Planning & Design win consent for Ménage and Tennis Court in sensitive rural location

At planning committee on Tuesday evening Jonathan spoke in favour of a new Tennis Court and Menage near Bradbourne. The new facilities are to be added to a property where the company has successfully achieved planning permission back in 2006.

The site lies on high ground close to the boundary with the Peak National Park. The site lies immediately adjacent to the approved house and outbuildings which includes four stables. Using appropriate landscaping and taking account of the slope of the land in the design of the menage a scheme was developed that meet the clients needs while protecting the wider environment. Whilst there were no objections from neighbours the Parish Council was strongly against the scheme and this triggered a referral to planning committee.

Committee members met at the site and were able to speak direct to the Parish chairman who again voiced his concerns. Enhanced landscaping proposals were presented to the meeting to allay these concerns and the changes were supported by the planning officer.

At the committee meeting that evening members supported the planning officer’s recommendation for approval subject to the additional landscaping. Notwithstanding their differences our client and the Parish Council Chairman found that they could get on well. The chairman was given a tour of the property and our client has agreed to become more involved in the parish and to support parish events.

The turn of events in the evening reminded me of the importance of community relations, particularly for new comers to an area. The Parish had drawn erroneous conclusions about our client and had reacted as much to their vision of him as to the development itself.

Get the politics of an area right and the planning process is much easier.

Approval for extension to historic cottage in Conservation Area

PDP were delighted to help secure planning consent this month for the construction of a new two storey extension to a 19th Century stone cottage in a Derbyshire Dales Conservation Area.

PDP worked alongside architects Pilkington McPhee to provide a sensitive design that met the client’s brief whilst also satisfying the requirements of planning and conservation officers.

The proposed scheme involved extending to both the rear and side of the existing cottage, in order to provide a new master bedroom, bathroom, utility and snug.

Despite the amount of additional internal space being provided, the proposed extension does not detract from the character and appearance of the existing cottage. The rear part of the extension is to replace a couple of small previous additions and will be well hidden between the back of the cottage and a large retaining wall. The side part of the extension will be set back from the front face of the building, and will have lower ridge and eaves levels, ensuring that the visual dominance of the original cottage is preserved.

A design statement was submitted with the application which examined the history of the property and its role within the Conservation Area, and assessed traditional local building practices.

After receiving the support of Council officers the application was approved under delegated powers on 15th July 2010.