Category / Design / Everyday Life / Grand Design / Planning
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A Self‑Builder’s Guide to the Galaxy
Don’t panic. If you’ve picked up The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you’ll know that those two words are excellent advice when faced with something vast, complex and slightly overwhelming. Self‑building your own home can feel exactly the same. This blog is our self‑builder’s guide to the galaxy: a practical, down‑to‑earth overview of the self‑build…
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How to Get Planning Permission for a New House in the Country
Securing planning permission for a new house in a rural location can feel like a daunting process, but with careful design and a considered approach, success is achievable. We are delighted to share that we recently secured approval for a new dwelling in the countryside, with a strong fallback option enhancing the project’s resilience. Within…
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A Context-Led Design Response: Two Contemporary Homes on a Sloping Site in Goodleigh
We are pleased to share the completion of two new detached contemporary dwellings in Goodleigh, a project shaped strongly by its challenging yet rewarding site conditions. Set on a sloping plot, the design response was driven by the need to work with the topography while maximising views across the surrounding countryside. Rather than imposing a…
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![Jackdaw Barn following completion]()
Jackdaw Barn: A Sensitive and Sustainable Transformation
We are delighted to share that one of our recently completed projects Jackdaw Barn has achieved an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), the highest possible rating for energy efficiency in buildings. An EPC measures how efficiently a property uses energy, its typical energy costs, and how much carbon dioxide it produces. An A rating means…
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PMA receives planning approval for a new headquarters for Turnstyle Designs
PMA are excited to share that we have been granted planning approval for the construction of a new headquarters for Turnstyle Designs in the heart of North Devon. Turnstyle Designs: fabricators of luxury, artisanal door hardware, have been in operation for over thirty years. Shipping to over forty countries, they are a true North Devon…
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Planning Approval for Contemporary Garden Room Extension for a Home in North Devon
We are excited to share that our design for a contemporary garden room extension to a New England-style home in North Devon has received planning approval. Set on a windswept hillside with sweeping views, the project transforms how the home connects to its landscape. The new garden room celebrates light, space, and year-round comfort, creating…
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PMA awarded LABC Building Excellence Award for Northway Court
We are delighted to announce that our project at Northway Court has won the award for “Best Non-Residential Extension, Alteration or Conversion” for the South West Region at the LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards 2025. This superb tourism development for The Holiday Property Bond (HPB) sits on above the North Devon coast,…
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Reshaping the High Street: Class MA and new possibilities for conversion of commercial to residential through permitted development
The high street, once a hub of community, commerce, and enterprise opportunity, is experiencing a rate of decline that threatens to compromise the very character of UK town centres. Changing consumer habits, the dominance of online retail, high operating costs and the final hammer blow of the pandemic have left once-vibrant town centres struggling with…
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10 Top Tips to Make The Most of Class Q!
Ever wondered how to get the best from a barn conversion project? Whether a forever home, holiday home or development project, we have a huge amount of experience with converting agricultural buildings, since the Class Q Permitted Development rights came into being in 2013. Here are our “top tips” to get the most from your…
