The Shrublands Luxury Housing, Norfolk
Starting with five plots, The Shrublands development is now entering its second phase, which will total 17 homes that take inspiration from the local vernacular.
Situated on the rural edge of the village of Beetley, in Norfolk, the location made it essential that the scheme blended seamlessly into the natural woodland setting and preserved the village's character. The specification of seven Vandersanden bricks has created a carefully considered luxury scheme.
Hear from the minds behind Shrublands
We talk to Adam Scott, Architectural Technologist and Henry Isotta-Day, Land and Planning Consultant for Clayland Homes. We’ll get their ideas on brick selection and using brick to create luxury housing.
Vandersanden has been very helpful and provided excellent service, especially with samples and visits. Their bricks have timeless character, suiting both old and modern style.
How would you describe the project?
Henry – The development is spacious, with generous plot sizes and a winding road that follows the site’s topography. We selected bricks with softer tones, avoiding the harsher look of older bricks from the 1970s and 1980s. A significant part of the work involved protecting the slow worms on site – ecologists spent a year relocating them to another field. All gardens have hedgehog houses and runs, and we built a barn-garage with a roof specifically designed for bats, which has been called one of the best bat houses ever built.
What was your design vision for the project?
Henry – Our aim was to create high-quality, vernacular country homes with generous spaces. Rather than maximising the number of houses, we focused on creating larger, more comfortable homes that people would want to stay in long term.
Adam – Using soft brick tones and local vernacular ensures the houses are timeless and they’ll still look good in thirty years. We wanted to create homes with character and gardens, offering residents something to be proud of and comfortable in.
We handle construction and design in-house for quality control and adaptability. This close relationship lets us respond quickly to site issues and ensure a better result, while building trust and consistency.
How does your choice of brick complement this vision?
Adam – The context determines our approach, along with the overall material palette. Choosing bricks is a skill, and experience has helped us know which blends work best. For The Shrublands, we chose a rustic finish, typically using two or three types of bricks on a development. These ranged from the Camberley Red Multi to the orange and pinkish hues of the Old Henley and Old Windsor, and the yellow buffs of the Old Ascot, along with the reds and browns of the Old Richmond and the beige, yellow and buff of the Chaucer Antique and the Cambridge Light Weathered. There’s a base colour, and then we intersperse others as appropriate, creating facades which have a real depth of character and individuality.
Using soft brick tones and local vernacular ensures the houses are timeless and they’ll still look good in thirty years. We wanted to create homes with character…
Why did you choose Vandersanden for the project?
Henry – We’re passionate about bricks; we’ve used Vandersanden bricks for about twenty years. We’ve tried others but always return to our favourites. We never compromise on brick choices during planning, so each plot ends up being unique.
Explain your choice of bond?
Adam – Our aim was to create harmony, so we fine-tuned the mortar mix, since a poor mortar can ruin a good brick. We tested different mixes to ensure we find the right one, and toned the mortar to the brick, sometimes opting for a whiter finish with red bricks.
What brick innovations were there with this project?
Henry – Adam is our technical innovator, and alongside Clayland Homes Founder, Chris Tilley’s bricklaying experience, they contribute greatly to the brick detailing we use on projects.
Adam – We focused on elements like brick headers, plinth details and dentil courses to add character. We’ve also experimented with unique chimneys – at one point, we designed 29 different chimneys for 29 houses. Now we include one or two as features.
How would you sum up your experience with Vandersanden on this project?
Henry – Vandersanden has been very helpful and provided excellent service, especially with samples and visits. Their bricks have timeless character, suiting both old and modern styles. We appreciate the range and quality, and we know that we can always get what we need.
Project information
- Project – The Shrublands (Phase one)
- Location – Beetley, Norfolk
- Architect – Clayland Homes:
- Adam Scott (Architectural Technologist)
- Henry Isotta-Day (Land & Planning Consultant)
- Developer – Clayland Homes
- Contractor – Clayland Homes
- Bricks used: Camberley Red, Old Henley, Old Windsor, Old Ascot, Old Richmond, Chaucer Antique, Cambridge light weathered
- Year of completion – 2025
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