If you are planning to build a new home in a rural area, you will need very specific planning permission. New isolated homes in the countryside must adhere to strict planning criteria with extremely high standards as set out by the National Planning Policy Framework. Paragraph 80 (formerly paragraph 79) addresses isolated dwellings and requires that:
e) the design is of exceptional quality, in that it:
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
The process of applying for planning permission and creating plans of to meet these exacting standards requires a wide range of specialist input from the very start. We recommend involving a landscape architect at your project’s inception. To achieve permission will require extensive surveying and specialist research and there will likely be many pre-planning meetings even before any submission is made. We have a wide experience of working with local planning authorities on rural developments, and our design ethos and approach is uniquely suited to the overall process. Any application needs to be exceptional in architecture and in landscape design. We take a holistic landscape led approach such that there is strong connection to the site and local context, incorporating vernacular materials or regional traditions to create designs with a compelling narrative.