Planning permission has been granted in West Sussex for two new build houses on a green field site in College Road, Ardingly. The site occupies an ‘edge of settlement’ location within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, requiring a sensitive and well-considered design approach. As experienced West Sussex architects, James Wells Architects carefully developed a scheme that responds to both the planning context and the character of the surrounding landscape.
We were commissioned by Drake Developments, a developer working across London and the South East, bringing thoughtfully designed new homes with the latest thinking in spatial planning and facilities to the Sussex market. This scheme replaces a previously approved planning application for two houses on the same site, with a revised design that strengthens both architectural quality and site response, reflecting the expertise of new build architexts working in sensitive locations.
Planning Permission Granted: West Sussex Project Overview
The project comprises of two five bedroom semi-detached homes arranged over ground and first floors, with basements accommodating a gym, media room and plant space. The proposed dwellings respect the established residential character of the area while seeking to set a new benchmark for design quality within the immediate context.
Externally, the new homes adopt a traditional architectural language, with a nod to the elegant and understated 18th century work of Sir John Soane. This is expressed through a considered palette of stone and render detailing at ground floor level, with brick finishes above, creating a balanced and refined composition.
Each house is arranged to support contemporary family living, with an entrance hall, study, sitting room, kitchen with family dining and a separate formal dining room at ground floor level. The first floor accommodates five generous bedrooms and three bathrooms, including two en suite and one family bathroom, ensuring a high level of comfort and functionality.
James Wells comments, “Submitting a planning application today is an increasingly complex process; it is considerably more onerous that it was even three or five years ago. After taking the client’s brief we need to spend some time considering how to go about seeking planning permission. We often find we have to commission a number of independent reports – such as landscape visual impact assessments, biodiversity surveys, dark sky lighting assessments, tree reports, flood risk assessments ….. and of course we also need to design a building which sits comfortably within its local context. This does not always mean that we have to adopt traditional forms or materials but often this is the best strategy. Our clients are sometimes surprised by how little latitude they may have to address their own priorities.” The architect of today faces a complex challenge when it comes to gaining planning permission.
Project Location
The new homes are located on the boundary of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, As such, the scheme retains existing woodland screening to the rear of the site, with additional landscaping proposed to enhance the setting of each house. This includes appropriate boundary planting designed to integrate the development into its surroundings while also supporting local biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
The construction for this project which has been given planning permission is due to start on site early 2018.
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If you are interested in commissioning a new build project or renovating an existing building and require planning permission, or help with your planning application, please use the form below to get in touch or call 01243 940020
