Folly Farm House

Development planning

AZ Urban Studio was instructed to advise the owner of an isolated farm house in the Green Belt following the local planning authority’s refusal to grant planning permission for a large 2 storey extension to the front and side of the house. The planning application had been refused on design grounds as it did not comply with the council’s Design Guide, and it was not considered to be subservient to the original house.

Our planning team prepared additional material in support of the scheme and submitted an appeal against the decision. We successfully demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Inspector that the strict criteria in the council’s Design Guide could not be the only applicable solutions to all buildings, and that despite
clear non-compliance the proposal was completely acceptable and reflected
the traditional form of rural buildings in the area. We also successfully demonstrated that the issue of subservience was not limited to simple matters of height and building line, and that a more detailed examination of the form, scale, massing and fenestration of the host building showed that the proposed extension would, despite projecting forward one metre, remain subservient.

The appeal was allowed and the extension was completed in 2010. The project exemplifies our skill in providing detailed design analysis and justification, and successfully arguing these matters at appeal.