Sustainable Lifestyle Living at Mill Meadow
Contact UsAre you looking for a simpler, healthy, sustainable and more content lifestyle? Then read on.
Downsizing to a Mill Meadow carbon-neutral Scandinavian log house in the Somerset countryside offers profound lifestyle benefits centered on simplicity, sustainability, and well-being.
The compact, efficient design of a Mill Meadow log home naturally encourages a minimalist lifestyle, reducing clutter and maintenance demands. This frees up time and energy to pursue passions, connect with yourself, family and nature, enjoying the beautiful rural surroundings of Somerset and the West Country.
Environmentally, the log house provides a huge advantage. Constructed from sustainable timber and using renewable solar energy, it drastically reduces your carbon footprint, aligning your home with sustainable values.
Living in the Somerset countryside offers relative tranquility and clean air, a stark contrast to hectic city life. The natural materials and light-filled Scandinavian design foster a feeling of “hygge”— Scandinavian for coziness and contentment—boosting mental health.
Are you ready to transition to a calmer, more mindful, and sustainable pace of life?
Retirement or just Downsizing: Financial and Lifestyle Freedom
Downsizing for retirement or any other reason is a strategic move that can significantly enhance financial and personal freedom.
Financial liberation is the core benefit. Selling a larger home often unlocks substantial equity, providing a financial cushion for your golden years or funding lifestyle goals like travel. Furthermore, a smaller home dramatically reduces recurring costs such as mortgage payments (or eliminates the mortgage entirely), property taxes, insurance, and high utility bills.
Lifestyle-wise, downsizing allows you to reclaim your time. With less square footage, garden work, and general maintenance, you can spend less energy on chores and more on hobbies, family, or social activities. Many downsized properties are also safer and more accessible (e.g., single-story living), promoting independence and making it easier to age in place comfortably. It is a powerful step towards a simpler, more mindful, and less stressful life now and into retirement.
Environmental Benefits of a Carbon-Neutral Log House
The primary environmental benefit of a log house is its role as a carbon sink. The wood, sourced from sustainably managed forests, sequesters or locks away carbon dioxide (CO2) for the entire life of the structure, actively removing it from the atmosphere.
Log construction also involves significantly less embodied energy than industrial materials like steel and concrete, reducing construction-related emissions.
Combined with a carbon-neutral operational design (e.g., renewable energy, high insulation), the home achieves a near-zero or even negative total carbon footprint. This conscious choice directly supports decarbonization efforts and promotes a truly sustainable way of living.
The log homes here at Mill Meadow have already achieved a zero carbon footprint.
Health Benefits of a Log House
Log houses offer significant health advantages through their natural construction.
The solid wood walls are naturally hygroscopic, meaning they absorb and release moisture to regulate indoor air humidity. This creates a balanced, stable environment that can reduce the growth of mold and mildew, leading to improved respiratory health and fewer allergy symptoms.
Furthermore, exposure to wood is linked to reduced stress—studies show it can lower heart rate and blood pressure. The tranquil, natural aesthetics promote a sense of calm and well-being (hygge), contributing to better mental health and potentially enhancing sleep quality in a quiet, insulated space.
Why are we moving to Mill Meadow?
My husband and I have lived in Kingston St Mary since 1993. We moved into a large family home in the centre of the village that had an existing self-contained annexe which my Mum moved into. Roll on 32 years, our three girls flew the nest many years ago and my Mum is no longer with us. What to do next?
• we definitely wanted to stay in our lovely village with the benefit of the facilities of Taunton still nearby
• we didn’t want to undertake a huge house renovation
• we wanted a smaller, energy efficient home that we could easily leave and allow us to travel (while we can!)
A plot of land with full planning permission was the best fit solution for us and that’s when we decided to acquire our plot at Mill Meadow. It’s a fabulous woodland setting which will suit us down to the ground. We can design the house interior to our liking choosing the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring etc.
A while ago, a housing survey was carried out in Kingston St Mary and many residents expressed a desire to stay in the village but to downsize – we fit that bill and that is what we are doing.
Lodges & Plots for Sale
Completed freehold lodges available for sale by the owners:
Plot 1 Kingfisher Lodge – £425,000 guide for the Freehold Title
Plot 2 Woodpecker Lodge – £400,000 guide for the Freehold Title
Freehold Vacant & Serviced Self/Custom Build Plots:
Plot 5 – £200,000
Plot 6 – £195,000
Plot 8 – £195,000
Plot 10 – £195,000
Plot 12 – £190,000
Plot 15 – Reserved
Plot 16 – £200,000
Plot 17 – Sold
Plot 18 – Sold
*As of December 2025 the Estimated build costs dependent on client final specification are £275,000 – £350,000 ex vat that may be due.
