La Fredee Cottage

New Builds

The Result

Overcame physical site constraints to achieve a high-quality development – in a prominent countryside location – that fulfilled the client’s brief. Retained to secure building bye-law permission for this development.

The Project

Planning permission was secured in 2009 for a dwelling on the site of an occupation store used as a workshop. Accessed via steep land and a drive, it’s set in a cutting in the valley. Initially conceived as a conversion, the Planning Minister required the former store to be demolished and replaced with a completely new building with a ‘high standard of design’ given where it is situated.

The narrowness of the site and its valley location required thoughtful design as well as providing space for landscaping to ensure the building wouldn’t be a prominent feature in the countryside. Despite these limitations, the living spaces are well lit due to the elevated position of the house and the punctuation of the southern elevation with numerous openings.