Planning Policies and decisions should avoid the development of isolated homes in the countryside unless the design is of exceptional quality in that it:
• Is truly outstanding, reflecting the highest standards in architecture, and would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas; and
• Would significantly enhance its immediate setting, and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area.
The site is a small long strip of land which is surrounded by large mature trees and hedgerows, the site is North facing, narrow and shaded due to the surrounding trees. During our site research we discovered a Roman Road passed through the centre of the site and would require archaeological investigation during the construction period.
As the site needed to comply with Paragraph 80, the design needed have an architectural response to the site, to form the concept design. The Roman Road, and achieving natural light were the key design drivers for the site which influenced all aspects of the design.
The proposed design is a single-storey 2-bedroom contemporary dwelling which celebrates the Roman Road which passes through the site, and has been designed to reference features of the Praetorium and Principa (key buildings within the Roman Ribchester Fort), and includes external courtyards, and a glazed route through the building along the route of the Roman road.
