CIVIC TRUST AWARD 1985
CIVIC TRUST Commendation 1997
AND NOW....
Welcome to Lochdhu Cottages
Lochdhu Cottages is a small timber frame kit home design and manufacturing business run and owned by Dick Potter, until recently based in the West Highlands of Scotland,UK. Our Registered office is now in Beechwood Business Park, Inverness and the kits are made in Beauly, whilst our trading/ business address is now in Totnes- known for its beautiful Elizabethan buildings, alternative vibe, the Totnes Pound and it's status as the world's first Transition Town.
' Self build Timber Frame Kit Homes to all parts of the UK'
We send self build timber frame kit homes to all parts of the UK and even if the site for the self build home of your dreams is outwith the Highlands and Islands area, because this cost is a small percentage of the overall self-build home kit cost, our prices remain very competitive. From Cornwall to Caithness, from Dumfries to Devon, from Sutherland to Somerset, from the north east of Scotland to the south west of England, we can make it happen!
‘ self build houses in the UK, in keeping with the vernacular architecture’
Following the rapid introduction of timber-frame kit home bungalows in the 1980's for the self builder, which have proliferated across the Highlands and Islands, we felt there was a need to stimulate interest in more sympathetically designed self-build houses in Scotland and other parts of the UK, that are more in keeping with the vernacular architecture of older buildings.
Lochdhu Cottages Ltd design and manufacture self build homes for Scotland and the rest of the uk. Whether it's self build uk or self build Scotland, we can supply self build kits, bespoke designs for timber frame self-build uk, or we can or amalgamate design ideas from our brochure.
‘croft houses’
Many people associate old croft houses with damp and dark living conditions and, quite understandably, want to get away from all that. Very often the cost of upgrading is prohibitive, or the house is not ideally situated. No wonder then, that many people choose a better location and opt for wide timber framed L-shaped bungalow self-build kits with picture windows and a low-pitched roof.
‘cost-effective alternatives’
It doesn't have to be that way. There are other cost-effective self-build kit home alternatives that can combine the best of the old with the best of the new. This is how Lochdhu Cottages self build timber frame kit houses came into being.
‘from croft-house to large house’
My range of self build cottage kits has evolved ‘from croft-house to large house’ over the years, with many affordable timber clad timber frame kit homes being added to the range, often combining traditional and contemporary features in the one kit house and often with cathedral ceilings and attractive feature glazing to gables of the same timber framed home. Now you can live in a Grand Designs without it it burning a grand hole in your pocket! But don’t take my word for it—browse our gallery, see our reviews for our lovely timber frame houses from our lovely customers and from the Civic Trust and stimulate your ideas further- you’ll be glad you did!
Dick Potter Director / Architectural Designer / Joiner / Project advisor
Lochdhu Cottages Ltd - quality affordable self-build houses designed and built for the harsh Scottish climate- now available for the whole of the UK.
Please Note site will be up-dated soon- more fine self-builds to show off!
And here's one of them! SHORTLISTED 'BEST SELF-BUILD HOME UNDER £250k :-
26.07.17. THE BYRE- A BRAND NEW TIMER FRAME REPLACEMENT BUILDING.
A MULTI-PURPOSE 4 BEDROOM AFFORDABLE COTTAGE.
115 sq m WITH VERY FLEXIBLE ACCOMMODATION
IT'S WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE!- For details Press 'cottages' tab and scroll down to the end.
Licence Agreement
10 May 2017. NEW OPTION for those thinking of purchasing 'self build plans'!
All our designs are strictly copyright.
However, for self build house plans for planning applications, In some cases, a Licence Agreement can be offered for purchase of self-build house plans or ‘off-the-peg’ planning drawings. This legal document would allow a named self-builder individual to use or modify our supplied planning drawings for self builders, to obtain planning Permission and Building Reg approval for one specified house only at one specified site. For 'off the shelf' house plans and house plans for self-bulders ,contact us to discuss prices and options.
PS. Press 'GALLERY' tab for non-exhaustive pictorial summary of our self- build kit home achievements over the last 28 years.
PPS. 'BUILD IT' Magazine is excellent for the seriously motivated self-builder and has featured our kit homes on several occasions:-
(1) March 2013. See article p1.
(2) March 2012. See article (8 pages)
(3) April 2012 See article (2 pages)
'Build It' also have a good very informative website covering self build timber frame homes - see http://www.self-build.co.uk .
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Building an affordable second home in your garden is becoming an increasingly popular way of overcoming the problem of high land prices. Our ' Garden House ' range is expanding and our 'Craig' prototype self-build house, long since complete but shown here under construction, is a fine example of what can be done to create a fully compliant permanent dwelling in a small space. 
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Our stand at the Scottish Homebuilding show was a huge succcess and I thank the lovely staff for their help and all those that took the trouble to come and meet us.
Our stand at 'Transition Town Totnes' Eco fair in October 2016 also generated considerable local interest in this wonderful spiritual community of lateral thinkers.