West Street

The extension of a detached house in the heart of West Malling Conservation Area adjoining the picturesque High Street.

​

The client presented us with the challenge of extending a property in the heart of a conservation area adjoining the iconic high street?

Our process began with a detailed analysis of the site looking at the constraints such as overlooking, right to light, & planning policy related to working within a Conservation Area. To its advantage, the site is flanked by a picturesque but yet oversized brick wall that runs parallel with the high street. Through carefully considering the arrangement, height & profile of the extension, we set about designing a proposal that would use the boundary wall to its advantage. This resulted in a scheme that is entirely shielded from the public realm & features a material palette typical of the local vernacular, minimising the visual impact.

It was this considered approach & respect for the surrounding context that caused the Local Authority to granted planning permission without hesitation.

From the Designer, ‘Having worked in Conservation Areas before, we were aware of the challenges this project would bring. With an emphasis on demonstrating the rationale behind our proposal, we paid particular care in communicating our design process to the Council. This project demonstrates how site constraints can be used to your advantage as well as the importance of a carefully considered planning application.