Our brief for this project was to prepare and submit a detailed planning application for two new detached homes with integral garages, additional parking provision, landscaping and associated works on land in the village of Blunham, Bedfordshire. Planning approval was secured in March 2018.

The application was made following initial discussions with the local Planning Authority, together with a detailed Ecological Assessment and Heritage Impact Assessment. It was demonstrated that the application complied with the relevant policies concerning the principle of development and detailed design and layout. Although outside the settlement boundary of the village, it was agreed that the site did not represent an isolated location for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The design of took into account the amenity of the neighbouring residents, the visual impact and an adjacent Grade II listed building, whilst taking advantage of the varied character of the streetscape and the potential views of the surrounding countryside.

A traditional form of architecture has been adopted on the street frontage; however the rear of the properties take a more modern approach, providing high quality internal spaces and maximising the fantastic rural views.

The homes are primarily L shaped, but elevations are stepped, including a number of gables, with variation in the ridge and eaves heights to provide visual interest and reliefs. Different materials are used to articulate the building.

The proposed vertical cladding reflects the rural location, whilst the metal cladding responds to the agricultural and horticultural heritage in the area. Materials have been selected for their sustainable nature.

We have designed a number of new homes for Grange Road, each one expressing an individual style.