A RESTORATION project which has brought the homes of West Wycombe up to modern day standards will be used as a model for National Trust properties across the country.

The work, which began in the summer of 2012, has cost £3.2million and is coming to the final stages.

There has been a village in West Wycombe for at least 1,000 years so builders had to take into account the historical significant when updating the cottages.

The National Trust were given the village in 1934 and lets out the residential properties to tenants.

A backlog of repairs was building up with the Trust struggling to maintain the buildings, so it was decided to carry out this huge project.

New roofs have been fitted across the village with extra insulation and new electrical systems, kitchens, bathrooms, heating and secondary double glazing fitted.

National Trust building surveyor Mark Wells said: "The main focus was on conservation- that is what we are all about. We have to conserve this village as close to the original status as possible."

The builders have faced their challenges including dealing with the uneven, aged roofs.

Another issue to contend with was the A40, which they estimate has 16,000 vehicle movements a day, and runs next to narrow pavements.

Mark said: "Trying to work that close to the road is a bit of a nightmare."

There was also the controversial decision to raise the roofs by four inches to allow for insulation to be included.

Mark said: "There were huge doubts whether we should be doing it.

"In terms of conservation- four inches is very controversial. Particularly as every building in the village is at least grade two listed."

They are pleased with the result and the project has been awarded a Local Authority Building Control award for craftsmanship in roofing.

They won the regional award and are up for the national award in November.

The Royal Society of Arts raised enough money to buy the village from the Dashwoods in 1929 and carried out an extensive refurbishment before giving it to the National Trust. Through the current project they have discovered many historical details.

At a property called Crown Court they dated timber back to 1531, which was a century earlier than thought.

The Trust is also pleased to have built relations with the community.

They have held several volunteer open days, where they all got together to sort, clean and grade the large amounts of old clay roof tiles that were salvaged during the works.

Mark said: "The hand-made clay tiles are a valuable resource, and so far we have re-roofed two complete cottages in reclaimed tiles saving over £11,000 in the process."

The National Trust own and let approximately 5,000 cottages throughout England, Wales and Northern Island.

The project is seen as a great success for the trust and it will be rolled out at other let estates, including Bradenham next year.

Mark said: "This is seen as a model- that is how you do a let estate.

"It will be done at other projects up and down the country."