Planning Permission Success
Planning permission has been granted for a new build house nestled in a secluded site in the South Downs National Park.
The team at James Wells Architects has designed a stunning new contemporary home which is set on the highest point of the site. The scheme is a replacement four-bedroom home removing a very tired 1960s timber-framed Colt House. The new scheme comprises four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two reception rooms, a kitchen/ breakfast area, a study, a snug and a utility.
House south of Pulborough South facing elevation
Considered design for a historic setting
The design has been carefully considered alongside the historical context of the site. The new home enhances the relationship between the adjacent listed barn and cottages and demonstrates a sensitive replacement of the colt house.
The new dwelling will cut into the gradual slope of the site reducing its overall impact with a ridge-line substantially lower than the existing dwelling. The home will be constructed in materials typical of its locality: local stone, timber cladding and a part tiled roof, reflecting the agricultural heritage of the site.
For the owner, this scheme offers improved connectivity between the internal spaces of the building and the external garden setting with sliding doors affording seamless access out to the secluded terraced garden which benefits from breathtaking views across the South Downs.
On the first floor the intimate private space, contains a bedroom, a family bathroom, a laundry room, a guest suite and a master suite with an associated en-suite and dressing room.
Dormer windows break the eaves line, provide additional headroom and offer views out to the south. An inverted dormer allows for a window looking east towards the listed barn.
Biodiversity at the heart of the design
Ecological harm has been minimised and appropriate mitigations and enhancements are proposed to deliver a net gain in biodiversity. The dwelling itself will be executed to achieve a high standard of sustainability through its design and construction and will minimise light spillage in order to comply with SDNP’s ‘dark skies’ policy.
The house will be set in a lush planted setting with heavily vegetated boundaries adding to the sense of privacy and seclusion, screening views from neighbouring properties and public footpaths.
Several landscape design improvements are proposed across the site, including native hedgerow and tree planting, a wildflower meadow, the relocation and re-grading of garden paths and the formation of planted banks leading to terraces
House south of Pulborough View from South West
The new gables, pitched and flat roofs and glazed entry canopy carry the echo of the original into the future. The elevations will utilize traditional materials with a slate roof and timber cladding. This mix of materials, whilst contemporary in nature, will complement the texture and colour tones of the more traditional built surroundings.
The proposed design reflects a continuation of the predominant form of the host property. The double-storey extension is formed with the repetition of a third gable which steps back, respecting the existing building line. The three gables intersect the main volume which overviews the front and back plot.
Increased floor area of new build home
The existing dwelling has a gross internal area of 192m2 (1,210ft2). The proposed replacement dwelling has a total floor area of 258m2 (1,610ft2), a 33% increase.
James Wells comments, “The challenge of creating a new build home in the SDNP should not be underestimated. We have created a new home with proportions and arrangement to suit contemporary expectations but with a respectful design responding to the character of the setting whilst deploying traditional materials and forms, articulated in an understated contemporary architectural language.”
Find Out More
James Wells Architect is based in Chichester, West Sussex, and serves clients who are seeking high-end residential architects to design and build a new home or modify their existing home.
To enquire about planning permission for your building project, please fill out the form below and James will contact you soon.
