George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations Sees Actis Hybrid Play its Second Starring Role

ACTIS HYBRID insulation has made its second appearance on one of George Clarke’s popular Remarkable Renovations TV programmes – helping insulate a Northamptonshire village hall for a couple looking for a rather grand retirement project.

Architectural designer Stuart Ellis and his wife Theresa had been looking to downsize to a bungalow when they changed tack, bought an old Victorian village school and decided it to convert it into a dramatic, cosy, yet family friendly space for themselves, their guests and their visiting grandchildren.

Village Hall Conversion

Stuart, an architectural designer who runs a building firm, brought in his namesake (but no relation) Actis Regional Sales Director Steve Ellis, to help him specify the insulation for the project.

The scheme saw Stuart and his builder son, Jamie, transform the double height building from an old school into a home in just seven months while he and Theresa lived in a mobile home in the garden. The project had an added frisson – it needed to be completed before Jamie’s wedding – a feat he achieved with just three days to spare.

As well as creating a dramatic double height living area and kitchen, with mezzanine play room for the grandchildren and feature staircase, Stuart and Jamie installed new windows, demolished a 1970s toilet block and created a light-filled garden room in its place. The home includes a downstairs bedroom and bathroom for Stuart and Theresa and two bedrooms and a guest bathroom for visitors on the first floor.

Steve specified Actis Hybrid insulation products in the roof and walls of the existing property and the roof of the new build element.

Onto the Next Project

The pair purchased the hall and its neighbouring cottage for £485,000, sold the cottage to friends to fund the conversion, and spent around £310,000 on the building work – £20,000 of which was spent on new, bespoke aluminium windows.

Not content to rest on his laurels, the moment the new home was completed Stuart is already launching into another project.

Last summer saw Actis Hybrid’s first foray into George Clarke TV stardom when a couple renovated a former coach house in Staffordshire.

The programme can be watched here.

>> Read more about Actis in the news