replacement farmhouse, essex
bramwood farm is a new brick and stone farmhouse in the essex green belt, with a garage, pool house and landscaped grounds. the site already had planning consent when we were appointed. our role was to push that consent further through a series of amendments that got more from the site within strict green belt limits.
we worked directly with the contractor, alexander james contracts (ajc), on a design and build basis (where the contractor takes on the design as well as the construction). design decisions were tested against cost and buildability as they were made, keeping the build fast and the cost to around £1.5m.
a dedicated bat loft that saved time and space
on a design and build project, every drawing affects the contractor's cost. by working with the builder rather than handing drawings over, we can speed up the programme and take cost out of the build without taking quality out of the house.
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a loft for bats
the site's bats could have meant costly delays or lost space. instead, a dedicated bat loft (a roof space designed for bats to roost) was built into the new house, meeting the ecology requirements without compromising the value of the home.
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built with the builder
working directly with ajc meant construction knowledge shaped the design from day one. products and details were chosen for speed on site and value for money, cutting programme time and cost.
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pushing the consent
the original permission set the starting point, not the limit. through carefully judged amendments, we increased what the house could offer while staying within green belt policy, adding value without risking the consent already in place.
