Tag / 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…
January 23, 2026 -
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…
January 16, 2026 -
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…
December 5, 2025 -
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…
June 17, 2025 -
A New Home in the Country – Replacement Rural Dwelling Success
A Sensitive Approach to Rural Living Abscott Farm is set within a beautiful yet sensitive rural landscape, characterised by rolling hills, open farmland, and scattered farmsteads. The original dwelling on the site was a modest, timeworn structure with limited energy efficiency and outdated living standards. Not only that but the design and external materials were…
June 6, 2025 -
Self-build in Somerset Starts on Site
Great to see a contemporary new low energy home starting on site this week. This project is a replacement dwelling within a conservation area but we achieved planning permission without any compromise to the design. So we are now looking forward to seeing that design take shape throughout the construction phase.
August 15, 2024 -
Class Q is changing. Opportunities for larger, individual dwellings are limited. Act now!
What do you think of when someone refers to a barn conversion? Nowadays these can range from traditional stone barns through to modern, steel framed buildings and more. The opportunities are huge. An awareness of the principle of Class Q permitted development rights, allowing the conversion of former agricultural buildings to residential dwellings, is generally…
May 23, 2024 -
New sustainable home in Somerset village
The search for the right plot for your dream home is invariably a challenging and stressful time. Our clients’ enterprise and initiative has taken a different route and now paying dividends, having seen the potential, rather than just the existing; a rather dated home. The large level garden gives privacy, bordered by mature trees and…
March 16, 2024 -
Replacement dwelling projects in the countryside
An increasingly route popular with both developers and those looking for a self-build project, is a replacement dwelling in the countryside; often a significant challenge but the outcomes can be exceptional. The proposition to demolish an existing building and build a modern home, is seemingly straightforward, to replace one building for another. However, there are…
March 9, 2024
