Rural

McLoughlin Planning with special thanks to Undercover Architecture, who worked with us on this project and provided the drawings, are pleased to have gained planning permission and listed building consent for the Grade II listed private house, Somerford Keynes House, in the Cotswolds.

Listed building features required for consent

The key areas that the owner wanted consent for were:

• Erection of a porch extension and alterations to the main house.
• Various alterations to Kings Cottage, the Coach House and adjoining outbuildings, which are separately listed Grade II.

Contemporary Changes to the Main House

Alterations to the main house included in this recent granted permission were an addition of a French door with side lights to the side elevation, installation of rooflights in the roof valley between rafters (blocking up of a staircase to the basement with new staircase constructed to access cellar), and other minor workings such as the removal of modern partitions to allow for a more open plan space. In 2011, permission was granted for a stone porch to be added. This time round, a contemporary frameless glazed porch extension, complimented with a living green roof with pressed metal oversailing porch has been proposed to the side of the building to enhance a light and elegant feel to the house.

Family Orientated Outbuildings

In order for the outbuildings to have a more homely feel, internal changes were made to create larger spatial areas, including a raised ceiling, to accommodate for more bedrooms and a cosier setting at Kings Cottage. Proposed changes to the Coach House consist of a casement window to allow for an en-suit, which is located on the first floor to the linking section of the building. Originally, this wasn’t the case to be implemented, but due to concerns of excessive fenestration, the size of roof lights had to be changed and the dormer windows to be discarded. To allow for a modern way of travel and a tranquil Cotswold setting by the pool, an EV charging point and several air source heat pumps (ASHP), that are to be screened with timber for aesthetic purposes, were proposed.

Maintaining Historic Value and Consideration of Planning Policies

Overall, the proposed scheme has considered the historic value and beauty of the building’s original structure and the modern elements added to it over the years, therefore justifying that the new considered extensions and alterations granted for this permission will preserve the listed building for years to come. Additionally, careful considerations were sought out to ensure the development was aligned with legislation and policies, such as Section 16 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) for works to take place.

I’m a Listed Building Owner – When do I need to Acquire After Consent?

If you are a listed building owner and are wondering whether and/or when you need to acquire for listed building consent, please get in contact and one of our planning consultants will be able to assist. Additionally, please view our article here about when to acquire for listed building consent.

Joe Seymour – Associate Director

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.