Patience (and good design) prevails

Tonight, thanks to councillors, Wardington Parish Council and a wealth of public support, we received planning and listed building consent for alterations and the extension of Lower Lodge, Williamscot.

Our clients have a young family and wish to extend the lower lodge, sympathetically, whilst removing incongruous previous extensions to make this 2 bedroom house a 3 bedroom family home with an ensuite bathroom, to make this their forever home in the idyllic village of Williamscot.

The project is unusual as it involves a curtilage listed building, extended poorly in the 1960s and 1980s yet the planning officers refused to recognise that good sensitive design was an important part of conservation, insisting that the ugly flat roof extensions must remain.

English Heritage’s conservation principles dated 2008 confirms that new work or alteration to a significant place should normally be acceptable if the proposal would not materially harm the values of the place, which, where appropriate, would be reinforced or further revealed; and the proposals aspire to a quality of design and execution which may be valued now and in the future.

Six previous attempts to secure consent by other local architects have failed. Our unique design approach was approved this evening at a planning committee.

Manor House, Islip - from farmhouse to home

We are delighted to have received planning and listed building consent for alterations to Manor House, Islip. In a bold, but sensitive scheme, consent has been granted to convert the old farmhouse into a contemporary home. The proposals involve providing additional dormers in the roof space so that the attic can be converted for bedroom accommodation. At first floor, the removal of modern partitions will create a generous master bedroom suite. On the ground floor, later partitions will be removed to restore the symmetry of the central sitting room and adjust the bay window so that the utility can be used as a breakfast room. The construction of a new garden room to the rear will provide aspect out onto the garden.  

The proposals also include a scheme of repair including the re-roofing of the stone slate roof, re-pointing and unpicking of unsightly alterations to the rear.  

Our initial research has established that the dwelling was once a farmhouse dating from the early 18th century.  Despite its historic and architectural importance the house has seen many changes, particularly in the 19th century when the house was updated to Victorian standards with a dedicated coal house, wash house and separate kitchen. Victorian windows were added in the ground floor and the east end adapted in the 19th century, and long used as the village store. The proposals will remove poor 20th century alterations restoring the dignity of one of the oldest working houses in Islip.