We create sustainable spaces using holistic design, natural materials and quality craftsmanship.
Greenacre Design & Build is based in Modbury, nestled in the beautiful South Hams.
We’re a full service design and build company. This means we can manage your project from start to finish, from concept to completion.
We also offer a range of specialist services such as Passivhaus design, whole house retrofit, Warmcell insulation, solid wall insulation, lime plastering and listed building restoration.
We take a holistic approach to every project we work on, considering the whole picture right from the start. This means greater clarity and less delay.
Whether we’re designing new buildings or restoring old ones, what all our projects have in common is a commitment to doing the right thing: for the environment, for the building, for the health of the people using it and for you - our client.
Here at Greenacre we just want to make great buildings - ones we can always be proud of.
We design, and we build.
As a design and build company we offer our clients a one stop shop for their whole project, from first ideas through to completed project. This means our clients have a reassuring single point of contact throughout the process and a seamless transition from design stage to construction.
Our combined approach also means greater clarity from the start regarding build cost. Our process is a constant two-way street between design thinking and build reality. Instead of needing to wait till tender to find out how much a builder might quote to build a design, we already know - because we are the builder!
This building knowledge and ongoing transparency means you won’t be faced with any last minute surprises at the end of the design stage regarding build cost. It also means you can be confident in the build-ability of our designs. As we’re the ones who are actually going to build it, we have a vested interest in designing something that will be as good in reality as it was on the page.
Our clients are always at the heart of our process in both the design and build stages. Our relationship with you will always be open and collaborative, inventive and iterative. We will always be striving to find the best way to achieve your goals.
Sustainability at Greenacre
We believe in making great buildings that are as sustainable as possible and a joy to use. This means we think everything through right from the outset - from whether or not the project idea is even sound in the first place, to how to make the build process low-cost and low-energy, to the ongoing lifetime longevity of the building. We want to do what’s right, not just what looks good or seems cheap to begin with.
Though at first glance we seem to work on some very different projects, from Passivhaus new builds through to Grade I listed heritage properties, the common thread that runs through our work is a deep understanding of how buildings work - and a commitment to making them work as well as they can.
We want buildings to work well for the people using them now; we want buildings to work well for the next generation too; and we want buildings to work well so they use as little energy as possible for the sake of the environment.
Dan Wakefield
Greenacre Design & Build is run by Dan Wakefield, who started Greenacre in 2019 after moving to Devon from Bristol, where he previously ran another successful sustainable building company.
Dan is a qualified Passive House Consultant with a masters degree in engineering. He has over 20 years experience working on a huge variety of building and engineering projects. These qualifications and experiences have all shaped the development of Greenacre’s sustainable values and holistic approach to design and construction. Dan oversees all of Greenacre’s projects, from design stage through to finished build and handover.
When not building houses Dan makes bread, grows tomatoes and takes his kids sailing and rock climbing in beautiful south Devon.
Our memberships and accreditations
We’re members of the Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders (AECB) and The Green Register, are certified Warmcell installers and have an in-house certified Passivhaus Consultant.
Natural materials.
We use natural materials on all our projects wherever we possibly can. They are a high performance solution for both modern new builds as well as heritage properties. They are uniquely and naturally brilliant at keeping buildings flexible, warm and dry not to mention beautiful.
At Greenacre we care not just about energy performance, but also the onward life cycle of all the materials we use - with natural materials there are no off-cuts going to landfill. Natural materials are highly sustainable if they are sourced and specified correctly. Since they all come from the land, they can all go back to the land at the end of their life.
Some of our favourite natural materials include sustainably sourced timber, lime plaster and render, wood fibreboard insulation, blown recycled newspaper Warmcell insulation, slate, stone as well as clay paint and natural oil for wood to finish internally.
These natural internal finishes are not just good for the environment or your building though, but also your health. Natural materials off-gas far fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air than most modern synthetic materials, meaning natural materials can contribute to significant improved internal air quality.
Want to work with us?
We’re always looking for friendly, motivated people to join our growing team of trusted sub-contractors. Design and building experience is useful but not essential. The most important things we look for is enthusiasm for the work, respect for other people and an interest in learning new skills.
Greenacre Design & Build is an inclusive place to work - nothing matters to us except the work. So if you like the sound of what we’re about, we’d love to hear from you.