Chris Fleming

Permission granted for 5 dwellings in Blockley, Gloucestershire, Cotswold District Council

Mcloughlin Planning are thrilled to have helped a landowner secure planning permission for the demolition of a single dwelling and the erection of 5 well designed dwellings in a sensitive location in the centre of Blockley.

The proposal site formed an existing dwelling and commercial garaging in the centre of Blockley, set within the Conservation Area and the Cotswold AONB. Working closely with the Architectural team, technical consultants and the client, we evolved a scheme which would make best and most viable use of the site taking into consideration the  constraints of the site, including the size, location sensitivity and existing conditions.

Being in the heart of Blockley it was important to engage with the Council and local community to understand their assessment and thoughts on the development. The Council agreed that the proposal was proportionate in scale, complimentary to the character, and supportive of the vitality of the local community and therefore considered acceptable.

The development site’s location in the AONB and Conservation Area and with a high number of mature trees, meant that the architectural design, landscaping, and layout of the proposal needed to be carefully considered to be sympathetic and where possible enhance the existing conditions to reflect the prevailing character and appearance of the area.

This project demonstrates the importance of a carefully considered scheme designed holistically to ensure the proposal addresses the constraints and provides betterment where possible, and the importance of a well-assembled project team.

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Chris Fleming,

Planning permission secured for a barn conversion, providing a high quality and tranquil new family home near Hinchwick in the Cotswolds.

The barns form part of a small cluster of three barns situated in an isolated location in the open countryside and in the Cotswold AONB. Working closely with the architectural team and client, we evolved a scheme which would make best use of the two structurally sound barns, whilst re-using the land of one barn in a poor state of repair as a new residential garden and landscaping area.

Being in an isolated location normally results in conflict with planning policies, which seek to direct development to what are often considered more sustainable locations. However, as the project was seeking to make use of existing rural buildings, we were able to successfully argue that the project complied with paragraph 80 of the NPPF and a local planning policy which supports the reuse of modern rural buildings, permitted they are structurally sound and readily convertible. By providing a supporting structural report as part of the application, we were able to demonstrate this requirement.

In addition to structural issues, the development site’s location in the AONB and in a sensitive landscape area meant that the architectural design, landscaping, and layout of the proposed garden needed to be carefully considered to ensure the final buildings would not result in a significant visual increase of residential paraphernalia in the countryside. In addition to providing a detailed landscaping scheme, the architectures harmony with the buildings agricultural heritage meant the Council agreed that the project would not result in a visual harm to the wider countryside or AONB.

As is common with rural buildings, evidence was also needed that the barn did not provide valued habitat for protected species, such as bats. In this case it was demonstrated that the barns did not provide suitable habitat for bats and evidence was provided that the landscaping works proposed would provide significant biodiversity net gain and future habitat for local wildlife in accordance with National Government requirements.

This project demonstrates the importance of carefully considering what information could be requested and required to ensure the submission of a robust planning application. For barn conversions, the provision of structural surveys, ecological assessments, landscaping and carefully considered architectural design are just some of the requirements which commonly arise.

Nathan McLoughlin and Chris Fleming have successfully secured planning permission for many client’s barn conversion projects across the UK and are so pleased we could offer our experience to provide our client with a beautiful new home. It was also a great pleasure working with the team at Tyack Architects.