Approved Design for Plots 5,6,8,10,12 & Plots 16,17,18
Approved Alternative Design for Plots 5,6,8,10,12
Questions & Answers.
Can I live at Mill Meadow all year round?
YES you can!
From this year (2025) many Mill Meadow properties can be occupied as you would a normal residential house!
Mill Meadow is open 365 days a year, we have no closed season, as there is always something going on around us.
So you can, Live in or Rent out, you choose!
Are the properties freehold or leasehold?
Mill Meadow properties are all freehold, so there are no annual leasehold payments to budget for.
How many plots are there?
The Mill Meadow site currently accommodates 22 properties.
We have7 unbuilt plots available in addition to completed properties.
What is the build time?
There are a number of factors that will affect the build time e.g. weather, season and specification but as a guide 8-10 months from the arrival of the house structure onsite.
What house types/designs are available?
There is are approved designs under the current planning permission.
Changes to the approved designs would require approval by the Management Company and possibly the local Planning Authority.
If you require design amendments we highly recommend our Planning Consultants, Carney Sweeney, who can advise you on what planning permission might be required.
Robin Upton
Director – Planning
Tel: 07821 679723
Email: robin.upton@carneysweeney.co.uk
Address: Broadwalk House, Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1TS
What are the build costs?
Each lodge is built to order and therefore specifications can and do vary.
With that in mind (Dec 2025) we can only provide an indicative cost range for the construction as much depends on client specifications.
Costs are subject to review and do not constitute any form of offer:
As at Dec 2025 £275,000 – £350,000
All figures exclude the land cost and any applicable VAT.
Why build in wood?
How reliable is a log house?
The craft of log building has been evolving in the northern coniferous zone over a thousand years. Through the centuries log buildings have provided our ancestors protection against wind and weather. Nowadays log building know-how is state of the art in Finland. Excellent raw materials, design skills founded on a strong tradition of log building and strong technological know-how have made Finland the world leader in log construction quality. Finnish log construction quality criteria have become a model for quality requirements in other parts of the world. Finland is the world’s leading export country for industrially produced log houses. We are proud of our know how.
Do log buildings last?
At Mill Meadow we built our first log home, Kingfisher Lodge, in 2005 and a look around that home is proof of how well log homes age.
It is no coincidence that very old log buildings can often be seen in rural areas. The oldest still standing log building in Finland is thought to be St. Henry’s Chapel in Kokemäki, built in the 1400s. In the same way, a log building built today can be standing 500 years from now.
Source: Finnish Log House Industry
What is the quality of the log house build?
Log construction excellence has been perfected as a result of years and years of craftsmanship. In industrial manufacturing of all of these proven solutions and features have been processed into more dimensionally accurate and consistent quality products. Industrial manufacturing guarantees a good cost-effectiveness, security of supply and rapid construction.
A Mill Meadow log house leaves Finland with a NEGATIVE carbon footprint!
Does a log house come with any warranties?
In addition to the manufacturer and other contractor/supplier warranties all new built Mill Meadow Log Homes come with a 10 year industry approved structural warranty currently provided by:
What makes log a log house sustainable?
Log house production is energy self-sufficient, and even produces more energy than it uses, because the production process generates more energy waste by-product than it takes to manufacture the product itself. The resulting chips and sawdust are just that renewable energy, aimed at reducing the carbon footprint and replacing imported energy.
A Mill Meadow Log House can achieve Carbon Neutral status!
How reliable is the log house supplier?
We have worked with a number of Finland based suppliers over the years simply because they have offered the quality and professional service we need.
Click on the logo below to find out more:
Are there any site service charges and what are these?
Mill Meadow is a private gated development.
Mill Meadow (Taunton) Management Company Ltd is the designated site manager and determines the site policies/rules.
Maintenance of shared areas and services is covered by an annual Service Charge to which each property is required to contribute via an annual Estimated Service Charge (ESC).
This is currently set at £1800 per annum for 2025/26
Where there are unforeseen costs that have not been provided for in the ESC then an Additional Estimated Service Charge can be applied.
How do I find out more?
Thats easy, click the “contact us” button or the link below and we will be in touch.
Plot 17 Under Construction
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