West Midlands home built in nine months from timber grown in the backyard cost £275k to build and is now for sale for £795k
- West Midlands timber eco-house called Chestnut Corner is on the market for £795k
- Estimated build cost a decade ago was £275k, which excludes land the property was built on
- The unusual property is in the village of Wordsley, near Stourbridge, in the West Midlands
- Desirable eco-features include solar panels and a 4,500 litre rain water collection tank
With its unique shape and construction, it could have easily featured on popular television show Grand Designs.
Chestnut Corner is an eco-house in the village of Wordsley, near Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, built almost a decade ago by Kevin and Claire Whittingham and is now for sale for £795,000.
The estimated build cost was £275,000, with the land coming with the bungalow next door - which is where Mr Whittingham was born, and where the couple lived while the build took place.
Treehouse: Chestnut Corner in Wordsley, in the West Midlands, is on the market for £795k via estate agents Hunters
The couple were already in the early stages of building a house on the land when they decided to switch to a more unusual construction by using timber from their own woodland.
Mr Whittingham said: 'We were shocked to learn that the hardwood timber from our woodland would just be turned into a cardboard boxes.
'So we thought why not build a house with it. And while we're at it, let's make it as environmentally sensitive as we can afford.'
At the rear the house has a large garden and stunning views over the countryside, whereas at the front other village homes stretch out in front of it.
The unique eco-house was built almost a decade ago by couple Kevin and Claire Whittingham
The couple used the timber from their own woodland (behind the property) for its construction
The couple claim the build took only nine months - with another 'couple of years' to complete the finishing touches
The house features a brick built ground floor but is then topped by an unusual and attractive timber upper.
He added: 'It's been a real labour of love. We are so proud that we could create such a fantastic, efficient family home that we still get a thrill from.
We have raised our family here and will be very sad to see it go as we love it so much, but new challenges are on the horizon
'It was ready to move into only nine months after we began the build, with another couple of years to complete the finishing touches.'
The couple have been reluctant to put the house on the market, but acknowledge that now is the right time for them to move on.
Mr Whittingham explained: 'We have raised our family here and will be very sad to see it go as we love it so much, but new challenges are on the horizon.
'We know that any future buyer will enjoy this house as much as we have, it's a fantastic, calming, nature filled place to live with the best of both worlds.'
The unusual shape and construction methods mean the property looks like it could have featured on TV series Grand Designs
Wood from the land has been used in the interior as well as the on the exterior of the property
The interior has plenty of large windows throughout the open-plan living area
Tree trunks have been used continually in the living area, including the kitchen
The eco-features of the property include solar panels that help to reduce the utility bills
A family home: The current owners raised their children at the spacious property
Outside, there are desirable features such as a triple garage and a workshop - handy for that camper van for getting away into the real forest
There are wooden features throughout the property, including bespoke staircases and sweet chestnut balconies.
Eco-features include solar panels and a 4,500 litre rain water collection tank that feeds three toilets, a washing machine and an outside tap.
The five-bedroom detached house has a heat recovery and ventilation circulation system that moves the warm air from the top of the house back to the bottom and recovers heat from cooking.
In total, electricity costs £918 a year, while water costs reach just £120 during the same period. The estate agent explained that the wood on the exterior of the building requires no maintenance as natural tannins protect it.
A good-sized wood-burner in the living area helps to keep the property warm and cosy
The unique staircase has also been constructed out of the trees grown on the land
The environmentally-friendly home spreads across a generous three different levels
Jack Bingham, of Hunters Stourbridge - the estate agent handling the sale - said: 'It has to be one of the most interesting homes in the area and not like anything we've seen before.
'Eco is written all over it and the local community and are always talking about it. We're expecting potential buyers to appreciate it for the stunning property that it is.'
The main living area is open plan, with bi-folding doors leading to a decked area. Outside, there is a triple garage and a workshop, along with beautifully maintained gardens where there are various seating and entertaining areas.
These include a brick built BBQ with a fire pit and steps leading to a lower courtyard that has a fish pond with a water feature.
The main bedroom comes with a balcony that has been built from sweet chestnut
Even the washroom has a clear reminder of how the property was built, with its wooden panels
Some of the bedrooms are on the ground floor of the three-storey property
One of the bedrooms has a mezzanine sleeping area, with a door leading to an en suite
A sense of adventure: The mezzanine sleeping area is the perfect place for child's adventure bedroom
Wordsley is a village south of Kingswinford and north of Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England.
The average price of a property in the village is £177,942, compared to £307,178 for the country as a whole, according to property website Zoopla.
There is a pretty paved driveway at the entrance that leads to the triple garage
The eco house is next to the bungalow where the current owner grew up
There is a large garden, which has been well-maintained and includes a green house
Perfect for entertaining: There is a brick built BBQ with a fire pit
Spacious: The home has plenty of outdoor space with the timber part of the house overlooking beautiful gardens
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