Planning permission has been granted for two new build houses on a green field site in College Road, Ardingly.  The site is an ‘edge of settlement’ location with the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

James Wells has been commissioned by Drake Developments, a London based developer working in  London and the South East bringing new build homes with the latest thinking in spatial planning and facilities to the Sussex market.  The scheme replaces a previously approved planning application for two houses on the same site.

External 18th Century elegance disguises thoroughly modern interior

The project is to create two five bedroom semi-detached homes arranged over ground and first floors with basements to accommodate a gym, media room and plant room.  The proposed new dwellings respect the residential character of the area and set a new standard for properties within the immediate location.

Externally the new homes are of a traditional design with a nod to the elegant and understated 18th Century architecture of Sir John Soane with stone and render detailing on the ground floor and brick finishes at first floor level.  Each house has an entrance hall, study, sitting room, kitchen with family dining and formal dining room.  On the first floor there are five generous bedrooms and three bathrooms (two ensuite and one family bathroom).

James Wells comments, “Submitting a planning application today is an increasingly complex process; it is considerably more onerous that it was even three or five years ago.  After taking the client’s brief we need to spend some time considering how to go about seeking planning permission.  We often find we have to commission a number of independent reports – such as landscape visual impact assessments, biodiversity surveys, dark sky lighting assessments, tree reports, flood risk assessments ….. and of course we also need to design a building which sits comfortably within its local context.  This does not always mean that we have to adopt traditional forms or materials but often this is the best strategy.  Our clients are sometimes surprised by how little latitude they may have to address their own priorities.”  The architect of today faces a complex challenge when it comes to gaining planning permission.

The new homes are located on the boundary of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as such the scheme will retain the woodland screening at the rear of the site and new landscaping will be provided to enhance the setting for each house.  The proposed landscaping will include appropriate planting to all boundaries of the residential curtilages to ensure the houses successfully integrate into the surroundings as well as provide appropriate habitats for local wildlife.

If you are interested in commissioning a new build project or renovating an existing building and require planning permission or help with your planning application then please use the form below to get in touch or call 01243 940020

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James Wells Architects has recently achieved planning permission for a major office refurbishment to Sussex House in Crane Street, Chichester.

Sussex House is a three storey concrete framed building which was built in the 1960s.  It is a mixed use commercial development providing retail and office accommodation in Chichester’s city centre.  The retail use on the ground floor will remain as currently occupied.  This scheme is to refurbish the two upper floors of office space and their associated common parts.  The gross internal area of the upper floors is 6,610 square feet.

The concept created by the JWA team is to bring the first and second floors into line with contemporary office environment expectations for rental primarily focused on the private commercial market.  The floors are to be divided into four self-contained suites complete with newly fitted ‘super loos’ to optimise flexible lettings for a range of potential tenants.

Externally Sussex House has suffered from little maintenance and upkeep to the elevations over several decades.  Thus, as part of the overall refurbishment strategy the windows will be replaced on both upper floors.  New painted W20 steel windows will be installed with horizontal centre casements hung on pivots.  The proportion of the replacement windows has been carefully considered with pane sizes modelled on the pane sizes to the existing sash windows seen on neighbouring buildings, many of which are of the Georgian period.

This refurbishment gives the opportunity to remove the retro-fitted services routed up the exterior of the building and reroute new services internally.  An accessible duct will be installed for further or additional communications services which may be required at a later date.

This refurbishment will bring the sadly neglected Sussex House back into use as an aspirational city centre business location, a much sought after commodity which will plug a gap in the commercial property landscape in Chichester.

Please get in touch using the form below if you have a project you need help with or take a look at our other work.

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