Hitting Roof Level on Our Blackley Bungalow

Building a house from the ground up is rarely a walk in the park. But when your architects and your builders are literally the same team, things move a whole lot quicker.

We’re currently on site at our latest new build bungalow in Blackley, Manchester, and we’re happy to report we’ve already hit roof level in record time. We wanted to share a quick behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to get a project like this out of the ground.

Skipping the Planning Headaches

Usually, getting planning applications sorted is the biggest bottleneck of any new build. It can drag a project down before a single spade even hits the dirt.

Because we handle everything under one roof at Victoria Form, our internal design team took care of all the paperwork, structural math, and local authority sign-offs. We didn't have to wait around for external agencies or third-party architects to reply to emails. We got the green light, and we got straight to work.

Serious Groundworks: Piles, Basements, and Concrete Floors

This specific site in Blackley threw a few challenges our way, which meant we couldn't just dig a standard trench. The house needed some heavily engineered groundworks before we could even think about laying the first block.

Here is what we put in place to make sure this home lasts for generations:

• Pile Foundations: The soil conditions meant we had to drill deep pile foundations to bypass the unpredictable ground and give the house a completely solid anchor.

• A Custom Basement: The client wanted more space without eating into their garden, so we dug out and formed a fully waterproofed basement.

• Retaining Walls: To handle the tricky, uneven ground levels across the plot, we built heavy-duty retaining walls to hold back the earth and map out the boundaries.

• Concrete Beam Floors: Instead of standard flooring, we went with a suspended concrete beam floor. It gives a rock-solid finish underfoot and holds onto heat brilliantly.

Up to the Roof in Record Time

Once we were finally out of the ground, the pace really picked up.

We skipped the standard timber frames for this one and built the bungalow using solid block walls. It’s traditional, it’s tough, and the blockwork went up incredibly fast thanks to the lads on site knowing exactly what the design team needed.

Even though it’s a bungalow, we didn't want the loft to just be a dark, wasted void. During the early design stages, we factored a room right into the roof space. It’s a massive, easily accessible area that gives the client a ton of extra storage without changing the look of the build.

Why 'One Team' Matters

Getting a house from the planning stage to roof-level this fast - especially with a basement and piled foundations - doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the people drawing the plans and the people laying the blocks work for the same company. If a site issue pops up, it gets sorted immediately. No delays, no crossed wires, just continuous progress.

Planning a new build or a major renovation in Greater Manchester? If you want to avoid juggling separate architects, council planners, and contractors, let Victoria Form handle the whole lot. Get in touch with our Deansgate office today to chat about your site, or take a look at our portfolio to see our other recent builds.