It can be a challenge to find parcels of vacant land within sought after suburbs in popular seaside locations to develop into your dream home, so maybe the way to go is to find a former commercial or business premises and, if planning allows, convert that into your new abode.
On the corner of two residential roads in the sunny seaside town of Porthcawl that is exactly what has happened. The former doctors' surgery site, including two Victorian villas at the front and an annexe at the rear, went to auction with Paul Fosh in June 2020. After an online bidding war between two very keen, anonymous participants, one secured the whole site up for £440,5000 with only 13 seconds to go before the end of the auction.
The main surgery building was arranged over three floors and was previously two large semi-detached Victorian houses, with an additional detached building to the rear, arranged over two floors.
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According to Bridgend County Council's planning hub there was a planning application in 2020 for 'change use from doctors' surgery and annex (use class D1) to residential units with parking (use class C3)'.
The proposal was to convert the annexe in the car park into a dwelling via an extensive renovation project and convert the use of the two semi-detached properties back into homes, as was the case before both substantial houses became one surgery site in the 1950s. According to property portal rightmove, number 45 was sold in March 2021 for £295,000.
But what has happened to the former surgery's annexe, which was used as a mother and baby unit, is quite remarkable, going from a 968 square foot commercial building with a reception area, two exam rooms, toilets, staff room and office space over two floors to a three bedroom contemporary dream home tucked away on this residential street near the sea.
The owner has clearly worked hard with the architect to create a dwelling packed full of added features and interior design extra detailing to ensure it maximises its potential. Arriving at the new home, the beautiful and tactile stone walled entrance and covered porchway flanked by wood and wrought iron indicate the attention to detail clear from the start.
The building's coach house-style shape has been embraced and enhanced with the addition of a first floor Juliet balcony and black cladding that adds an extra layer of contemporary style.
Inside, the doctors' former waiting room is now a space where you will want to sit for hours - an open-plan space that oozes not just sleek contemporary touches such as the bespoke wood and glass floating staircase but also added character such as the stone fireplace with log burner.
The front door passes a cloakroom and then you turn into the space and surely if you ever attended this doctors' annexe in the surgery car park you are going to gasp - the transformation is truly incredible. No sterile spaces in this amazing conversion, but a mix of modern elegance and period features that ensure every space has a unique personality and something to intrigue and please the eye.
The shiny floor contrasts with the matt contemporary grey kitchen topped with reflective work surfaces and there's the addition of an island unit with stylish light fitting above and extended worktop to create a breakfast bar below.
On the other side of the statement staircase is the lounge area and, of course, the central feature here is the appealing stone fireplace, again creating a contrast between period features within a modern setting.
There's a wall of glass across almost the whole length of this room, creating a visually and physically seamless flow between indoors and outdoors. The surgery car park is now somewhere to park yourself in the sunshine, with the concrete replaced with stylish contemporary slate that contrasts with the beautiful, original and tactile stone garden wall.
The installation of a high wooden fence separating this new home from its Victorian neighbours, that use to be the main doctors' surgery, has created a pocket of privacy and peace that would be hard to leave but the sea might be calling you regularly for a coastal stroll along the promenade, and luckily the seafront is only a few streets away.
There's external access to the garden via a door in the stone wall at the entrance of the home so you don't have to traipse through the inside of the home to get from the driveway and car parking spaces at the front to the rear courtyard garden.
At the far end of the ground floor accommodation is the third bedroom which has its own ensuite and if the two delightful bedrooms upstairs are enough this room with direct access onto the courtyard could make a home office to make your work colleagues jealous every time you appear on a Zoom call or Google hangout.
Upstairs the mix of period and modern continues with the exposure of one of the building's original features, supporting the view that surely it was once a coach house - a beautiful jigsaw of exposed beams and roof rafters that have been painted black to give them optimum prominence against the fresh white decor.
The decision to expose some of the stone wall within both of the bedrooms is a good one, adding even more character to the home and a visual treat you might not have been expecting.
The master bedroom has an ensuite that is part of the bedroom itself, with the addition of a partial wall, to ensure the sleeping next to it does not become a self-contained, dark box in the middle of the floorplan but a light and stylish place to lay your head, benefiting from the light via the single door Juliet balcony.
This lovely addition to the building adds extra light and sea breezes from the coast into the bedroom and could be the perfect place for a reading nook armchair.
The other double bedroom on the other side of the stairs and landing has exposed beams and a stone wall too, and can boast a clever windows addition. Look up to find a triangular window high up on the roof space in the apex end wall. In this high position the window can welcome light in to join you in bed but no nosey people, as you look up and either stargaze or watch the morning clouds race across the skyscape.
There's another clever design element to notice in these two bedrooms too. The spaces between the delightful exposed design of the roof rafters have been left empty, so light flows directly from one end of the building to the other in this upper section of the space.
The estate agent states that the property benefits from a new heating system, pipework and drainage and electrics, plus a new fire sprinkler system. All areas of the property have new installations; from the kitchen with a 25-year warranty to the bathroom products, from the fire to the windows and doors.
The modern home that the estate agent calls a 'unique cottage style property' is on the market for offers in excess of £495,000 with Prestons of Porthcawl, call them on 01656 783307 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, renovation stories and interiors, join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter which is sent to your inbox twice a week.
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