Brief
A proposed development opportunity to replace the existing bungalow and redundant outbuildings within a large residential curtilage, creating two new detached family dwellings. Both designed to reflect traditional materials and cottage-style characteristics and to sit sympathetically within the landscape.

Time Frame
Initial site appraisal, design concept, and pre-application advice were undertaken in the early stages, followed by preparation of a full planning application and supporting documentation.

Constraints
The site contained mature oak trees, including a veteran specimen, and a series of man-made ponds that required ecological consideration. Planning policy constraints relating to countryside development, landscape character, and proximity to a grade II listed building were significant factors. The design also had to respect the exposed landscape setting, while achieving sufficient footprint to accommodate two family sized dwellings.

Outcomes
A carefully considered scheme was developed to provide two detached homes: one a five-bedroom lifetime home with ground-floor accommodation, the other a four-bedroom cottage-style property with traditional features such as bay windows, wood-burning stove, and sympathetic local materials. The proposals sought to reuse the footprint of redundant outbuildings to reduce impact, maintain ecological value by retaining feeder ponds, and ensure a design appropriate to the rural context. A pre-application submission was made to the local authority to assess planning viability and guide the final application.