Shaw and Jagger Architects, specialists in projects located in Conservation Areas and the green belt, have secured planning approval for a 20,000 sq ft villa in Lancashire. The Harrogate-based team was instrumental in obtaining a once-in-a-generation planning permission for Woodfold Villa, which is situated next to listed parkland and heritage assets.
Located near the Grade II listed Woodfold Hall, the villa is representative of 18th century architecture and has been inspired by Woodfold Hall’s creators, James Wyatt and Sir Jeffry Wyatville, architects to King George III and King George IV.
Woodfold Villa has been designed with a forward-looking approach to built-in energy efficiency and sustainability to meet passive house requirements. In addition, its proposed landscaped garden will improve Biodiversity Net Gain by nearly 90% through initiatives such as the planting of an oak woodland and creation of a lake to encourage a wild habitat.
Approved by appeal under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Paragraph 84e, the six-bedroom neo-classical Woodfold Villa sits in 16 acres of Blackburn’s Green Belt listed parkland. The design is one of only 150 schemes to be granted permission usince 1997 under the Country House Law national planning policy 84e, of which the vast majority were not situated in green belt land.
In their 20-page decision statement, the Planning Inspector, stated: “It is clear from the substantial evidence of experts in the field that the design of the proposal, its orientation, scale, detail, proportions, relationship to its site, the wider context, size, scale, form and layout all represent the highest standards of architecture. This exceptional quality design [of Woodfold Villa] would raise standards of design in rural areas, by demonstrating the depth of thought, reasoning and background needed to deliver such quality.”
Francis Shaw, Director of Shaw and Jagger Architects, commented: “We knew from the outset achieving consent for the 20,000 sq ft Woodfold Villa was not going to be a straightforward planning process. The substantial building had to meet stringent design standards and the exceptional circumstances required to pass the benchmark of a green belt exemption. The Planning Inspector’s decision is therefore very welcome, and we are delighted with the strength of their endorsement of the design.
“We are often commissioned to tackle the tough schemes, ones that other companies do not want to take the risk on. It requires a lot of research, hard work, and above all, a great team, and I am proud to add yet another Paragraph 84e achievement to Shaw and Jagger’s portfolio of considered and challenging projects.”
Woodfold Villa is the latest in a series of planning successes delivered by Shaw and Jagger Architects for clients across the UK. This includes Coston Hall, a new Arts and Crafts country house also situated on Lancashire green belt land, achieving planning consent under Paragraph 84e; and the historic restoration of Loudoun Castle and the development of its hotel and 450-strong holiday lodge estate in Scotland.
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