AFTER living in a draughty Grade II-listed farmhouse for 15 years Michael Jarvis is enjoying the well-insulated new home he built himself.

“I don’t miss the old place at all,” said father-of-three Mr Jarvis, 51, who runs his own building firm with his two sons Jack, 26, and Mark, 19.

Mr Jarvis’s new home in Castle Street, Steventon, is about 300 yards away from the 17th century farmhouse off The Causeway.

He is delighted that his new three-bedroom house, called the Crow’s Nest, has now been shortlisted for a Build It Awards Best Self Build Architect or Designer category.

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Mr Jarvis added: “The old place cost a fortune to run – there was no double glazing and it was quite draughty.

“The new place has loft insulation, and there is a rainwater harvester, which is used to flush the toilets — it’s very environmentally-friendly.

“I called the new house the Crow’s Nest because the lounge is upstairs looking out on to open fields.

“The architect, Culham-based LAPD, nominated us for the prize and it’s nice to be recognised in this way.

“The house, including the land, cost about £350,000 but I have since had it valued and it could now be worth up to about £550,000, but we built it to live in, not to sell.”

Mr Jarvis lives with his wife Sarah, his two sons and Jack’s two-year-old daughter Isla.

Mr Jarvis started building his house about a year ago and moved in two months ago.

The panel of judges, which included Build It magazine editor Anna-Marie DeSouza and architect Julian Owen, said: “This shows what can be built on a tight plot if you have an innovative and like-minded architect on board. The design is not overbearing yet is distinctive and suits the client’s tast and the location. The architect obviously showed a lot of support and understanding on the scheme.”

The final winner will be announced soon.

Also on the shorlist

House in Milton Lane, Wells, Somerset

Amor House in Gleneagles, Scotland

Clinker House, Norfolk

House in Silverdale Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex

House in Hiltingbury, Eastleigh, Hampshire

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