Location

Sydenham, Oxfordshire

About

We were first approached about this difficult project shortly after the Client received their 3rd refusal from South Oxfordshire District Council to convert a Dutch Barn in April 2021. Where the Client had appealed, the Council's refusal had been upheld. The previous Architects instructed by the Client had all struggled to design a scheme which respected the sensitive context of the site, being adjacent to several Grade II Listed buildings, in addition to its location within the Green Belt and open countryside.

All previous applications had been submitted as full planning applications. Having assessed the site, it became clear that we were able to take advantage of Permitted Development Rights and that the barn could be converted under Part 3, Class Q. By applying this format, it substantially reduced the number of elements which the Council were capable of considering. We submitted a Prior Approval application supported by a Heritage Design Statement in May 2021, and permission for a spacious 3 bedroom dwelling was granted less than 2 months later in July.