How we secured planning for The Granary

Last month we finally secured planning for the plans to amend The Granary in the New Forest, we often find planning isn’t difficult to secure for our clients however this project was a little harder to achieve due to its setting within listed building curtilage (it is a heritage asset not listed building status itself). We felt it might be an interesting tale to share, to show the importance design, perseverance and communications can have on a project.

From the onset we knew it might be a tricky scheme to get over the line, as pervious planning applications had stated that the retention of the open bays on the ground level were essential as an intrinsic aspect to the character of the building. However, from investigating the project, working with planning specialists and talking to the local neighbours and council members, we felt we might be able to design something that everyone could agree on.

The property itself does not have an individual listed status, but the building is set within the curtilage of a grade II listed farmhouse and barn, which had to be taken into consideration when preparing the design within the sensitive site. You can read more about working on listed and heritage buildings here.

Our careful design introduced glazing to create an infill to two of the open bay sections, to create a larger living and kitchen space on the ground floor and allowing for an additional bedroom to be created on the first floor. The glazing highlighted the change as a modern addition, preserving the character and appearance of the original scheme.

The initial planning permission refusal was going to be refused, based on the conservation officers concern over the impact this work would have on the character and appearance of the property. We reviewed the comments and refined our design, removing aspects like a Juliette balcony on the first floor and changing the roof light on the side extension to be flush to reduce its visual impact.

Unfortunately, this modified design proposal was still going to be refused, so we took it to a committee where members of the Council took their vote and the permission was granted having won by majority. Taking this route was not an option we take lightly, as we respect the planning department especially in terms of preserving our architectural heritage, but we felt this design had carefully worked with the existing building and would not be detrimental to the heritage of the building. The changes would also allow the owners to stay in the home they loved, rather than out growing the two-bedroom property and having to move.

Alongside working this design work, we also worked to speak to the local council, local authority and neighbours to garner their thoughts and approval of the scheme. The neighbours were actively supportive of the scheme throughout the process, some even spoke at the committee meeting in favour of the plans. This pro-active dialogue with authorities was vital at the planning post-submission stage, to show the sympathetic design was essential for the owners and was approved by those local to the site.

Get in touch if you have a heritage or listed project you might need help achieving planning on.

Build It ‘Extensions Ideas for Adding Value’ article

Build It magazine invited Darren to share his expert advice on how to add value to your property by introducing an extension. The full article looks at how with the right design, a well-designed extension can significantly enhance a property, adding value and improving functionality.

Holly Cottage is featured as one of the showcase projects within the editorial, highlighting how including future proofing into a design can add long term benefits in terms of value.

 

Here we share the ‘Expert Q&A‘ with Darren, to read the full article the magazine is available to buy now.

How can a homeowner determine which type of extension might add the most value to their property?

It is impossible to give a ‘one size fits all’ answer for this question, as each property is different and owners requirements vary so much. When we are working on projects we look at a mix of factors, including the existing property layout, the loft space, external space and the potential for extending, to design a cost-effective solution which will add value in terms of the owner’s lifestyle needs and the monetary value of the property.

The most cost-effective way to extend your home is by altering what is already built, for example converting the space your loft tends to be cheaper than adding an extension in terms of cost per sqm, and reconfiguring an existing layout can often unlock the space you need without having to extend and lose precious outdoor space, example Cedarwood project.

How can clients balance functionality with value-adding potential?

This depends on the purpose for the changes. If you are wanting to make changes to a property to live in long term, then we would suggest that it is better to focus on adapting the house to improve your specific lifestyle requirements, creating a more positive living space to enjoy being in, rather than just focusing on adding value.

However, if you are thinking of making changes in order to sell in the near future, then we would recommend shifting the focus to look at adaptations which will have the most impact on the property value. The key areas to look at in terms of resell tend to include, creating a spacious kitchen with space to entertain in, adding an additional bedroom and completing a thermal upgrade by looking at glazing and insulation levels to create a home with a lower running cost.

 

Can the quality of design and materials affect the value?

Good quality materials, fixtures and fittings can have a considerable positive impact on the long-term value of a property, as these should last longer, reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance, and will ensure the look and the functionality is maintained.

Are there any ‘hidden’ value boosters homeowners should consider?

Increasing natural daylight into a property can have a hugely positive impact to the feel of a space, and also reduces the constant need for artificial light and heating. It is possible to increase the opening sizes of existing windows to totally transform a room, creating a contemporary feel with higher levels of daylight, matched with improved thermal properties. If physically extending it is worth considering the placement of new glazing, skylights are a great way to draw light into a home throughout the seasons, example Holly Cottage contemporary extension.

We also recommend that the existing layout of a property is interrogated, with clever design it can be possible to maximise the potential of the internal space available, to create the space owners need without having to physically extend.

 

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your next extension project.

Planning success

We are pleased to have secured planning for a new Girl Guides Hall for the Portswood area of Southampton, Hampshire. Our sensitive design will create a new hub for the local Guides Association, to enable them to promote outdoor based actives for young people in the city, on the site of a previously demolished hall.

We now look forward to working with the client to secure funding and deliver this wonderful building in the heart of the City, you can read full details about the project here.

RIBA MacEwen Award longlisted

We are so proud to have our St Lukes project included in this years longlist for the RIBA MacEwen Award, the annual awards that recognise architecture for the common good.

The project has redevelopment the tired church hall to create The Host Café, a community cafe and multi-functional space which has become a vibrant local focal point, hosting events throughout the day and evening.

In total 30 projects have been longlisted in the MacEwen Awards, you can see the full list here, the shortlist will be annouced in early 2025.

 

Contemporary extensions within a conservation area

Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine asked Darren to share his expert opinion to answer a key question they had been asked by many of their readers; can you have a contemporary extension to my house within a conservation area? You can find the article appeared in the December edition of the magazine, or read it here.

Generally speaking, yes you can. Having a home located in a conservation area does not mean you have to be stuck in the past with the architecture of any additions to the scheme but you do have to be mindful of the design, with what you are trying to achieve and your material choices.

Each conservation area is different, and it is always worth working with an architectural practice who have a proven track record in your specific conservation area. When we recently extended and sustainably upgraded an existing home (Cedarwood) which was set within a conservation area within the South Downs National Park, we were able extend the ground floor and add a striking, contemporary loft extension to the original Colt timber framed house.

We found that working in collaboration with a planning consultant and the local planning department meant we were able to have an open and constructive dialogue from the start of the design process, on this project we found the planning officers were keen for the extension to have a distinctly different architectural language from the original. A key concern for this property was the potential overlooking issues  with the loft extension, our solution was to set the dormers at an unusual angle, creating a striking design which successfully has minimised the concerns.

When looking to extend your project within a conservation area we would suggest looking at commissioning a heritage statement / document, that addresses the scheme and working closely with the conservation officer from the onset, and working with an architect with a track record of working within your specific conservation area.

If you have any further questions or have a project you would like to discuss, do get in touch with the team today.

Listed building planning success

We are delighted to announce we have secured planning permission to sympathetically refurbish and extend a Grade II listed Regency villa in central Southampton.

The design will extensively renovate the existing building, to deliver a scheme that enhances the rich, historic personality of the original dwelling and upgrade the energy efficiency of the property. A contemporary extension, replacing the current, poorly constructed extension, will create a largely glazed structure to transform the rear of the property with a spacious kitchen running across the whole elevation of the home. The work will breathe new life into the property, to create a functional, joyful home for the owners and their young family.

You can read more details about the project here; we have also written an article about working on listed and heritage building which you might find interesting which you can find here.