Building in a National Park, National Landscape or Conservation Area.

Much of our work sits in the most sensitive parts of the country: the South Downs and New Forest National Parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONB), and Conservation Areas. Planning here is more demanding, and rightly so. But sensitive settings are not closed to good development, they simply raise the bar, and that is where design and planning working together really counts.

What changes in a designated area

In National Parks, National Landscapes and Conservation Areas, greater weight is given to conserving and enhancing landscape and character. Permitted development rights are often reduced, so more work needs permission. Applications face closer scrutiny of scale, materials, siting and impact on views. The policy tests are stricter, and the evidence expected is greater.

Conservation areas and heritage

In a conservation area, the test is whether a proposal preserves or enhances the character and appearance of the area. Nearby listed buildings add a further layer, requiring careful attention to setting. This is not about pastiche, a confident contemporary design can enhance a sensitive setting, but it has to be justified and handled with real care.

Design that responds to landscape

The schemes that succeed in these sensitive locations are the ones that start from the landscape rather than fighting it. Careful siting, restrained massing, natural materials and a genuine response to topography and views make the difference between refusal and permission. Dwellings which we have secured planning permission for in the South Downs NP and New Forest NP were designed to read as if they belong.

Building the planning case

In a designated area, the planning case matters as much as the design. Landscape and visual assessment, heritage input where relevant, and a clear policy argument all support the scheme. We can develop the architecture and the planning together, so the design decisions and the planning justification are one and the same.

Common questions

Can I build a new house in a National Park?

It is harder, but possible, particularly for replacement dwellings, and in exceptional cases under Paragraph 84. Each site turns on its own merits, so an early appraisal is the sensible first step.

Do I need permission for work I could do elsewhere?

Often yes. Permitted development rights are reduced in designated areas, so extensions, outbuildings and alterations that would be automatic elsewhere may need a planning application here.

Does contemporary design get refused in conservation areas?

Not inherently. Good contemporary design can enhance a Conservation Area but equally good high quality design is important everywhere. What matters is that the proposal preserves or enhances the area's character, and that the case is made properly.