Work category (residential/commercial/heritage etc)
Project name
The client
John Doe approached us with a dream: building an eco-friendly family home on his two-acre paddock in rural Worcestershire. Previous architects had created stunning designs, but the planners kept saying no. After three rejections and mounting costs, John needed a different approach to make his sustainable vision a reality. expertise and development consultancy together. For over 30 years, we’ve specialised in unlocking the potential of challenging development sites and steering ambitious projects through the complex planning process.
Our integrated approach eliminates frustration and inefficiency by providing our clients with access to chartered architects, planners and development consultants under one roof.
Unlike traditional architectural practices, we place planning strategy at the heart of our design process. Our planning-led approach means we design with approval in mind from the outset, increasing your chances of success while creating places of genuine quality and character.
Your journey to successful development begins with us.
The project
John’s site sat in open countryside with strict planning policies against new residential development. He wanted a contemporary, zero-carbon home using sustainable materials and renewable energy. The challenge? Local planning policy essentially prohibited new houses in this location. Previous applications had been rejected for impacting rural character, unsuitable location and inappropriate design.
Most consultants told John to give up or drastically compromise his vision. We saw an opportunity: Paragraph 80 of the National Planning Policy Framework allows exceptional quality houses that enhance their settings.
Our solution
We redesigned John’s scheme from scratch, focusing on what would actually get approved. Our architects created a design that was modern yet sensitively integrated into the landscape. Crucially, our planners built a compelling Paragraph 80 case, demonstrating exceptional architectural quality and landscape enhancement. We engaged early with planning officers, addressing concerns before they became objections.
The sustainable technology wasn’t just bolted on; it was integral to our argument about exceptional design. After careful preparation and strategic positioning, we secured unanimous approval at committee.
