Project: Town Foot Farm Residential Development

Client: Private

Context: Farmstead in the centre of Cumrew, a Conservation Area and scarp foot village on the edge of the Vale of Eden within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Description: Development of 9 houses within the boundaries of the farmstead. These comprise: 2 no. existing farm houses; conversion of existing traditional outbuildings to form 4 no. 4 bed dwellings and erection of 3 no. 4 bed dwellings following the removal of modern farm buildings. The effects of the Foot & Mouth outbreak in 2001 together with difficulties of operating a dairy farm in a village led to a decision to cease farming at Town Foot Farm. Careful planning appraisal and project direction by Coates Associates has enabled the full development potential of the site to be realised whilst ensuring a positive contribution to the character of the Conservation Area and its setting within the AONB. Key aspects were replacement of modern barns with buildings of more vernacular construction and containment of the development within the village boundary coupled with careful design of the layout to reflect the historic form of the village, the use of traditional materials and discrete off street parking. An initial scheme of ten new houses received objections and negotiations were subsequently held with the planning authority regarding housing supply and design. Permission was subsequently secured by reducing the number of new houses and the depth of development to avoid backland incursion.

Services:

• Briefing and Appointment of Architect

• Village ‘Townscape' Appraisal

• Planning Application and Supporting Statement

• Negotiations with Carlisle City Council

• Marketing and Sale of Site