Fairway

Stapleford Abbotts, Essex. RM4

This project is for the replacement of a small and dated mid-century chalet bungalow with a larger house more suited to modern living. Our client was clear that they wanted to achieve a high quality four-bedroom house with the emphasis on contemporary design and energy performance. Working closely with them to fully understand the way they want to use the house; we have developed a design which suits their lifestyle, provides the extra space they need and can be built to Passivhaus energy standards. As the house is located in a residential area where almost all of the surrounding houses are brick with traditional detailing and pitched red tile roofs, the modern approach was a challenge in planning terms. Working with our expert planning team we made an early approach to the local planning authority for pre-application advice. The feedback from this process has steered the design which is a pared-back contemporary take on the local style. By pushing the bedrooms partly into the roof space, we were able to reduce the visual mass of the house to a scale comparable to its neighbours whilst achieving a much larger floor area. The proposals received planning consent in September 2024.

Planning in Collaboration with:
• Orbis Town Planning Ltd - Planning Consultants