Exceptional design is essential for permission to build a rural home — especially if you’re in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Discover more about the planning strategy behind each of these bespoke homes…
Sustainable approach
Set within the Surrey green belt, this sustainable home was designed by Adam Knibb Architects. The brief was to create a contemporary three-bedroom house that made the most of the glorious views, on a plot that already accommodated a single dwelling.
“The first step was to maximise the existing house under Permitted Development rights,” says director Adam Knibb. “Once that was established we could work within the 40% uplift for the new dwelling.”
One design goal was to minimise the property’s impact on the landscape. This was achieved by working with the levels of the plot, which allowed for a house that was single storey on one side and double on the other. “We also ensured that we had a strong landscape-led scheme to help bed the house in,” says Adam.
Further features that enhanced the chances of planning success included the gull-wing roof — which allows the solar panels to be hidden within the structure. The shape of the roof also helps maintain a lower and more minimal form than a pitched structure. The project’s excellent sustainability credentials also helped it gain favour from the planners. “We committed to delivering locally sourced materials, such as knapped flint, to minimise the carbon footprint,” says Adam. For a similar project, expect to budget between £3,000 and £3,500 per m².
Sculptural home
Squirrel Design worked closely with the local planning authority to achieve permission for this dramatic new build near Exeter, Devon. The project was achieved under Paragraph 55 (now Paragraph 80) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which allows homes of outstanding design quality to be developed in areas of open countryside that wouldn’t normally be permitted. “The design is exceptional,” says Michael O’Connor, director at Squirrel Design. “There’s no silver bullet solution for homes in this category. It’s an accumulation of sitespecific design development from concept to completion. Each project is deeply rooted in place, respecting the local vernacular and details specific to the client.”
The house’s shard-like form is the result of intensive light and solar studies on the site. These assessments influenced the window placement and height of the shards to create passive solar shading. “They also create internal/external gardens, bringing avenues of landscape into the home,” says Alex O’Connor, associate director at Squirrel Design.
Agricultural inspiration
Situated in rural Shropshire, this house by Base Architects
