LOW POINT
“Bad weather, and the amount of mud on site when we were using a dumper and digger.”
largely residential area. Tilehung to the fi rst fl oor, with brick and fl int to the ground fl oor, the building is timber-framed with plain roof tiles. Extended in around 1600, and again in the 18th century, further additions were built in 1920 and 2003.
“Our house dates back to around 1550, and has been added to over the centuries, but we wanted the annexe to be simple and contemporary,” says Glen. “Fortunately, the planners were very happy with Sophie’s design, and she put a great deal of work into preparing a heritage statement to illustrate how the annexe would have minimal impact on its setting.” Architect Sophie’s thorough approach also involved inviting a local planning consultant to draw up a statement to accompany the planning application for the challenging site. “It sounds obvious, but providing detailed, clear, contextual drawings, along with a design statement and photos of the site, help to give the best possible chance of a positive outcome,” she explains. A single storey design was always favoured for the annexe, partly for ease of construction and also to make the building fully accessible for the elderly occupants, eliminating the need for a lift or stairlift. The impact on its sensitive setting in the grounds of a listed building is also reduced, with only the top of the single storey roof pitch visible from the road. “Its position responds to existing outbuildings along the western site boundary,” continues
Sophie. “Bedrooms face east behind a corridor to maintain privacy, and living areas look south towards the main house, maximising natural light.”
The annexe is accessed from the main driveway to the property, with ample parking already onsite, and mains water and gas extended from the existing house. A new three-phase electrical supply was also introduced, as the building is heated by an air source heat pump connected to water underfl oor heating, and upgrading to three-phase power ensures that the home can effi ciently run multiple appliances at the same time.
Once planning permission had been granted, Sophie was able to complete the drawings for building control, including all glazing details. Glen and a retired carpenter friend undertook most of the build between them, bringing in specialists for electrical work, plastering, fl intwork, and the tiling.
“The planners wanted us to show them samples of the roofi ng and cladding materials, and we commissioned a separate tree report as part of Sophie’s application, because we back onto a railway line with large oaks, but other than that there were no real restrictions,” says Glen. “We ended up putting foundations down 2.2 metres near the trees, with 1.2 metre trenches to the front of the house.” The new 148m2
annexe has been constructed 47
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