It’s no secret that an extension can provide your home with a welcome helping of space, light and value – but how can you ensure its design leaves a lasting impression? Sander Tel shares his pick of seven eye-catching additions
Nestled into the Dartmoor National Park, this former milking parlour forms part of a cluster of agricultural buildings, adjacent to a main farm house. The parlour had been left redundant for a number of years and so required a complete overhaul in order to become a comfortable, habitable space. VESP Architects created this outstanding redesign, which involved retaining the parlour’s original road-facing appearance, while making a more extensive revision to the rear elevation. The practice demolished half of the barn and, adopting the same footprint, extended outwards with a striking green oak-framed and glass structure. The newly-converted space contains a bright, lofty kitchenliving-dining area, with the oak beams left exposed throughout as a nod to the building’s agricultural roots. (www.vesp.co.uk)
EXPERT VIEW PLANNING A HOME EXTENSION
EILIR SHERYN from VESP Architects reveals what you need to know about the key stages of a project:
Finding the right style & design
Start with as much research and preparation as you can. Online is always a great place to begin as you’ll see so many styles and can decide what you like, or don’t like. Have any other properties on your street been modified? If so, how? This will give you an indication of what’s acceptable to the local authority. Speak to as many architects as you can early on; find out about their style and design process. Ask them about fees, timeframes, likelihood of approvals for your design ideas, additional reports you need to commission and overall budget.
Securing planning permission
Many extensions can be constructed under permitted development rights, meaning you won’t need a formal application, although it’s best to check with your architect. In some instances, commissioning a planning consultant, alongside your architect, will be helpful in negotiating the planning maze. Do your due diligence, too. Speak to your neighbours before submitting any applications, and perhaps even look to present your plans at the local parish council meeting. Understand the level of risk you are entertaining – planning is never black or white and the more effort you and your architect put into the early stages, the better your chances of success. Have a good understanding of total costs before you formally submit your application, too. An early-stage cost plan from a quantity surveyor allows you to amend the design, if necessary, before you submit and avoids potential abortive work and a loss of valuable time.
The construction phase
Decide what kind of procurement route suits you; will you be doing some of the work or management yourself? Do you intend to employ a project manager, or go down the traditional main contractor route? It’s important to commission a full set of detailed construction drawings – these will give your builder clear direction, you peace of mind and your project the best chance of meeting its schedule and budget. Ensure you get Building Regulations approval at the end of the project, too – your architect or builder should help you through this. It’ll also be crucial to have a contingency fund throughout the entire process for any unforeseen mishaps on site, or even the small upgrades that tempt you.