Cricket Barn

We gained planning permission for a contemporary new-build dwelling in open countryside, located on the outskirts of Sampford Courtenay in West Devon.

The house is surrounded by agricultural farmland, and the design was influenced by the traditional barn aesthetic and the client’s desire for outdoor living.

The house uses Nudura Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) for its external walls, creating a highly insulated and airtight building envelope with excellent thermal performance.

Renewable technologies include solar panels and battery storage, an EV charger and an air-source heat pump. The house has been designed to achieve net-zero operational carbon, with the project's carbon calculations predicting that its cumulative carbon balance will become negative within 22 years.

Planning Context

An existing barn, located approximately 10 metres from the proposed dwelling, already had permission for conversion under Class Q permitted development rights. However, its location close to the boundary, poor solar orientation and proximity to the neighbouring farm made it an unfavourable site.

The planning process was complex and unconventional. We submitted a proposal for a replacement dwelling, using the Class Q approval as a fallback position.

Following the local authority's declaration of a Climate Emergency, we were required to submit a Carbon Reduction Statement, calculating the carbon associated with construction and the anticipated offsets generated by the renewable energy technologies.

Construction is now underway.