The conversion of this former Methodist chapel would require both re-configuration and complete refurbishment.  Although not a listed building, the late nineteenth century property was within a conservation area; this meant the façade of the building had to remain intact, to preserve its character and form within its important historical context.  In addition to the main chapel building, the property also included a small outbuilding and tiny raised courtyard to the rear.  The architect’s brief was to transform it to a modest three bedroomed home with clean lines, open spaces and lots of light.  After much research into local architectural firms, the commission was eventually given to the Design Team Studios in Southsea, chosen for their extensive expertise, experience and imaginative approach to realising these minimalist aspirations for modern living whilst remaining sensitive and respectful to the history and heritage of the building. 

Joe and his team at Design Team Studios successfully fulfilled the brief, creating bespoke plans using clever and innovative design approaches to optimise both the space and light offered by this unique building.  However, the arrival of the plans also highlighted to Fliss’ parents the amount of work involved in the project which, on reflection, they decided was more than they were willing to undertake at this time of their life.  Before putting the chapel back on the market, they offered to sell it to Fliss and Rob who, during a moment of uncharacteristic temerity, chose to accept the challenge.  Despite its small plot and lack of parking, they felt that the village location, inspired architectural design and unique internal space might provide them and their two children with the family home they’d been looking for.

Then, COVID-19 hit.  During the momentous events of early to mid 2020, progress on the chapel conversion continued, albeit slowly and tentatively, despite the pandemic and lock down dominating everyone’s efforts and attention.  Fliss and Rob cracked on with selling their own current home (fully masked, of course) and applying for planning permissions for the chapel.  Change of use for the property was granted to residential, and building regulations were approved.  These formalities took time, as they often do, and involved the ‘standard’ stresses that these processes frequently incur.  But ultimately they were all successfully completed. 

What had a significantly greater impact than the pandemic, however, was the prolonged period of record-breaking construction inflation that followed. The impact of supply chain challenges, reduced labour markets and materials shortages on building costs was neither predicted nor prepared for.  The architect’s plans for the chapel conversion had been developed with a build budget of approximately £200,000 in mind; however, quotes from builders received in early 2021 were coming in at almost double that amount.  As the country braced itself for a second miserable lock-down, Fliss and Rob began to realise that the project had become unachievable – despite having personally exhausted themselves working in hospitals and schools (respectively) throughout the pandemic, their financial position was unchanged and there was no way they could bridge the chasm that had suddenly appeared in the budget.  With a heavy heart and broken dreams, the chapel was put back on the market. 

The property was obviously still marketed as a renovation project: however, plans and permissions were now in place for a new owner to rapidly progress the works.  Although there was lots of interest in the chapel, the market was limited to mostly builders and developers; this was because the building costs were still too prohibitive for even the most phlegmatic of self-builder hoping to manage the conversion themselves.  In addition to this restricted pool of buyers, the uncertainty in the housing and financial markets, against a background of political and economic precariousness, was putting everyone on edge; the high and rising inflation, low economic growth, predicted imminent recession and evolving cost-of-living crisis were having profound and far-reaching effects, including on the property and construction industries.  Despite accepting several offers, the sale of the chapel fell through on each occasion, due to the universal uneasiness being felt at that time; the final buyer pulled out on 24 September 2022, having been spooked by the publication of the Autumn Mini-Budget and feeling unable to proceed given the risks it presented to mortgages and the future housing market.

The emotional roller coaster was taking its toll.  An original plan to spend twelve months in temporary rented accommodation had now already turned into two long years.  For Fliss and Rob, and their children, the uncertainty of their situation was becoming unbearable.  It was time for another re-think.

They returned to the original builders’ quotes and reviewed what was included.  Anything resembling a ‘nice-to-have’ was stripped out, as was anything that could conceivably be done themselves.  With self-inflated estimations of their own DIY skills and completely unwarranted optimism, Fliss and Rob agreed to a contract with a local building firm to undertake the work, and in November 2022 – more than three years after the chapel was first spotted on Right Move - the builders finally arrived. 

Part 2 - coming soon!