the waterproof membrane to the flat roof is now in place, making the house watertight. The roof is a Sarnafil single-ply system, with a life expectancy of more than 40 years.
The standout feature of the front elevation is a 600mm cantilever, where the first floor brickwork overhangs the ground floor. Bricklaying on this section has just started.
An overhang this deep can’t be supported by a standard off-the-shelf solution. Instead, it needs a bespoke, engineered steel support system;
• A steel plate and shelf angle are fixed to the edge of the CLT floor, forming a shelf for the brickwork to sit on.
• Engineered steel sections project out beneath the shelf, carrying the load and creating the 600mm overhang. A similar steel frame supports the brickwork above the front entrance canopy.
• Once complete, the support is hidden from view, so the first floor appears to float over the ground floor below.
The system was designed by a structural engineer, and it took time to get right. The result is a bold, modern facade that looks as though it’s defying gravity.
Around the site we’ve started the landscaping works. New boundary fencing and raised sleeper planters have been built, and the front boundary wall is complete.
If you have a project you’d like to discuss, please contact Martyn on 07971 899646 or email info@allsoppconstruction.co.uk.
