One of the main reasons homeowners consider moving house is lack of space, but with the contracting state of the property market, many are finding home improvement and expansion is their only option.

Turning homes into brighter, larger and more habitable spaces is a subject that building contractor Clive Hasted knows all about.

Having been in the trade since he left school in the late 1970s, Clive became self-employed in 1986 and has since run a family building firm based in Dorrington, near Shrewsbury, with his sons Darren, 27, and Stuart, 24.

In that time he’s built up a solid reputation as one of the county’s most sought-after contractors, working on a diverse range of projects across the county.

Over the past few years, his work has included building a bungalow in Cardington, erecting a Ha-Ha wall in the grounds of a Condover manor house, restoring a chimney on a Grade II listed building and converting a former cowshed in Church Stretton into a beautiful home – a project which earned him an award from the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE).

Clive says he particularly enjoys converting old, rural buildings and restoring parts of period properties.

“My real passion is barn conversions,” says Clive. “I’ve done a lot of these projects in south Shropshire. It’s the challenge I enjoy.

“When you’re working in old buildings, you don’t know what you’re going to find from one day to the next.”

He cites a recent example as the discovery of four striking period fireplaces after he was commissioned to open up a wall in an old building.

Clive’s company also caters for a full range of home improvement projects, including loft and garage conversions, extensions, redesigns and garden landscaping, as well as renovation projects.

Clive works with a team of subcontractors on larger projects and commissions people he’s known and trusted for many years.

“Word of mouth is where most of our business comes from,” he says. “When a customer trusts you and the people you work with, they recommend you.”

Like many people in his industry, Clive has felt the pinch over the past few months but remains optimistic about the future.

“The credit crunch stopped people moving straight away,” he says. “But people are still extending or converting as it’s cheaper than building or moving.

“They’re concentrating on expanding the space they have, whether it’s to add value or to be able to house an older relative, or just to have more space for themselves.

Clive says loft and garage conversions are still popular, but adds that some of his clients find they don’t actually need an extension to achieve more floor space.

“A house redesign can made a huge difference,” explains Clive. “I work with an expert draughtsman who comes up with great ideas for changing the layout of a house to maximise space, and I really enjoy bringing his designs to life.”

In his latest project, Clive transformed a dark, cramped townhouse kitchen into a bright and spacious farmhouse-style kitchen-diner in just 12 weeks – see more in the picture gallery below.

Clive Hasted Contractors can be contacted on 07713 570154.