John Watson and Lesley Ryan

Choosing HebHomes

We were fortunate to be able to buy a plot of land on the Sleat peninsula and build our own home. We considered several options for the project, but we always came back to HebHomes. We loved the HebHomes design ethos: houses that balance the modern architecture we enjoy with respect for the historic architecture of the islands.

Another key factor was the adaptability of the house designs. We chose the LH102PD.2 and were able to make changes before submitting our planning application. This fine-tuned the design and gave us a home that met all our requirements, including plenty of that all-important storage.

Project at a glance

• HebHome: LH102PD.2
• Location: Saasaig, Sleat peninsula, Isle of Skye
• Delivery route: Full Turnkey with a HebHomes-affiliated contractor
• Design changes: Layout adaptations and additional storage agreed before planning
• Planning: Less than five months from initial design discussions to full approval
• Construction: Late February to early December 2019
• Programme movement: Approximately six weeks, mainly due to utility connections

Planning and Construction

The planning process, from our initial design discussions with HebHomes to full approval from The Highland Council, took less than five months. We decided early on to use the HebHomes turnkey service to make the process as straightforward as possible.

With the HebHomes-affiliated contractor appointed, work began in late February 2019 and the house was completed in early December. This was approximately six weeks later than planned, primarily because of challenges with our utility connections. Overall, it was a relatively straightforward build. The contractor kept us well informed about progress and any issues, both remotely and during our monthly site visits.

Living in Our HebHome

We moved from Glasgow to Skye in early 2020, allowing us to work through the relatively small number of snagging items and settle into our new surroundings. The quality of the build is excellent, and every snagging item we identified was addressed promptly.

We continue to be delighted with the house. It has exceeded our expectations in many ways, and we love how well it suits our lifestyle—as well as that of our cat and dog.