Construction partners are celebrating a successful planning application for a unique new home in the open countryside in Rutland.
East Midlands-based Grace Machin Planning & Property, Influence Landscape Planning & Design and Jonathan Hendry Architects, combined their expertise in planning, landscape and architecture, to navigate planning policy and create a bespoke approach for a successful outcome.
Located close to the hamlet of Exton in Rutland but in an isolated location, the single dwelling property will become a cylindrical six-bedroomed home with contemporary living space across ground and lower ground floors.
Known in the planning industry as an ‘Exceptional Paragraph 84 new house’, the requirements for this type of development are outlined in Paragraph 84 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which states that the house ‘is truly outstanding, reflecting the highest standards in architecture, and would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas; and would significantly enhance its immediate setting, and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area.’
With the complex guidelines of planning for a new dwelling in open countryside, the construction partners worked together to create the most considered case for the planning officer, with planning given at the end 2023 by Rutland Planning Committee.
Nick Grace, partner at Grace Machin Planning & Property, said:
“We were approached by the landowner for a due diligence exercise. As a new house in the open countryside and the adjoining land being agricultural, the short to long-term development potential was extremely limited. However, the landholding presented itself as a potential site to accommodate a new single dwelling of ‘outstanding design’.
“Bringing Jonathan Hendry Architects and Influence on the project ensured I had the best possible expertise on what was a very detailed application. We were able to deliver an exceptional planning application that received the support of the officer and ultimately councillors at Rutland’s Planning Committee Meeting, who gave their unanimous support for the application. The resulting grant of planning permission for the client is a major result for us and testament to those skills.”
Sara Boland, managing director at Influence, said:
“We conducted the landscape impact assessment for the proposed property. The location is deeply historic with two registered parks and gardens and many listed assets. In addition, it’s a very rural location with the Viking Way passing close by.
“Landscape is fundamental here and as outlined in the planning process, landscape design should ‘significantly enhance its immediate setting and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area’. Drawing on our extensive landscape planning experience, we appraised and understood the context and character of this unique setting and the architect worked to design an exceptional property which respond to its distinct environment.
“The team and I are proud to have worked with Nick and Jonathan, using our specialist, collective skills to bring to fruition a remarkable home, which will sit sympathetically in its rural landscape.”
Jonathan Hendry, managing director at Jonathan Hendry Architects, said:
“The building form was derived from observations and studies of the dovecote, commonplace amongst the Rutland landscape. The proposal, a singular, cylindrical form of robust stone walls is wrapped by a tertiary element which cuts into the ground and connects the garden to the main entrance of the house.
“Materially the building is rooted within its context, to be constructed with local stone and oak. The facade being graduated from the lower ground level to be built of limestone rubble as though it had been found in the ground to the upper levels, formed of smooth ashlar blocks laid on a bed of lime mortar.
“The proposals embody environmental technologies, sustainable materials and construction methods to minimise the environmental impact and go beyond the specification of ‘sustainable products’ to deliver a fabric first dwelling, which provides the users with a comfortable and sustainable environment in which to live.”
Once built the property will represent a landmark home within the open countryside of Rutland.