Kingussie firm builds the 'best new home' in the UK

Bespoke Kingussie builders Spey Building and Joinery (SBJ) have beaten rivals across the UK to scoop the award for the best new home in the prestigious Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) Awards.

“We’re very proud,” said boss Angus Reid-Evans after returning from the glittering London ceremony.

“This is a hugely prestigious award and frankly it doesn’t get much better than this.

“The FMB is one of the largest, if not the largest trade association and we are all over the moon – the Strathy can happily report we are a very proud team.”

The Badenoch firm has steadily been building on its well-earned reputation for creating regional award-winning constructions in some of the most challenging conditions Scotland can throw at them.

SBJ take on work where access and material procurement pose near insurmountable difficulties, but they have won awards for their tenacity and quality of their work.

This week’s awards were designed to celebrate the nation’s very best builders.

Nick Knowles, TV presenter and building enthusiast, handed the best new home award to Mr Reid-Evans for the company’s first-class work on the stunning Lochside House.

This remote home, nestled in an isolated waterside spot on the west, is designed for the self-sufficient as it is entirely off-grid.

While using 21st century technology to power the home, Lochside House is also simply beautiful in design and built with local materials to complement the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Producing a genuinely ground-breaking building is no mean feat and requires close co-operation from everyone involved.

The judges were particularly impressed by the team’s working relationship with the client. They stated: “It’s clear the team at Spey Building and Joinery embraced the challenge of working in this remote location.

“Lengthy site meetings with the client and the architect ensured all key parties were fully involved, so any modifications were agreed and understood, and construction and site issues were pre-empted.”

The location provided some hefty challenges. Simply getting the materials to site was tricky, especially during periods of wild weather. But the team from SBJ rose to the task with a dedication that was appreciated by everyone involved.

Project architect Tom Miller said: “To build a good, energy-efficient house here wasn’t straightforward. It was only possible because we had a client with the uncompromising determination and vision to keep pushing us to achieve our best, and a contractor’s team for whom we have enormous respect.

“They seemed to thrive on the unique challenges posed by building on such an exposed and inaccessible site.”

Brian Berry, FMB chief executive, said: “The lengths SBJ went to, from practical transportation to necessary collaboration, should be applauded. The firm embodies what it means to be a master builder and the proof is in the product.”

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