Property feature: Lower Assendon

SILVERGRASS is a five-bedroom, new-build detached house in Lower Assendon, situated in the Chilterns National Landscape.
Each bedroom has its own en suite and the house is designed with modern and efficient services, including underfloor heating, an air source heat pump, built-in solar panels and a shower heat recovery system.
Ian James, director of Widbrook Homes, says: “We actually bought the property from the land agent who had got the planning permission and then we just rejigged the insides, because it’s in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“It was a plant nursery before, a Chelsea award-winning one, Orchard Dene.
“They won some golds at Chelsea Flower Show, I think grasses were what they were renowned for.”
With contemporary features and bespoke design, the accommodation includes four reception rooms, an open-plan kitchen, breakfast and family room and a gated driveway with double carport.
Entry is via a front door, under a covered open porch with glazed panels to either side, into the entrance hall, which is double height around the staircase. Tiled flooring leads to most spaces and there is underfloor heating throughout.
The triple-aspect living room has a central, inset modern fireplace. The family room has double Crittal doors to the dining area, which can be accessed from both here and the entrance hall. It is open plan to the kitchen, which is fully fitted with bespoke cupboards and appliances.
It has a boiling water tap, water softener, wine fridge and coffee bar area with a central island.
A fitted utility room and boot room contain more storage and there is a dog shower room with lavatory. There is a study, guest lavatory and more storage and plant rooms.
The bespoke, oak staircase leads to the five en suite bedrooms, where the principal bedroom features an entrance area and a rooflight opening into a vaulted area with acoustic panels. It has a fully fitted walk-through wardrobe.
In the en suite, there is a freestanding bath, separate walk-in shower and jack and jill basin.
The guest suite has a walk-in wardrobe and four-piece en suite. The further three double bedrooms have shower en suites, one having a built-in wardrobe. A fitted laundry room has space for an additional washing machine and dryer.
There is a south west-facing garden in addition to a paddock comprising 0.67 acres.
Ian adds: “Mark Borthwick, the other director, is actually a certified PassivHaus designer, so these are designed to PassivHaus standards, fully insulated and very airtight, more efficient and airtight than current Building Regulations and the Future Homes Standard. So we got 2.5 I think on the airtightness score, and building control is 8.”
The solar panel electric generation system is located on the roof, out of sight, but will provide up to 3,173kWh per annum, more than covering all the background running of the house sustainably.
The mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems work at more than 90 per cent efficiency. The system removes stale, warm air from humid areas like kitchens, bathrooms and toilets while at the same time providing fresh, filtered air in from outside, into bathrooms and living areas.
“We are members of the National Homes Quality Board, we were actually the third company to be registered on it. It’s to drive up quality in new-build homes.”
The house is ready to move into, adds Ian. “It’s finished, apart from the landscaping. It’s been just over a year from breaking ground.”
Silvergrass has a guide price of £3,250,000. For more information and to arrange a viewing, call Davis Tate on (01491) 412345.