Nicky & Gavin: five self-builds with Fleming Homes

Nicky and Gavin met in Colchester and quickly found themselves drawn into renovations, conversions and self-builds. Now, having completed their fifth self-build with Fleming Homes, they’re still motivated by the same thing: they genuinely enjoy the self-build journey.

“If you don’t enjoy the process and if all you are focused on is the end product, then don’t do it. You’ve got to be in it for the journey.”

Their first projects: learning the hard way

Their first project together was a small bungalow in Essex – one of the toughest they’ve tackled. They quickly learned that undoing someone else’s poor workmanship can be harder than starting from scratch.

Looking for their next step (and a way to move up the property ladder), they bought a 16th-century barn in Suffolk for conversion and full refurbishment.

First self-builds: Borders to Hawick

Their first self-build in the Borders was Bewlie near Lilliesleaf. They never lived there – selling it to a couple who saw it from outside and bought it without even seeing the interior.

Next came a more modern, simpler design in Cavers, outside Hawick. They moved in on Christmas Eve and put the tree up at 11pm.

After a couple of years, Gavin started working in Fife and they considered moving closer. But before they could even list the house, the buyers of their previous home knocked on the door – asking to buy this one too. So they sold and started searching for the next project.

Oxton: the “short-term” plot that became three homes

They found a plot in Oxton, originally intended as a short-term solution because it wasn’t an ideal location. Over time, they fell in love with the area and community — and have since built three houses along the same road.

They initially wanted something modern with lots of glazing, but planning restrictions meant compromising on the exterior design. They moved in around 2008 and lived there for a couple of years — then the familiar itch returned.

Mount Mill: a ruin with hidden potential

Across the road were the derelict remains of Mount Mill. The footprint looked small, but the thickness of the old stone walls revealed hidden potential. With the help of a more sympathetic planning officer, they were able to justify building a new home using the original footprint, plus a little extra.

It wasn’t simple. The site hadn’t been touched for over a century and was filled with rubble and debris that had to be excavated. They took stone from the site, cleaned it, and reused it.

They used Fleming Homes for the timber frame and a local joiner for the oak frame (Alba Green Oak Frame), finishing the house in 2016.

They thought this would be their retirement home, since the size and cost suited a “final house.” However, in typical Nicky and Gavin fashion, in 2025 they built another Fleming Homes timber frame on the plot next door.

“Designed by feel”

Nicky openly says she’s not “a designer” — she simply knows what she likes. She enjoys looking through magazines and responding instinctively to what feels right. As an occupational therapist by profession, she has always had a creative mind.

“Building a house is like working through a huge shopping list — from the structure all the way down to the door handles — you’re just using your mortgage to pay for it.”

Smart, Sustainable, Self-Reliant

Inside, triple-glazed windows, high insulation, and efficient heating keep the home warm with minimal energy use. Solar panels are on the way. A mix of electric panels, underfloor heating, and a wood-burning stove provide the perfect ambience without costing the earth.
Anne and Jim made smart decisions to stay on-budget like sourcing fittings themselves and doing the decorating. It’s this balance of practicality and intention that has helped shape their home’s character.

Why timber frame: speed, efficiency, cost

Speed and efficiency are the main reasons they return to timber-frame construction, along with its cost-effectiveness.

“It’s quick! You see the results almost immediately once you’re on site. The best day is when the windows go in. The next day the scaffolding comes down. It gives you such a buzz — look, we already have a house!”

Five builds with Fleming Homes

Nicky and Gavin have completed five of their self-builds with Fleming Homes. They say their trust comes from consistency and how easy the team is to work with.

“We’ve never been let down. They’ve always been approachable and accommodating, and we know we’re going to get a good product.”

For their first two houses, they worked with an architect. Now, however, they prefer to go through the Fleming Homes design process:

“Fleming Homes give us exactly what we ask for every time. Their designer has been an absolute joy to work with — very clear about the process and great at understanding our vision and interpreting what we want.”

Nicky & Gavin’s top tips

• Be realistic about what you can get with your budget.
• Be savvy when buying your plot – and sort out all legals at the start (for example, ensure the landowner doesn’t charge you every time you need access to site).
• Expect to compromise when it comes to planning.
• Don’t impose rigid deadlines.
• Don’t sit back and wait for it to happen: treat it like a journey and be open to where it will take you.

And most importantly:

“Don’t be wedded to specifics. Be wedded to the process and enjoy it.”