Planning Approval and Listed Building Consent in West Oxfordshire

I am very happy to have assisted with the design, planning approval and listed building consent for this project to extend a grade II listed former farmhouse in West Oxfordshire. The application was successful in achieving consent to add both front and rear extensions, the former being a typically difficult proposition to win the approval of any conservation officer.

Out of deference to the 'farmhouse' character of the building, the extension to the rear is envisaged as a characteristic open, covered lean-to which has been retrofitted with modern, slim profile glazing. The argument for its justification in heritage terms was based upon the proposals' potential to confer public benefit by enhancing the specific agricultural character of the listed farmhouse. The elevations, which new extension partially covers over, have been unsympathetically altered with domestically proportioned openings formed in the latter half of the 20th century, somewhat diminishing the more agricultural blank walls of natural stone. The lean-to, which favours a single opening of a larger, agricultural scale over multiple domestically sized openings, has the look of a cart store or another former utilitarian usage ancillary to a working farmhouse, and so offsets the impact of previous unfortunate alterations.

Whilst utterly charming, the farmhouse does suffer from a lack of connection with its beautiful garden space. Accordingly, the extension to the front of the property is designed as a classically inspired garden room/orangery, to provide a calm, sitting space to enjoy the the April showers whilst remaining dry indoors. The orangery is designed as a lightweight structure, built in painted timber to match the colour of the existing windows and doors and built off an ashlar limestone plinth. The street-facing elevation of the orangery is concealed behind a tall parapet wall which sweeps down to meet the height of the existing, albeit repositioned drystone garden wall. The south-facing flat roof above the orangery flat roof allows for the discrete installation of photovoltaic panels. These panels would be concealed behind the parapet of the orangery and invisible from outside or below their position. The construction of the orangery as designed therefore confers a public benefit in terms of helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the property in such a way that does not visually impact upon the character of the listed asset.

Check out the full details here:https://publicaccess.westoxon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SRBGD3RKMOH00