Dorset Council (Purbeck area): Matt Annen is delighted to share the news that planning permission has been granted for the erection of a single-storey rear extension and erection of a linked single storey outbuilding with associated patios, pergolas and landscaping works. The proposed flat roofed modern additions to this period house were expertly and sensitively designed by DMW Architects.
Built in the 19th century, the house was utilised as a school for a short period before lack of pupils caused it to shut. The site lies in the rural village of Arne, which carries many nature and landscape designations, lying within the AONB, within 400m of protected Dorset Heathlands and being the centre of the RSPB reserve.
To establish the principle (and a strong fallback position) of alterations and extensions to the existing property, we first advised our clients to submit a certificate of lawfulness for an extension to the property and multiple outbuildings – maximising the permitted development rights for the property. This proved to be a crucial step leading the eventual success of the subsequent householder planning consent.
During course of the current application, Historic England raised objections due to the impact of the proposals on the Grade I Listed Building that is Saint Nicholas Church which is opposite the front of the property; “Saint Nicholas Church is a thirteenth century church that remains largely unaltered, located at the centre of this sparsely populated rural village on high ground. Being positioned on high ground the church is in a prominent location when viewed from Arne Road and the surrounding countryside, with views out of the church and churchyard, resulting in a rural setting that has limited interruptions by modern intrusions”.
Working closely with Matt, DMW Architects prepared visuals of the proposed additions from three locations as well as comparisons with the fallback consent, together with a robust scheme of landscaping that goes over and above that which would normally be expected with a householder extension proposal. We were able to demonstrate that because the linked outbuilding incorporated a living roof to seamlessly blend in the with the landscape from raised views and because the front boundary hedging was proposed to be retained and enhanced with native species together with the significant native wildlife planting with high ecological and pollen values proposed, the new structures will bed well into the surrounding habit. The permitted development scheme had none of this. So we concluded that there was no doubt that the current proposed scheme causes less “harm” to views from the church than the approved permitted development outbuilding. The conservation officer agreed with our view confirming; “It is considered that the proposals would not cause greater harm to the significance of the Grade I Listed Parish Church of Saint Nicholas and its setting than the extant lawful scheme. On this basis there is no objection.”
This is another example of why having a planning consultant on board from the outset of the project to set out the planning strategy can be invaluable to unlocking the true development potential of this site in order to meet the client’s desires.