Set on a brownfield plot at the end of a Victorian street, adjacent to a railway rack, Matt and Jo Warnes’s project is an excellent example of infilling in a city suburb.
RICHARD GADSBY
Towns and cities have something of a reputation for being difficult to self build in – but in fact they can offer a diverse range of opportunities for creating tailor-made homes. In addition to a wealth of properties ripe for renovation and extension, there’s often a steady supply of brownfield sites and infill plots in urban areas.
What’s more, PD (permitted development) rights for conversions and changes of use have expanded in recent years – meaning many projects can progress without the need to go through the full rigours of the planning application regime. Add to that the fact that the government is exerting pressure on councils to deliver more housing, and now’s a great time to be looking for an urban self build or renovation project.
Policy background
The driving factor behind these increased opportunities for town and city projects is the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This sets the government’s view that there should be a presumption in favour of sustainable development.
From the planner’s perspective, urban settlements are generally much more sustainable – in terms of their location – than rural ones. Fundamentally, this means there’s good public transport links to shops, leisure facilities, jobs and schools. In central urban areas, these facilities may even be within walking distance.