Oak Tree Lodge

Planning permission was secured for the demolition of the existing dwelling and erection of a new detached home and car port. The client recognised the potential of the plot early on. It offered the opportunity to secure planning and create a long term family home in a location they genuinely wanted to live in.

The proposal was not a like for like replacement, but the considered realisation of an opportunity through careful design and planning strategy.

Design Approach

The client, working within the property sector, arrived with a strong and adventurous design direction. Their ambition pushed beyond what might typically be expected within the immediate context. Rather than dilute that ambition, we chose to engage with it.

We like to question the status quo, but questioning doesn’t mean ignoring context. It means testing it properly.

Together, we invested time in developing a massing strategy that could justify a more confident architectural language while being justifiable in terms of planning. The proportions, overall height and volume composition were carefully refined to create a building that felt assertive yet balanced within the streetscape. This evolution is reflected through our planning submission and supporting documents which also set out preservation of existing established neighboring amenity.

Internally, the design process went far deeper than room labels on a plan. The spatial arrangement was developed in detail around:

• Furniture layouts

• Circulation flow

• Sight lines

• How spaces would be used at different times of day

• How family life would realistically unfold

The kitchen, dining and living spaces were arranged to promote connection and flow, while more intimate areas were positioned to allow retreat and privacy. Every move was tested against the client’s brief not just in principle, but practically.

This was not a house styled for photography. It was a house planned for living.

Planning & Justification

Strong design direction can sometimes create tension with local expectations. Rather than compromise the vision, we focused on building a clear planning narrative demonstrating how the scale, form and composition improved upon the existing dwelling and contributed positively to the street scene.

Securing permission required close attention to materials, landscaping and biodiversity enhancement. Conditions attached to the approval required external materials to be agreed, retained trees to be protected, and a detailed hard and soft landscaping strategy to be implemented

This level of coordination is where we add real value ensuring the architectural intent carries through from concept to approval and beyond.

Self-Build Design & Project Coordination

For Oak Tree Lodge, our appointment covered:

• Concept design and planning strategy

• Full planning submission and amendments

• Detailed drawings (General arrangement and assembly details)

• Design team coordination

• Building control submission and application management

• Ongoing support to guide the project through construction

The result is a home that feels confident, contemporary and purposeful, fully aligned with the client’s ambition and grounded in careful architectural reasoning.

The design followed a genuinely client focused process, shaped through collaboration and strengthened by our creative direction, strategic challenge and technical expertise. We do not simply draw what is asked for. We test ideas, refine ambition and guide decisions. The finished home reflects the client’s lifestyle and aspirations, a house shaped together through dialogue and experience.