Case Study:
Sunnybank Drive
Wilmslow
Cheshire
Project Overview
Project Type:
New housing development
Project Status:
Completed and fully sold.
The Client:
A first-time developer approached Hive to develop a plot with two bespoke houses they’d had outline approval for. A second phase of extension and conversion of the existing barn was added and completed.
The Brief:
Our brief for the new houses was to develop the outline approval into a high efficiency but stylish development that would maximise returns, while also providing high quality A+ rated contemporary houses. Following completion of the new houses the existing barn conversion was also to be extended and extensively refurbished to create a spacious dwelling.
The Strategy:
The outline approval for the new houses set down various constraints on volume and scale. Our first move was to change the layout, moving away from mirrored houses to identical units adjacent each other. This allowed the driveway to create the detachment between the dwellings, rather than a wasted alley. It also simultaneously allowed wider dwellings, which in turn could be shallower on plan. This would improve daylight penetration and natural ventilation, and increase the amount of rear garden space.
Roof space accommodation to the first floor was essential due to height constraints, but we were able to turn this into a design feature, with lofty vaulted ceilings and glazed gables to front and rear.
Roofs were orientated to allow less impact on an adjacent bungalow, while also providing south facing roof areas for solar heat or power.
By meticulous layout planning to minimise circulation space, we managed to increase the number of bedrooms to four well-sized rooms rather than three, provide an en-suite to the master, and add a small utility room at ground floor.
The design is exceptionally efficient without sacrificing architectural and spatial quality. Our use of economical materials in certain places, such as render, allowed us to use high specification materials on key features elsewhere, such as zinc, without exceeding the budget.
A second phase of extending and extensively refurbishing the barn into a spacious and energy efficient family home was later added. The goal here was to maximise the size of the barn conversion and recover its lost historic character whilst adding contemporary new space to the rear.
The Service:
Full architectural service
The Result :
Full planning for new houses approved with increase in bedroom numbers and dwelling volume over outline scheme. The houses achieved an A+ energy efficiency rating.
Planning consent granted for the barn extension which was also since completed on site.
Both the new houses and barn conversion were completed on budget and received much attention when marketed and sold easily.
Get in Touch
